Perceptions of the Dead
- October 31, 2017
- Ithaqua Labs
Get on SteamFollow three stories set in a world where the dead linger, and things far worse wait beyond the veil.
Mac OS
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game features beautiful artwork and engaging voice acting that enhances the storytelling experience.
- The three short stories provide a mix of humor and intrigue, making for an entertaining and enjoyable experience.
- As a free visual novel, it offers a decent amount of content that is well worth the time spent playing.
- The stories are very short and often feel incomplete, leaving players wanting more depth and resolution.
- Many choices in the game have little to no impact on the story, which can be disappointing for players looking for meaningful interactions.
- Some dialogue contains racial stereotypes and awkward references that detract from the overall experience.
- story149 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game features three short stories, with "Jill Count" being the most engaging, focusing on a young woman live-streaming from a haunted hospital. While the narratives are interesting and the voice acting is praised, many players noted that the choices have minimal impact on the outcomes, leading to a somewhat linear experience. Overall, the stories are entertaining but often feel incomplete, leaving players eager for more depth and continuation in future installments.
“Absolutely great game, artwork, storytelling, and world building are all fantastic.”
“The story was engaging and the characters interesting as well.”
“The soundtrack is amazing, the story is amazing.”
“You make no decisions in one story at all; you just click through the text that's narrated in a way that made me click fast because the voice acting just didn't fit the story at all.”
“The narrator wants to keep us in the dark about his identity and motives, which is fine, but he filters out so much important information that the story is confusing and difficult to follow.”
“The first story was predictable, the voice acting was way over the top, and there really wasn’t much to do other than make an occasional choice to advance the slides.”
- graphics59 mentions
- 69 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising the beautiful and unique art style, which effectively complements the storytelling. The visuals are described as colorful, stylish, and engaging, often featuring charming characters and well-executed animations. Additionally, the full voice acting enhances the overall experience, making it a standout aspect of the game.
“Graphics 10/10”
“Absolutely great game, artwork, storytelling, and world-building are all fantastic.”
“The art style is phenomenal, the voice acting is great, and the stories are interesting!”
“Also, it could just be on my end, but some of the little shadow effects with the art style play tricks on your eyes.”
“It's also Itaqua's first game and it's pretty clear they were still figuring out their style and aesthetic.”
“The target audience of this part seems to be preteens, which in and of itself isn’t a problem, but it really contrasts with the other stories that feature f-bombs, moderately disturbing imagery, and a much less cartoonish art style.”
- humor16 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mix of hilarious moments and realistic character depth, though some players find certain jokes corny and disruptive to the tension. While the comedy leans towards the juvenile side with silly voices and catchphrases, it also features dry humor that appeals to some players. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with light horror elements, making it enjoyable for both horror fans and those seeking a funny experience.
“This game has hilarious moments, with a kind of realism and depth to the characters.”
“A funny story with really nice voice acting.”
“This game finds a way to be funny and creepy all at once.”
- music14 mentions
- 86 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is consistently praised for enhancing the overall experience, effectively adding tension and atmosphere to the narratives. Reviewers highlight the soundtracks as beautiful and fitting, contributing to the emotional depth of the stories, while also noting that the voice acting complements the music well. Overall, the combination of music, art, and sound design creates a relaxing yet engaging ambiance, although some feel the storytelling could be improved.
“The art is beautiful, the music pulls off its job of adding tension and making you dread whatever happens long before it does.”
“A visual novel with three short stories featuring nice soundtracks and amazing artwork.”
“Beautiful art style, great music and sound effects, and nice plots.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay in this visual novel is minimal, primarily consisting of clicking through poorly written dialogue with few interactive elements, leading to a slow and often boring experience. While the art style and background sounds are appreciated, the overall lack of engaging gameplay and disappointing script detracts from the enjoyment.
“It has a little bit of gameplay and great background sounds and music.”
“Good stories but not much gameplay involved.”
“As a visual/interactive novel, this doesn't feature any notable gameplay; it's just a lot of clicking through badly written dialogue that would never have been accepted or published in print, which poses the question, 'how did something this badly written end up on Steam?'”
“There is no gameplay as it were, other than clicking through the dialogue and the occasional dialogue option, but that's really to be expected from a visual novel.”
“The gameplay is so slow and it's just horrifically boring.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users find the grinding aspect of visual novels and e-books to be tedious, likening it to a frustratingly slow reading experience where players must click to progress through text. While the graphics and character design are praised for their appeal and modern style, the overall experience can feel laborious, detracting from the enjoyment of the narrative.
“Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
“The grind is satisfying and offers a real sense of progression.”
“Visual novels/e-books are tedious at best... imagine the best novel you ever read, be that Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy or 2001: A Space Odyssey, but then translate that to a format where the words dribble out and you have to click your mouse every time you want to read the next sentence, instead of just turning the pages.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The graphics are easy on the eye with appealing characters thanks to the modern writing style used that comes across as 'streetwise' to cater towards both a younger gamer scene, but its humor reaching out to anyone who is seeking light comedy relief after a tedious day.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "the phantom ice cream truck" is highly praised for its beautiful art, engaging voice acting, and relaxing ambiance, despite its minimal horror elements. Users appreciate the intriguing storytelling and overall aesthetic, which contribute to a captivating graphic novel experience.
“The phantom ice cream truck, despite its name, is much more atmospheric.”
“Top-notch voice acting, three intriguing short stories, beautiful art, and atmosphere, and it's free.”
“While it might not have been big on the horror aspect, it was a great graphic novel with a good storyline, fantastic art style, music, and a very relaxing atmosphere.”
“While it might not have been big on the horror aspect, it was a great graphic novel with a good storyline, fantastic art style, and a very relaxing atmosphere.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users appreciate the character designs and express a desire for deeper exploration of the characters, indicating that while the development may be limited, the visual appeal enhances their interest in learning more about the characters.
“I really like the character designs.”
“I really like the character design, and I'd love to learn more about the characters!”
- replayability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Most users agree that while the game offers an enjoyable experience, its replayability is limited, typical of many story-driven games.
