Philophobia: The Fear of Love
- February 10, 2020
- TimRuswick
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Get on itch.io Store"Philophobia: The Fear of Love" is a challenging action platformer where love is portrayed as a terrifying force. Players must navigate through the stages of grief, battling heart-shaped demons and overcoming 100+ levels of emotionally-driven torture. The game features a compelling story of heartbreak and redemption, with intense puzzle-precision platforming difficulty and a hauntingly beautiful Hell-inspired atmosphere.
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Reviews
- The game features a unique visual style and innovative shadow mechanics that enhance gameplay and exploration.
- It offers a challenging yet rewarding experience, with tight controls and fast respawning that keeps players engaged.
- The emotional themes and storytelling resonate well, providing depth to the gameplay and making it relatable for those dealing with heartbreak.
- The game can be frustratingly difficult at times, with some levels requiring extreme precision that may deter less experienced players.
- There are instances of forced deaths and unclear mechanics that can lead to confusion and annoyance during gameplay.
- The overall length of the game is relatively short, which may leave some players wanting more content after completing it.
- gameplay24 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by innovative mechanics, particularly the shadow and visibility elements that create a unique puzzle platforming experience. Players appreciate the tight controls and the gradual introduction of new abilities, which keep the challenges fresh and engaging throughout the game. While some abilities may feel underutilized, the overall design and varied level challenges contribute to a rewarding and emotionally resonant experience.
“I appreciate the pacing and how the game teaches you the mechanics; no hand-holding, but easy enough to figure out.”
“The varied level design, puzzles, enemies, and gameplay mechanics make every level a challenge and keep it interesting.”
“The platforming is tight and fun, the shadow mechanic gives the game an interesting twist, and the abilities you unlock throughout the game add new mechanics and challenges.”
“The reward of getting through the stages of grief should outweigh any mechanical frustration.”
“The 2nd realm (introducing an air dash mechanic) led to levels that were quick-paced, and the boss was actually a multi-part chase down that really pushed my use of the new dash move to its absolute limit, and I had to ditch a lost soul after failing 39 times in a row.”
“Nice straightforward puzzle platformer with tight controls and an evolving main mechanic of blindness; I suppose love is blind.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 21 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their unique and engaging art style, which combines minimalist design with a dark aesthetic that enhances the overall experience. While some players noted that the visuals could be simplistic, particularly in cutscenes, the consistent theme and stunning boss designs contribute to a rewarding visual experience. Overall, the graphics effectively complement the gameplay, evoking nostalgia while maintaining modern responsiveness.
“The control is smooth and the visual design is stunning, especially the bosses. I also love the art style (2D).”
“I enjoyed the minimalist art style, and the color palette works really well.”
“The art style fits perfectly with the game and the sounds; it's a great mix of colors and darkness.”
“Fairly simple mechanics, simple graphics, but still rewarding enough.”
“The unique aesthetic in the game never gets old.”
“Visuals fit the game and the shadows keep the screen clean.”
- story14 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally described as simple and serviceable, appealing to those seeking a light narrative rather than deep character development. While some players appreciate its engaging themes of heartbreak and symbolism, others find it confusing due to a lack of clarity in presentation. Overall, the story resonates with players looking for a heartfelt experience, though it may not satisfy those seeking a complex plot.
“I liked the story and the poetic cutscenes.”
“The visual style with the shadowing is unique and beautiful, and the story is very interesting with great symbolism.”
“The controls feel great, the story is very engaging, and the level design is challenging but it feels great when you complete levels.”
“The story presented in the game is simple and serviceable, so anybody looking for a deep story and well-written characters will want to look elsewhere.”
“Main storyline can be completed in an afternoon, but you will probably spend 2 to 3 times that if you want to 100% it.”
“However, I have no idea what's going on in the story; there's no subtitles.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 70 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its emotional depth, unique visibility mechanics, and immersive music that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the blend of challenge and exploration, with hidden paths that encourage engagement with the story. The developer's creative touches, such as growling at player failures, further contribute to the game's distinctive and compelling atmosphere.
“The unique visibility mechanics combined with a good challenge in a strongly emotional atmosphere are things that make this a fine gaming experience for those who have what it takes to press on.”
“However, the game is atmospheric as all get out and encourages exploration with hidden paths to find.”
“I designed the whole atmosphere around the idea of being powerless.”
“The music and effects mesh well and don't get grating; also, the fact that the developer growls at your failures adds to the atmosphere.”
“You will have to take your time to engage in the story and atmosphere.”
- emotional9 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is a mixed bag; while it features a powerful message stemming from the developer's personal trauma that resonates deeply with some players, others find the emotional themes too specific and poorly conveyed throughout the gameplay. Many players appreciate the impactful conclusion, but feel that the preceding content fails to effectively transmit the intended emotional weight, often feeling like a standard arcade platformer until the end. Overall, the emotional experience varies significantly among players, with some finding it profoundly moving and others feeling disconnected.
“The unique visibility mechanics combined with a good challenge in a strongly emotional atmosphere are things that make this a fine gaming experience for those who have what it takes to press on.”
“This one includes a message that you will understand (different from the other cutscenes), and it's a relevant message to anyone who's been through emotional problems.”
“It made me cry when I read it, because I realized that I had a problem.”
- music6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its quality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many users expressing a desire for the soundtrack to be available for purchase. The sound effects complement the music well, creating an immersive experience, particularly during cutscenes and credits. Additionally, the developer's vocal additions during gameplay contribute positively to the game's ambiance.
“The music and atmosphere are really good.”
“The music in this game is awesome, especially during the cutscenes and credits.”
“I actually hope that the soundtrack at some point becomes available to download or purchase.”
“The music and effects mesh well and don't get grating; also, the fact that the developer growls at your failures adds to the atmosphere.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that the game's stability is generally solid, with a well-balanced difficulty curve. However, occasional intentional deaths and minor glitches can lead to frustration, particularly when players encounter unexpected mechanics, such as the inability to dash while using the boomerang.
“The difficulty curve felt pretty good to me, except for the occasional times it kills you on purpose or the minor glitches that might annoy you a couple of times. The most deaths I got in a level was 30, and it was because I could not figure out that you cannot dash while using the boomerang.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to progress without losing significant progress.”
“I experienced several game-breaking bugs that forced me to restart levels, which completely ruined the experience.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users have noted that the game currently lacks certain optimization settings, such as subtitle options and the ability to adjust graphics quality for better performance. However, a patch is expected to address these shortcomings in the near future.
“Some settings are lacking, such as subtitles or the ability to reduce game quality for better performance. A patch is in the works to fix these issues.”
“The game suffers from severe optimization problems, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
“Despite the potential of the game, the lack of optimization makes it nearly unplayable on lower-end systems.”
