Playback Trauma: The Beach
- January 26, 2022
- Undying Joy
"Playback Trauma: The Beach" is a 5-15 minute found-footage horror game set on a hauntingly realistic beach at night. As a "Walking Simulator," the game encourages exploration and story discovery, while immersive graphics and psychological horror elements create a chilling atmosphere. The game is inspired by a real beachside town in New Jersey, where remnants of a mysterious corruption lead you to the shoreline with something sinister lurking beyond the clouds.
Reviews
- The game has a great atmospheric design that effectively creates a spooky and immersive experience.
- It features well-executed environmental storytelling, making exploration enjoyable and engaging.
- Despite its short length, the game establishes a creepy and interesting setting that leaves players wanting more.
- The game's short runtime, taking only about 5-15 minutes to complete, is a significant drawback.
- Many players feel that the game serves more as a demo than a fully realized experience, lacking depth in its story.
- Some players found the narrative difficult to follow, which detracted from the overall impact of the scares.
- atmosphere14 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its effective execution, creating a bleak and foreboding environment that enhances the horror experience. Players appreciate the short yet impactful design, which successfully evokes feelings of suspense and jumpiness, making it a compelling choice for fans of atmospheric horror. Overall, the atmosphere is described as immersive and engaging, encouraging players to continue exploring the game.
“A short, simple, yet very well-executed atmospheric horror game.”
“Good atmosphere, very bleak with a sense of foreboding.”
“The atmosphere and style of the game was amazing and it makes you want to play more.”
- story8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its effective creep factor and strong environmental storytelling, with players appreciating the eerie sounds and items that contribute to a larger narrative. However, many feel the story is too short for its price point and would benefit from a clearer plot to enhance the chilling experience.
“Good like it is, but I also would have liked to see the story play out longer because it had a good creep factor.”
“However, it was much shorter than a three dollar game should be. The scares were enough to keep me surprised, but it would have been more chilling if the story had been easier to follow.”
“It's dark, but the different eerie sounds and the items you find tell of a bigger story!”
“I'm a big fan of environmental storytelling, and this game does it very well.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players highlight the game's strong atmospheric elements, noting that it effectively evokes feelings of tension and jumpiness, enhancing the overall emotional experience during gameplay.
- graphics1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their appealing and relaxing aesthetic, contributing to a soothing beach atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
“A short, chill beach game that is relaxing with beautiful graphics.”
“The graphics are stunning and really enhance the overall experience.”
“The vibrant colors and detailed environments make the game visually captivating.”