Please Wake Up
- January 29, 2021
- chris.lu
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Please Wake Up" is a metafictional horror game that uses psychological techniques to delve into the nature of memory, perception, and reality. With simple gameplay and a unique, experimental narrative, the game aims to challenge your understanding of reality. The full game features five levels and may take up to two hours to complete depending on the player. *WARNING*: The full game uses optical illusions that can have minor visual effects lasting up to three minutes.
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Reviews
- The game features a unique and innovative premise that creatively combines horror with memory challenges, keeping players engaged and on edge.
- The background audio, including podcasts and police reports, adds depth to the narrative and enhances the overall atmosphere of the game.
- The level design and gradual increase in difficulty provide a satisfying challenge, making players pay close attention to their surroundings.
- The jump scares can feel cheap and repetitive, detracting from the overall horror experience and failing to deliver on the buildup of tension.
- If players fail a level, they must restart from the beginning, which can become tedious and frustrating, especially with repeated audio clips.
- The ending feels rushed and lacks a satisfying conclusion, leaving players wanting more closure to the story.
- story16 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as interesting and unique, featuring a blend of podcasts and interviews that provide context and depth, particularly around themes of brain and memory processes. However, some players found the ending rushed and lacking a proper conclusion, while the text transitions between levels, though informative, can be visually straining. Overall, the narrative is seen as simple yet engaging, with a mix of intriguing elements.
“I appreciated the interviews which had interesting conversations about the brain/memory processes, and I like how the main story slowly ties in to everything you're doing.”
“I like it a lot, it's simple and has a bit of spice in there to have an awesome story.”
“These are important to the game because it gives you context to the story.”
“The ending felt rushed with no conclusion to the story.”
“There is text in between levels to move the story along, but it has a blur effect that can be a bit straining on the eyes, although it can be turned off.”
“These elements are important to the game because they provide context to the story.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is praised for its excellent buildup and attention to creepy audio ambiances, effectively creating a tense environment. However, some users feel that certain elements undermine this tension, leading to a diminished sense of fear and engagement.
“The atmosphere build-up is excellent, with great attention put into some of the creepy audio ambiances.”
“It cheapens all of the buildup and atmosphere, and I just sort of roll my eyes at this thing now instead of being scared by it.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay features a young boy navigating through his memories while in a coma, offering a fun and engaging experience with challenging and trippy elements, as well as moments of suspense.
“A young boy in a coma is trying to wake up through memories, featuring fun gameplay with cool and trippy challenges and just the right amount of scares.”
“The gameplay is engaging and offers a unique experience as you navigate through the boy's memories, filled with challenging and imaginative elements.”
“I love how the gameplay keeps you on your toes with its creative twists and turns, making every moment feel fresh and exciting.”
- music2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The music in the game effectively heightens tension and creates a sense of urgency, compelling players to stay alert to their surroundings as the score intensifies. This immersive audio experience enhances the overall challenge, driving players to navigate changing environments with increasing dread.
“The music creates an atmosphere of increasing dread, compelling you to pay close attention to your surroundings as you navigate through the challenges.”
“The soundtrack perfectly complements the gameplay, enhancing the tension and urgency as you search for changing set pieces.”
“The way the music swells adds a layer of emotional depth, making each moment feel more intense and immersive.”
“The music is repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged during long play sessions.”
“While the sound effects are decent, the music feels out of place and doesn't enhance the overall atmosphere of the game.”
“The soundtrack is forgettable and fails to create the emotional impact that the game seems to aim for.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game somewhat tedious, as each level involves repetitive point-and-click mechanics in a single setting. While it may not be engaging enough for binge play, it still manages to maintain interest and encourage players to return for the next level.
“As for the downside, it does get a little tedious, with each level just being a point-and-click through one setting, so it's not really a game I felt I could binge, but it was good enough to keep me coming back for the next level.”
