project BLARI
- October 20, 2020
- MaxEstLa
Get on Steam"Project BLARI" is a horror-inspired survival game with PS1-style graphics, where you play as an investigative journalist, Terence Lebrun, uncovering a mysterious disaster at the Local Tax Administration and Regulation building. With a large open map and multiple zones, you must escape the entity's grip, choose your allies and enemies, and find the entity's weak point to survive. The game offers a choose-your-own-ending approach, allowing you to decide who to help and who to kill in this original and open independent survival game.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game successfully captures a nostalgic PS1 aesthetic, providing an enjoyable atmosphere reminiscent of classic survival horror games.
- Multiple endings and side quests add a layer of replayability, allowing players to explore different outcomes based on their choices.
- The gameplay features engaging mechanics, such as stealth and resource management, which can create tension and excitement during encounters.
- The game suffers from poor translation, with many key elements remaining in French, making it difficult for non-French speakers to fully understand the story.
- Gameplay mechanics are often frustrating, including the need to spam a key to run and confusing level design that can lead to disorientation.
- The overall execution of the game feels unfinished, with numerous bugs, bland enemy encounters, and a lack of meaningful challenge.
- story14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players feeling that the main narrative lacks depth and is hindered by poorly designed side quests and translation issues. While some appreciate the atmospheric elements and the potential for multiple endings, others criticize the linearity and the lack of challenge in quests, which detracts from overall engagement. Additionally, the failure to translate key story documents leaves non-French speakers at a disadvantage, diminishing their understanding and investment in the plot.
“I feel like more could have been done with the story, but it left room for a sequel.”
“The lore of the game only adds up on it; the small details can tell you a lot about the complex story this game has!”
“Atmosphere, sound, a story that isn't convoluted from the get-go, better translation.”
“The few side quests given by NPCs are basically just 'bring me x item from y place' with practically nothing in the way that could challenge you to get said item.”
“These 'innocent' mistakes affect the storytelling, which in turn diminishes one’s comprehension and eliminates any chance of swaying interest, let alone attention span.”
“Despite this title being marked as full English for the interface and subtitles, most of the interface options remain in French, there are several interactions that are not translated, and none of the notes (which are the key to making any sort of sense out of the story at all) are translated.”
- gameplay10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it boring and lacking depth compared to classic PS1 horror games, while others appreciate its linear structure and the inclusion of missable quests and multiple endings. However, many criticize the absence of crucial mechanics and the overall emptiness of the game world, leading to a sense of monotony. Despite some positive aspects, such as a unique running mechanic, the gameplay is often described as sparse and uninspired.
“The gameplay is a bit of a trump card; once your head is set on it being a linear world, it startles you with a missable quest (and therefore rewards), a survivor to tag along with you, and even steps that pave the way to different endings!”
“There’s more to it; the gameplay has its means of shaking things up and fuddling your sense of direction.”
“I love that mechanic of spamming a button to run instead of just pressing it; it's kind of more stressful in a way, which fits the situation.”
“Sadly, this game executes that, and all of its mechanics, in an awfully boring and lackluster way, when games from the PS1 era it tries to homage handled those things much better.”
“Furthermore, a number of crucial mechanics were either misappropriated or absent altogether.”
“For what it's worth, Project Blari seems to be a basic and boring simulated PS1 horror game with areas that are far too large and empty, no manual save system, no atmosphere, and bland gameplay.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is generally praised for its unique and surrealistic elements, effectively evoking a sense of nostalgia reminiscent of PS1 horror games. However, some players feel that the atmosphere can falter due to large, empty areas and inconsistent sound choices, leading to moments that detract from the overall experience. While many appreciate the charm and immersion, opinions vary on whether the atmosphere is consistently engaging or occasionally feels unfinished.
“The atmosphere of the game is amazing despite its limited graphical prowess.”
“The game has absolutely a unique atmosphere due to its surrealistic elements, which is a hard thing to achieve considering the stylized PS1 B-horror games are getting a bit saturated by now.”
“Games good - for a one-man team he should be very happy with himself, the atmosphere is there.”
“There is a void in the atmosphere, when played in the wrong way, that encroaches into 'unfinished game' territory.”
“For what it's worth, Project Blari seems to be a basic and boring simulated PS1 horror game with areas that are far too large and empty, no manual save system, no atmosphere, and bland gameplay.”
“The game did give me a good spook, but at the same time, some of the music choices take you right out of the atmosphere.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's graphics evoke a nostalgic PS1 aesthetic, successfully creating an immersive atmosphere that complements its horror elements. While some players initially struggle with the dated visuals and tank controls, many appreciate the attention to detail and environmental storytelling that enhance the overall experience. Despite minor issues like missing subtitles and graphic settings, the visuals effectively contribute to the game's genre without feeling overly gimmicky.
“At the surface, its premise and PS1 aesthetic look interesting; a third-person horror, with a semi-open world to explore...”
“Tank controls straight from the 90s, a true PS1 aesthetic, great attention to detail, environmental storytelling, dark questions, choices to be made...”
“The atmosphere of the game is amazing despite its limited graphical prowess.”
“Some titles nail the PS1 visuals, but not the stiff feeling of the movements.”
“It gets worse too… like there not being subtitles for the voiced lines or how the graphic settings were left in French!?”
“I really enjoyed the game, but in the first 2-3 minutes, I got annoyed by the graphics; after that, I became used to them.”
- music4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and contribute to the overall experience, while others criticize it for lacking variety and occasionally disrupting the game's ambiance. Despite these inconsistencies, there are moments where the soundtrack shines, adding to the game's charm. Overall, the music is seen as a double-edged sword that can both elevate and detract from the gameplay experience.
“Combine that with some cool camera work, nice PS1 look, and fantastic music, and you have a hidden gem of a game.”
“The same goes for the soundtrack, which habitually lacks range, until a complete reversal of the present ambiance comes blaring in.”
“The game did give me a good spook, but at the same time, some of the music choices take you right out of the atmosphere.”
“Being an indie game doesn't justify bland gameplay that has almost nothing interesting to offer and gets boring extremely quick, not when there are amazing old school horror-themed games like Signalis, Tormented Souls, and Song of Horror out there.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
While the game features multiple endings that could enhance replayability, many players find the short playtime (60-80 minutes) and the anticlimactic nature of these endings significantly diminish the incentive to replay. As a result, despite the potential for varied outcomes, the overall replay value is considered lacking.
“The multiple endings significantly enhance the replay value, encouraging players to explore different choices and outcomes.”
“Each playthrough offers a unique experience, making it hard to resist diving back in for another round.”
“The variety of paths and decisions keeps the game fresh, ensuring that no two playthroughs feel the same.”
“As for criticism, there's a lack of replay value; it's a short game (about 60-80 minutes) but has multiple endings.”
“Those multiple endings would add to the replay value, but they are seriously so anticlimactic that it makes it just not enough. I've finished two of them; I do plan on doing the others, but who knows when.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional experience of the game is marred by initial confusion due to camera issues, unintuitive controls, and inconsistent language settings, which detract from immersion and engagement.
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's stability is heavily criticized due to numerous bugs and glitches, which contribute to a frustrating experience, especially with the presence of one-hit killer enemies and a vague campaign.
“The enemies are one-hit killers, and the game is riddled with bugs and glitches galore, which only adds annoyance to the already infuriatingly vague campaign.”
“I frequently experience crashes that disrupt my gameplay, making it hard to enjoy the experience.”
“The game is unstable, with constant frame drops and connectivity issues that ruin the overall experience.”
