Psychopomp
- January 30, 2024
- Karbonic
- 2h median play time
Welcome to the world of Psychopomp. There are catacombs hidden under every building in the world. Everyone knew about them, but lied to you about them your entire life. Descend into the depths, and see what awaits below. Psychopomp is a short Psychological Horror Dungeon Crawler. Something is wrong with the world, everything is not as you remember. You don't know why, but everything draws you to…
Reviews
- Unique and surreal atmosphere that captivates players and keeps them engaged.
- Great soundtrack and sound design that enhances the overall experience.
- Interesting story with deep themes of paranoia and mental health, encouraging players to explore and theorize.
- Clunky tank controls that can be frustrating and take time to get used to.
- Short gameplay length, leaving players wanting more content.
- Combat mechanics feel underdeveloped and can detract from the overall experience.
- music190 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many players describing it as catchy, eerie, and perfectly fitting for the game's tone. The soundtrack, particularly the ending song, is frequently highlighted as a standout feature, prompting some players to purchase it separately to support the developers. Overall, the combination of music and visuals creates a captivating and immersive atmosphere that resonates with players.
“Outstanding visuals, but the music hooked me even more.”
“The music adds to the atmosphere and the retro-style graphics look amazing!”
“The soundtrack is so eerie and the levels are so weird and cool.”
“The music is ambient, aiding your experience without being the focus.”
“The stronger points of this game are certainly the 2D visuals and the soundtrack as they really add to the game in a very positive way.”
“So scary! The music is also really eerie and grungy to me; it's all rusty and strange.”
- graphics184 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have been widely praised for their unique and artistic style, often evoking nostalgia for retro games while effectively enhancing the overall atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the combination of gritty, surreal visuals and a compelling soundtrack, which together create an immersive experience that complements the game's themes. Many appreciate the attention to detail in the art design, noting that it adds depth to the storytelling and gameplay, despite some areas being criticized for being too dark or simplistic.
“The aesthetic is immaculate and highly immersive, corroded, abyssal, labyrinthine, mystical.”
“The visuals are really artistic and you can tell a lot of passion was put into this project.”
“The surreal surroundings combined with graphics that kind of give you a nostalgic PS1 games feeling make this game stand out, especially for a game that is entirely free.”
“But seriously, the game has such a disgusting, grungy art style.”
“The circumstances such as dark rooms or hallways, a lack of an in-game map, and the already degraded visual clarity due to the art style don't help the situation either.”
“The graphics are grainy and gory like the first 'Silent Hill' game with solid and appealing character designs, and a broody & atmospheric soundtrack.”
- story155 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as unique, intriguing, and often cryptic, leaving players with a mix of confusion and fascination. Many reviewers appreciate the depth and complexity of the narrative, which weaves themes of paranoia and mental health into its gameplay, while others find it disjointed and challenging to fully grasp. Overall, the storytelling is praised for its artistic presentation and emotional impact, making it a memorable experience despite its abstract nature.
“The lore is surprisingly deep and complex, weaving together themes of paranoia and government secrecy that keep you invested in the story.”
“The story is especially nice; it's really cool seeing the mystery unfold with each secret you find.”
“The story, world, and characters are ceaselessly fascinating; it's peak.”
“I don't really understand the story, but it's deliberately cryptic and nutty; it sounds like reading the diary of some schizophrenic conspiracist.”
“There's hardly a plot at all.”
“If you've come expecting a clear story, you'll be disappointed - the entire game is presumably seen through the protagonist's schizophrenic viewpoint... or maybe everything she experiences is as real as it can get.”
- gameplay130 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity and ease of understanding, making it accessible for players, though some find the mechanics a bit clunky or strange at first. While the combat is straightforward and often involves basic actions like walking and hitting, the unique art style and atmospheric elements enhance the overall experience, drawing players into its surreal narrative. Despite its short length and minimal challenge, the game effectively combines exploration with a haunting ambiance, leaving players intrigued and wanting more.
“Gameplay-wise, this game is pretty simple to understand, with easy controls and engaging gameplay. The music and art style, however, are where this game really stands out, creating an experience that is both charming and memorable.”
“The gameplay is a bit strange to get used to, but it works pretty well! Once you grasp the mechanics, combat becomes a breeze, allowing for a fun and engaging experience.”
“The gameplay is simple but doesn't make the game unfun. The 'janky' movement makes enemies hard to notice, creating short but tense encounters. The overall atmosphere is done great, making the world disturbing and morbidly interesting.”
“The gameplay is really bad, really slow.”
“The part that disappoints me most is that the creator clearly has the ability to make a game with a smoother camera and movement system, but deliberately chose an unfun, irritating, and amateur feeling movement system.”
“The gameplay is a bit strange; you just walk around the location, collect items, hit someone with a hammer, and that's about it.”
- atmosphere126 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its unique and immersive qualities, combining eerie sound design, retro-style graphics, and a surreal visual aesthetic that creates a sense of unease and tension. Players appreciate the way the atmosphere enhances the horror experience without relying on cheap jump scares, making it a memorable and engaging journey through a bizarre and unsettling world. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and appeal.
“Genuinely unique world, an acid trip of a setting with an awesome atmosphere, and great sound design.”
“The atmosphere is amazing and horror is alright but nothing spectacular.”
“The use of over/under-saturated colors while keeping a dim and gloomy atmosphere gave me a feeling of uneasiness and the unknown when walking around alone, not knowing what is there.”
“The way the game was set up gave an impression of the atmosphere turning far more deranged and the difficulty ramping up considerably.”
“It's not overtly scary, but it can be mildly disturbing and it's constantly holding an unsettling and creepy atmosphere above your head at all times.”
- humor31 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever and entertaining dialogue, often blending dark and surreal elements with absurdity. Players appreciate the quirky characters, particularly a "funny schizo woman," and the game's ability to balance unsettling themes with lighthearted moments. Overall, the humor is described as immersive, engaging, and a key aspect that enhances the overall experience.
“Very good story, very funny dialogue and interactions.”
“World building is awesome and the humor is super entertaining.”
“A fun mix of humor and horror with an interesting style from a one-man team.”
- emotional25 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is described as a complex blend of feelings, ranging from wholesome and uplifting to unsettling and discomforting. Players report experiencing a wide array of emotions, including happiness, unease, and even disgust, often in surprising ways that challenge typical gaming experiences. Overall, the game evokes strong reactions, making it a memorable and thought-provoking journey.
“This game surprised me with how neat the story is and how this game actually made me feel uneasy, rather than most games.”
“This game made me feel alive again.”
“Really stylish walk through esoteric vibes taking the shape of a dungeon crawler, legit loved the way this game made me feel, big recommend.”
- character development12 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted by its unique and visually captivating character designs that contribute to an eerie atmosphere, reminiscent of classic horror titles. Reviewers praise the art direction and sound design, noting that the characters are both intriguing and unsettling, enhancing the overall experience. However, some critiques mention that certain character designs may clash with the game's tone, and the narrative could benefit from deeper exploration.
“Great art direction, sound design, and character design!”
“Interesting lore and dialogue, eldritch character design and world building, pretty unique controls, and an insane main character.”
“Game has great music, very interesting character designs, and a great art style, good looking environments and skyboxes, killer atmosphere, simple to pick up and play.”
“If I have any criticisms, I felt that some character designs were at odds with the atmosphere and tone, as well as a rather brief and sudden ending.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers good replayability due to its interesting main character and impressive sound design, though some players feel it has limited replay value. However, many agree that the experience is so compelling that it is worth playing at least once, especially since it is free.
“The game offers excellent replayability, with an interesting main character and an amazing original soundtrack and sound design.”
“Each playthrough feels fresh and engaging, making me want to dive back in for more.”
“The variety of choices and outcomes keeps the experience exciting, encouraging multiple runs.”
“The game has little to no replay value, but like Iron Lung, it doesn't need it - this game is an incredible and worthwhile experience I think everyone should try at least once, especially considering it's free.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from numerous exploits and glitches, leading to stability issues, including instances where the game freezes if menu selections are made too quickly during transitions.
“There's also a lot of exploits and glitches in this game.”
“When selecting options in the menu, if you click before the fade ends, the game just freezes.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players express that the grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, suggesting that it requires an unrealistic amount of effort, akin to needing a second life to fully engage with it.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
“I spent hours grinding, and it still feels like I'm nowhere.”