Pyramid Curse
- September 20, 2023
- SpoocleMacBoogle
Get on Steam"Pyramid Curse" is an analog found footage horror adventure that takes you through a harrowing journey in a sinister underground inverted pyramid. With a focus on body horror and unexpected twists, the game presents the stories of various characters who will give you different perspectives on the pyramid's curse. It's an atmospheric short story perfect for fans of analog body horror. 'Pyramid Curse' has no specific release date, and it was developed and published by an unknown company.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game effectively creates a creepy atmosphere with its retro aesthetic and sound design, enhancing the overall horror experience.
- The narrative, while short, is engaging and features interesting character perspectives that keep the player intrigued.
- The found footage style and unique gameplay elements contribute to a compelling interactive audiovisual experience.
- The game is criticized for its short length and lack of depth, leaving players feeling underwhelmed for the price.
- The storytelling is often described as disjointed and predictable, failing to deliver impactful twists or a cohesive narrative.
- Some gameplay mechanics, such as scavenger hunts, can feel tedious and detract from the overall immersion.
- story19 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The story of the game presents an intriguing premise with a creepy atmosphere, but it suffers from disjointed storytelling and a lack of depth, often feeling mediocre and reminiscent of average creepypasta. While some players appreciated the creative narrative structure and character perspectives, others noted that the writing could be improved for a more engaging experience. Overall, the story leaves many elements open to interpretation, which can be both a strength and a weakness, and players express a desire for a sequel that expands on the narrative.
“There are several activities, ranging from driving a rover through a ruin and hunting for a friend in the forest to looking at files and carrying out interviews, creating the feel of rummaging through a dusty cardboard box of tapes and heavily redacted dossiers labeled top secret years after the events of the story.”
“Loved the switch-up with POVs and the story/lore!”
“I thought everything in the game came together nicely, the visual perspectives were cool, the story was creative, and the mood was on point.”
“The story is just on level with an average creepypasta, and it's just overall, mediocre.”
“The story itself is fine, nothing groundbreaking; the writing, however, is not the best.”
“Pretty good game, with a lot left unanswered, although the story does have some flaws and unintentional paradoxes.”
- graphics11 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their gritty, analog horror aesthetic, featuring fleshy, gory visuals enhanced by a grainy VHS filter that adds to the unsettling atmosphere. Reviewers appreciate the effective use of camera perspectives and retro textures, noting a significant improvement in color balance compared to previous titles. Overall, while the visuals are well-executed and contribute to the horror experience, some feel that the substance of the game does not fully match its impressive presentation.
“I liked the nasty, gritty aesthetic; the fleshy parts look fungal, gory, and wet, and the grainy VHS filter makes everything look more upsetting by making it difficult to see clearly.”
“The found footage-esque visuals and retro PSX shaders—this is all done very well, and it doesn't at all feel like a gimmick.”
“Also, something about the color and texture in this game works really well; a lot of the time indie horror games can get too dark or have too many solid colors, but here I think you found a really good balance with the retro texture.”
“Short analogue horror with a running time of thirty to forty minutes and featuring 3DO quality visuals.”
“It held up somewhat presentation-wise graphically as not much has changed from the last titles, but it feels like any tension that was built was deterred by the overaccumulation of how serious it took itself in the original statement it made at the game, as well as topped it off with its lacking ending.”
“A lot of the time indie horror games can get too dark or have too many solid colors, and you are guilty of doing that as well in the previous games, but here I think you found a really good balance with the retro texture.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is praised for its strong, creepy elements reminiscent of conspiracy horror, effectively immersing players in a chilling experience. However, some reviews note a decline in atmospheric tension as gameplay progresses, with certain sections feeling rushed or lacking depth. Overall, while the atmosphere is generally well-received, there are suggestions for improvement in storytelling to enhance engagement.
“There's an X-Files/Delta Green conspiracy horror atmosphere at play here that scratches an itch I have perfectly.”
“Once again, the dev has nailed the atmosphere!”
“Devolves into a cheap scavenger hunt after 10 minutes where 6/7 objects can be found very quickly, lacking atmosphere beforehand.”
“While Spooclemacboogle definitely has a knack for creating a creepy atmosphere that drips with style, and they are skillful at combining several different game elements into one cohesive whole, I would perhaps suggest that they hire a writer for future games, so that the storytelling is perhaps more engaging and not so amateurish sounding.”
“The atmosphere of the map, the overall presentation, etc. were quite impressive.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally considered short and not mechanically complex, but it offers a compelling interactive audiovisual experience that many find worth the low price. While the game features various gameplay segments and character perspectives, it successfully maintains an engaging narrative. The shift towards walking-sim elements with creative transitions has been positively received, enhancing the overall experience.
“Even though you segmented the game with different types of gameplay and perspectives of different characters, I think overall the narrative was easy and compelling to follow.”
“The whole gameplay changes here felt a lot less distracting; I think in the previous games the visual novel elements were a bit awkward, but here you relied more on the walking-sim gameplay with a few creative transitions. Overall, it was very creative.”
“C$3.89 for an average playtime of 25 minutes, and the gameplay isn't special.”
“It might not be very long and the gameplay is not mechanically deep, but as an interactive audiovisual experience for £2.50 (or less if you get it as part of the three terrors collection as I did), I felt like it was well worth the cost.”
“Even though you segmented the game with different types of gameplay and perspective of different characters, I think overall the narrative was easy and compelling to follow.”
