Pyramid Curse
- September 20, 2023
- SpoocleMacBoogle
"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.
Reviews
- The game successfully creates a creepy atmosphere with its gritty visuals and effective use of analog horror aesthetics.
- It offers a unique narrative experience that combines elements of exploration and storytelling, reminiscent of rummaging through old, mysterious files.
- Despite its short length, the game delivers a captivating and unnerving experience that appeals to fans of eldritch horror.
- The gameplay lacks depth and devolves into a scavenger hunt that can feel rushed and unsatisfying.
- The writing is often criticized for being amateurish, detracting from the overall experience and engagement with the story.
- Many players feel the game is overpriced for its short runtime and limited content, suggesting it would be better to purchase during a sale.
- story24 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The story is described as unnerving and engaging, with a mix of activities that create an immersive atmosphere reminiscent of exploring old, classified files. While the narrative has potential and features interesting horror elements, it suffers from mediocre writing and lacks depth, often feeling akin to an average creepypasta. Many reviewers express a desire for a sequel that could expand on the story and address its unresolved aspects, highlighting both its captivating moments and its flaws.
“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.”
“I hope there is a sequel that expands and ties up the story, and is a bit longer than this.”
“Loved the switch-up with POVs and the story/lore!”
“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.”
- graphics16 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their gritty, analog horror aesthetic, featuring fleshy, gory visuals enhanced by a grainy VHS filter that adds to the unsettling atmosphere. While the found footage style and retro PSX shaders are well-executed and contribute to the overall presentation, some reviewers feel that the visuals lack substance and that the game's serious tone detracts from the tension. Overall, fans of analog horror appreciate the aesthetic, though opinions vary on its effectiveness in delivering a compelling experience.
“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—all of this is done very well, and doesn't at all feel like a gimmick.”
“As a fan of analog horror, I think Spoocle really nailed the aesthetics.”
“Short analogue horror with a running time of thirty to forty minutes and featuring 3DO quality visuals.”
“It held up somewhat presentation-wise, 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.”
“The found footage-esque visuals and retro-PSX shaders are done well, but they don't feel like a gimmick.”
- atmosphere12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is frequently praised for its creepy, conspiracy-driven elements reminiscent of X-Files and Delta Green, effectively creating an engaging and immersive experience. However, some players feel that the atmosphere diminishes after the initial exploration, devolving into a less engaging scavenger hunt. Overall, while the atmospheric presentation is impressive, there are suggestions for improvement in storytelling to enhance the overall experience.
“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
- 17 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally considered short and lacking in mechanical depth, but many users find it to be a worthwhile interactive audiovisual experience, especially given its low price point of around £2.50 or C$3.89 for an average playtime of 25 minutes.
“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.”
“C$3.89 for an average playtime of 25 minutes, and the gameplay isn't special.”