Red Haze
- February 13, 2017
- Yai Gameworks
- 11h median play time
Get on Steam"Red Haze" is a first-person shooter game set in a dystopian world overrun by zombies. As a former soldier, players must navigate through levels, battling hordes of the undead and completing objectives to progress. With a variety of weapons and character upgrades, players must strategize and survive in this post-apocalyptic world.
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Reviews
- The game features a unique and engaging story that explores heavy themes such as drug addiction and homelessness, making it thought-provoking.
- The atmosphere is well-crafted, with creepy visuals and sound design that enhance the horror experience.
- There are numerous endings to discover, providing high replayability and encouraging players to explore different choices.
- The game is unfinished, with many promised endings still not available, leading to frustration for players seeking a complete experience.
- The mechanics can be punishing, such as the permadeath system and limited resources, which can make progress feel tedious.
- Voice acting and some writing elements are criticized for being subpar, detracting from the overall immersion.
- story114 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of "Red Haze" is praised for its depth, charm, and psychological horror elements, cleverly intertwining humor with darker themes reminiscent of classic tales like Little Red Riding Hood. Players appreciate the nonlinear narrative and multiple endings that enhance replayability, while the emotional and mature themes resonate deeply, making the protagonist relatable. Despite some critiques regarding pacing and writing quality, the overall storytelling experience is considered engaging and evocative, with a haunting atmosphere and strong visual presentation.
“Red Haze conveys a deep and surprising story over multiple runs with a protagonist that you learn to care for quickly.”
“An intriguing story with adult and dark themes, a haunting sound design, terrifying and bizarre monster designs, an extremely high replayability value, and a couple of well-designed puzzles are only parts of what make this game exceptional in my opinion.”
“Though tragic, the story is beautifully detailed, and you'll need every piece to discover it all (yes, including game overs!), making for excellent replay value.”
“I felt like it was just going to be really cheesy and the story wouldn't be worth the effort of playing on repeat.”
“The story starts off simple, and if you're like me it might frustrate you at the start with what it is thrown at you.”
“A pity given the promise its story had but it's too broken for many players to enjoy.”
- graphics94 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the unique art style that effectively enhances the horror atmosphere, despite some describing it as crude or simplistic. Players appreciate the unsettling visuals and how they contribute to the narrative, while others note technical issues like stuttering and poor controls in certain modes. Overall, the graphics are seen as a distinctive element that aligns well with the game's experimental horror theme, even if they may not appeal to everyone.
“The graphics do a great job of being unsettling and the music is top notch.”
“Graphics: 9/10 - perfectly fit the style of the game.”
“The visuals and art style match the trashed and abandoned setting.”
“There were certain parts of the game where it was so dark that I could barely make out certain objects, which I thought was just an aesthetic horror touch, until I played the game on my friend's Windows computer, on which everything could be made out clear as day.”
“But the graphics aren't the best and in one part of the game it sends you into a 3D mode, which is horrendous to get through because of poor control.”
“- crude artwork (in-game...the end game scenes are pretty nice, but most of the characters don't fit the game and look like they were made in MS Paint)”
- music44 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and emotional depth of the story. The soundtrack is described as fitting the mood perfectly, featuring standout vocal performances and memorable pieces, particularly noted in key moments and endings. While some users find the music to be hit or miss based on personal taste, the overall consensus is that it significantly contributes to the game's immersive experience.
“The music is also great, each piece fits the mood perfectly and whoever does the vocal songs has a superb voice.”
“The game has a wonderful soundtrack, amazing atmosphere, lustrous story, and loads of secrets.”
“All in all, I highly recommend this game, it's got a great story, great voice acting, great music, superb gameplay and an overall engaging experience that keeps you coming back.”
“And unlike the clock tower games, where a change in music was your cue to start running, the only indication that the custodian is close is that unsettling laugh of his.”
“Music is also hit or miss for me, but that's more a matter of taste, so I'll leave it at that.”
“Seems the music caused it in the way it was attached to the game, so bear that in mind.”
- gameplay38 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a mix of engaging puzzles and a frustrating permadeath mechanic that can lead to repetitive experiences, as players often encounter the same endings multiple times. While some find the mechanics unfair and the gameplay simplistic, others appreciate the unique narrative and art style, suggesting that fans of experimental horror may still enjoy the overall experience. Despite its challenges, the game offers a compelling adventure with a nostalgic feel, though it may require patience and reliance on external guides for navigation.
“Definitely not without some difficulty, but the puzzles, gameplay, graphics, and story (especially the story) are very engaging overall.”
“All in all, I highly recommend this game, it's got a great story, great voice acting, great music, superb gameplay and an overall engaging experience that keeps you coming back.”
“Red Haze is an old school style adventure game with some interesting gameplay mechanics.”
“Guides have been helping me through some points of the game, but honestly, gameplay videos and written walkthroughs are rather sparse, so it's been quite the task.”
“Keep in mind, however, that this game asks for a lot of patience and has a frustrating permadeath mechanic - the main 'challenge' in this game is accidentally getting caught by an enemy and receiving an ending you've already seen 10+ times, which happens often.”
“I'm a little disappointed because even though it is only three hundred yen, many of these small indie games are free and have a much better story and gameplay.”
- atmosphere34 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is consistently praised for its haunting, disturbing, and innovative qualities, effectively creating a "nightmare but dream-like" experience that captivates players. Many reviewers highlight the strong tone and tension, complemented by a fitting art style and soundtrack, although some note that gameplay frustrations can detract from the overall ambiance. Overall, it is recognized as a standout indie title that excels in crafting an unsettling and immersive atmosphere.
“Yai Gameworks manages to create some truly haunting games, accomplishing a lot in tone and atmosphere with very little.”
“The atmosphere is really well-crafted; drawing you in and messing with you as you play.”
“For an indie game, it strongly delivers on atmosphere, racking up the tension.”
“For as much as I like the atmosphere and creepiness of this game, I sadly can't say I'd recommend it.”
“Trying everything with everything and repeating the start of the game over and over began to become frustrating when I tried new things that didn’t change anything, which took away from the creepy atmosphere of the game.”
“If you liked Silent Hill for the atmosphere but didn't like combat at all, this will satisfy you, even the voice acting.”
- replayability24 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability, featuring over 20 endings, numerous secrets, and varying experiences with each playthrough, which keeps the gameplay fresh and engaging. While some players noted that certain sections can feel repetitive, the overall enjoyment and exploration aspects contribute to its replay value. The combination of a compelling story and game-changing effects enhances the incentive to replay, making it a standout in terms of replayability for indie games.
“Excellent story, flawless presentation, endless replayability, and genuine fear are all brought to the table here.”
“With multiple endings, Red Haze has a lot of replayability; though the middle of the playthrough may get a little repetitive, it'll be rewarded with more interesting things happening the more endings you achieve.”
“An intriguing story with adult and dark themes, a haunting sound design, terrifying and bizarre monster designs, an extremely high replayability value, and a couple of well-designed puzzles are only parts of what make this game exceptional in my opinion.”
“The replayability isn't very high, but the game will pay forward its worth in the enjoyment you will have playing it, and in the time it takes to truly 'win'.”
“With multiple endings, Red Haze has a lot of replayability, though the middle of the playthrough may get a little repetitive; it'll be rewarded with more interesting things happening the more endings you achieve.”
“I absolutely love that there are more than 20 endings to get; it gives the game a lot of replay value.”
- emotional10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its heavy themes and emotional depth, evoking powerful feelings of sadness and fear through its realistic horror elements. Players anticipate an emotional rollercoaster, drawing comparisons to the poignant storytelling of "To the Moon," and recommend it for those seeking a compelling, story-driven experience.
“From the heavy themes to emotional outcomes, through unlimited scares, Red Haze has it all.”
“After only two endings, I can already tell that this game is going to take me on an emotional rollercoaster.”
“I would definitely recommend this game 'To the Moon' (see what I did there? ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ) and back for anyone looking for an interesting and emotional story-driven experience.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be quite tedious, particularly due to the permadeath mechanic that forces them to restart from the beginning after each failure. While some enjoy the exploration and interaction with the environment, many anticipate that the repetitive nature of the gameplay may become tiresome over time.
“It is an extremely tedious adventure.”
“However, the permadeath and having to restart from the very beginning each time can make it tedious for an adventure/horror with multiple paths and endings.”
“I'm fine with it since I'm still wandering around clicking on everything, but I think it's going to get a bit tedious after a while.”
- stability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game exhibits some stability issues, including glitches, stuttering, and lag, primarily attributed to the limitations of the RPG Maker engine. While these technical difficulties may frustrate less patient players, they do not significantly detract from the overall unique experience the game offers.
“I liked how unique this game was right off the bat, although there are some glitches in some rooms, and if you're not patient, this game isn't for you.”
“There are some technical difficulties with the game - I've noticed some stutter, lag, and a few very minor graphical glitches... but most of that is the result of the RPG Maker engine and its limitations - many of which have been stretched pretty hard to make this game a reality.”
“Aside from a few glitches.”
- character development4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is praised for its well-executed design, striking a balance between creativity and simplicity, which enhances the overall experience. Players express excitement about unlocking additional content and exploring various endings, indicating a strong engagement with the characters. The monster design effectively contributes to the game's eerie atmosphere, further enriching character interactions.
“The character design is very well done without being overdesigned, and the monster design does its job at being nightmare-inducing.”
“Character design is really nice as well, and I can't wait to unlock things and get all the endings eventually.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is highly praised, with users highlighting an excellent price/performance ratio, indicating that players feel they are getting significant value for their investment.
“Excellent price/performance ratio.”
