ROUGH KUTS: Night of the Living Dead
- March 23, 2021
- ekult
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreNIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968) PLOT: A ragtag group of Pennsylvanians barricade themselves in an old farmhouse to remain safe from a horde of flesh-eating ghouls that are ravaging the East Coast of the United States. This is an interactive version of a classic B&W film with multiple story paths or choices to be made throughout the viewing. Your choices & actions help create your own ver…
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Rough Kuts is a great way for fans of classical horror movies to experience and appreciate these films interactively.
- The game offers a fun and affordable way to discover public domain movies, especially for those who enjoy FMV games.
- The concept of gamifying classic films with choices adds a unique twist, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre.
- The gameplay is very limited, with choices that do not significantly alter the movie's narrative, leading to a tedious experience.
- Technical issues such as poor video quality, lack of pause functionality, and no save options detract from the overall enjoyment.
- Many players feel that the game does not add enough value to justify its cost, as the films are available for free elsewhere.
- story5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is reminiscent of interactive narratives found in modern "choice videos," allowing players to influence the outcome through decisions, similar to classic DVD features that offered scene selection. While the game includes "game over" scenarios that end the story prematurely, it emphasizes character interactions and storytelling moments, enhancing the overall narrative experience. Additionally, players can access a recording of the short story "The Isle of the Undead," although without interactive controls.
“This sounds a lot like modern 'choice videos' like the Netflix items Black Mirror: Bandersnatch and Minecraft: Story Mode.”
“Possibly a throwback to the good old days, where a handful of DVDs allowed you to do something similar, e.g. switch camera angles in certain scenes, or just generally jump/pick scenes to create an alternate storyline.”
“If you pick 'engage in conversation', you get to see moment 2, where person A asks person B and person B gets to tell their story, followed by moment 3, because that's how the movie goes.”
“Yes, there are some 'game over' scenarios added, but they only end the story prematurely with the main character's death.”
“This feels a lot like modern 'choice videos', such as Netflix's 'Black Mirror: Bandersnatch' and 'Minecraft: Story Mode'.”
“If you choose 'engage in conversation', you get to see moment 2, where person A asks person B, and person B gets to tell their story, followed by moment 3, because that's how the narrative unfolds.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The gameplay is described as limited and simplistic, primarily serving as a means to access movies at a low cost rather than providing a deep or engaging experience. Users find it becomes tedious and boring quickly, with the films presented in a basic format that detracts from the overall interactive experience.
“The gameplay is a fun and really affordable way to discover movies.”
“I recommend this only if you wish to get movies for cheap with light gameplay, and not if you're looking for a deep narrative or choose-your-own-adventure game.”
“The films are all 720p stock, packed in a format for the interactive gameplay to read.”
“Now, while it’s a fun and really cheap way to get and discover the movies, the gameplay is very limited.”
“Thus, I recommend it only if you wish to get the movies for cheap with light gameplay and not if you’re looking for a deep narrative, CYOA game.”
“This becomes tedious and boring after just a few minutes of gameplay.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and boring, often feeling that it disrupts the overall flow of gameplay after just a few minutes. This negative perception suggests that the grinding mechanics detract from the enjoyment and engagement of the game.
“This becomes tedious and boring after just a few minutes of gameplay.”
“This kind of game implementation is not only conceptually tedious and boring, but also practically disrupts the game flow.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy is criticized as a low-effort cash grab, lacking substantial functionality despite the promising concept of an interactive movie.
“As good as the idea is, it's a low-effort cash grab with barely any functionality even for something as simple as an interactive movie.”
“The monetization strategy feels exploitative, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
“I was excited to play, but the constant push for in-game purchases ruined the experience.”
