Savior of the Abyss
- August 12, 2021
- ALLAF GAMES
- 3h median play time
Get on SteamIn "Savior of the Abyss," players guide Stella through a dark hospital in an RPG Maker-style horror adventure. To reach the surface, players must carefully investigate surroundings, solve riddles, and avoid death using various tools. With three endings, players' decisions and investigative skills determine Stella's fate in this atmospheric, suspenseful game.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Interesting H.P. Lovecraft inspired story that is unique for a pixelated RPG horror game.
- Great jumpscares and a cute main character that adds charm to the experience.
- Visually appealing environments and a variety of unique deaths that keep gameplay engaging.
- Poor English translation with grammatical issues that detracts from the story and immersion.
- Lack of environmental music and sound, making the game feel empty and less immersive.
- Game-breaking bugs and frustrating trial-and-error gameplay that can lead to a negative experience.
- story21 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The game's story, inspired by Lovecraftian themes, presents an interesting premise but suffers from poor translation and a lack of depth, leaving players confused about the main character's background and overall narrative. While some appreciate the unsettling atmosphere and intriguing elements, many find the storytelling jumbled and lacking coherence, resulting in an average experience that may benefit from further elaboration on its lore. Overall, the visuals are praised, but the story's execution detracts from its potential impact.
“Lovecraft-inspired story that I have not seen in a pixelated RPG horror game.”
“The story is pretty interesting and the atmosphere is unsettling.”
“Great story and atmosphere, but goes by too quickly.”
“The story is random and jumbled; I'm used to poor translations but it's like they didn't even try here at some parts.”
“Even excluding the translation problems, the story is like a poor attempt at making a 'psychological horror' that isn't even psychological in the first place.”
“The story as well as the overall writing, however, suffers from a lackluster translation on top of the same problems that plague the rest of the game.”
- gameplay9 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a trial-and-error approach, reminiscent of RPG Maker titles like "Mad Father" and "Misao," but is considered less engaging and more tedious. Players appreciate the instant death mechanic and the ample save points that alleviate frustration, while the Unity engine provides a smoother experience compared to traditional RPG Maker games. Overall, the gameplay is seen as a mix of familiar elements with a few unique twists, though it may not captivate all players.
“It's great! For a scaredy-cat, I was able to finish it in around 2-3 hours of gameplay.”
“I loved the instant death mechanic, just like in Witch's House or Misao, and it has enough save points to not make it frustrating.”
“The engine gives the otherwise clunky RPG Maker gameplay a fresher and smoother feeling, which I really like.”
“Puzzles and gameplay are similar to games like Mad Father or Misao, but they are more boring and unexciting.”
“Gameplay is pretty much trial and error; you die and try again a lot until you find the right path or solution.”
“This game feels like it was made using RPG Maker, similar to Misao and Corpse Party, but it was actually made with the Unity engine, which makes it feel a bit strange compared to RPG Maker games.”
- music6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's music aspect has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the absence of music during exploration for its contribution to a sense of isolation and fear, while others feel that the lack of ambient sound detracts from immersion. Many users express a desire for additional background music and sound effects to enhance the overall experience.
“I also like the fact the game has no music during exploration and only relies on footsteps and sound effects to capture a strong sense of isolation and fear of the unknown.”
“I really hope they do a bit of work to add some more sound, music, and ambiance because the game will hook you then.”
“For one, the fact that outside of a few select scenes, the game is completely devoid of music or even ambient sound really hinders it in being an immersive experience.”
“Although this doesn't take too much away from the game, it would be even better if some background sounds or music were added.”
“There is no music to really speak of.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 83 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their unique art style and impressive visuals, with particular appreciation for the pixel art aesthetic and gruesome monster designs. While some reviewers noted that the graphics are the standout feature of the game, others felt that the overall experience was average, suggesting that the visuals alone may not justify the full price.
“I liked the art style and unique deaths.”
“The art style is nice, monsters are gruesome, and will catch you off guard with a jumpscare or two.”
“I appreciated the aesthetic of pixel art, even though there are inconsistencies in item inventory.”
“I appreciated the aesthetic of pixel art, but there are inconsistencies in the item inventory.”
“The graphics feel outdated and lack the polish expected from modern games.”
“Character models are poorly designed and look like they belong in a much older game.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is described as unsettling and engaging, complementing the intriguing story and satisfying puzzles. However, some users noted a lack of background noise, which detracts from the overall creepiness, suggesting that while the atmosphere is strong, it could benefit from additional auditory elements to enhance immersion.
“The story is pretty interesting and the atmosphere is unsettling.”
“Great story and atmosphere, but it goes by too quickly.”
“One thing I did notice is that there is no background noise to create a creepy atmosphere.”
“I enjoyed the scares and the silly ways to die, but it's missing a little atmosphere like background noise.”
“The puzzles were fun, intricate, and made you feel a sense of accomplishment when completed, all the while taking place in an unsettling atmosphere.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with numerous bugs affecting gameplay, particularly during chase scenes, which detracts from the overall enjoyment.
“The game itself is buggy.”
“The chase scenes are buggy and generally unfun.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of fun puzzles and unexpectedly hilarious deaths, reminiscent of classic RPG Maker horror games. While some moments are shockingly funny, the humor is complemented by a touch of Japanese quirkiness, though players may find certain puzzles frustratingly difficult without guidance.
“Almost all the puzzles are pretty fun, and some of the deaths are kind of funny.”
“Some deaths are so shocking they're just straight-up hilarious. There's a bit of Japanese jank that feels quite like those old RPG Maker horror games from the early 2000s.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game demonstrates solid optimization, running smoothly on the Unity engine without any crashes or significant bugs reported by users.
“The game is powered by the Unity engine and has solid performance, with no crashes or game-breaking bugs.”
“The optimization is impressive, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end hardware.”
“I appreciate how well the game runs; the frame rates are consistently high, enhancing the overall experience.”
