Scar of the Doll
- April 20, 2017
- Child-Dream
Get on Steam"Scar of the Doll" is a psychological horror adventure game. The player uncovers the dark secrets of a creepy doll factory while controlling two characters with different abilities. The game features puzzle-solving, survival elements, and a haunting atmosphere.
Reviews
- Engaging and unpredictable story with plenty of twists and turns that keeps players intrigued throughout.
- Charming visuals and a nostalgic soundtrack that enhance the overall atmosphere of the game.
- Short playtime makes it a perfect choice for a quick yet compelling experience, especially for fans of visual novels.
- Game mechanics can be frustrating, with many choices leading to game overs and a lack of clear context for the right decisions.
- The game feels overly linear with only one ending, which may disappoint players looking for more branching paths.
- Some technical issues, such as clunky saving mechanics and a lack of settings options, detract from the overall experience.
- story30 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The story of the game is characterized by its engaging twists and turns, often described as a mix of thriller and mystery elements that keep players intrigued. While some reviews highlight issues with writing quality and translation, many appreciate the depth and unpredictability of the narrative, making it a compelling experience despite its visual and technical shortcomings. Overall, the story is seen as a strong point, capable of captivating players even if the execution has its flaws.
“A nice and unpredictable story.”
“The storyline is full of twists and turns, and kept me frightened, curious, and engaged the whole way through.”
“This game is a true visual novel, with some rather deep story and ethical elements.”
“Horrible art (backgrounds, and sprites if you could even call them that since they're so bad), mediocre soundtrack, and what should be the integral part of any visual novel, which is the story, was just very poorly written, boring, and plain bad.”
“This game is not perfect; the character models are cropped, and how you get killed and what the 'right' choices are to progress through the story are very random. Collect this item but don't examine it or you get a bad end is a very frustrating approach to choice-based outcomes.”
“But you die too much before you really know the story and the way to progress.”
- music9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the nostalgic MIDI background tracks and their contribution to the tense atmosphere, while others criticize the soundtrack for being repetitive and poorly integrated. Despite some memorable pieces, the overall execution is seen as mediocre, with noticeable looping and a lack of variety. While the music enhances the game's vibe for some, others find it detracts from the experience due to its inconsistency and flatness.
“This game rules and the vibe is excellent, especially if you respect full MIDI background music as an art form.”
“It does have a tense atmosphere aided by the music and a few creepy scenes with a general sense of unease; atmosphere is something the game does very well.”
“Well, anyways, seeing that it's from the 90s, I just appreciate the sprites/artwork greatly and the soundtrack sounds rather nostalgic.”
“Horrible art (backgrounds, and sprites if you could even call them that since they're so bad), mediocre soundtrack, and what should be the integral part of any visual novel which is the story was just very poorly written, boring, and plain bad.”
“Some of the events in the last part of the game were a little too silly to my taste, with some weird music choices.”
“Location backgrounds are reused, music loop points are very obvious, the dialog feels flat at times, and some of the characters feel under-developed.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming, timeless art style that reflects its 1990s origins, featuring appealing sprites and portrait artwork. While some players note minor graphic issues and the dated visuals may not appeal to everyone, the overall aesthetic is appreciated for its nostalgic quality and clean presentation. Despite its age, the graphics contribute positively to the game's solid storytelling and dynamic dialogue.
“Charming visuals.”
“The translation is well-done, the graphics feel timelessly classic while presenting a clean modern feel.”
“The story was intriguing, the dialogue dynamic, and I even found the artwork to be appealing (although it clearly shows its age, thus it may not work for everyone).”
“A few graphic issues, typos, and incorrect names showing up plague it at times, but not enough to take away from the solid story being told.”
“Scar of the Doll is a visual novel from the 1990s; it doesn't look like anything special, and its art style may turn some modern visual novel fans away, but if you give it about 30 minutes, you will realize there is something unique about this game—it just feels right.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game excels in creating a tense atmosphere, enhanced by its effective music and unsettling scenes that evoke a strong sense of unease. While it may lack cutting-edge visuals, its compelling story and immersive atmosphere more than compensate for this shortcoming.
“It does have a tense atmosphere aided by the music and a few creepy scenes with a general sense of unease; atmosphere is something the game does very well.”
“It may not be the most visually appealing or cutting edge, but its great story and atmosphere alone make up for that.”
