Scar of the Doll

About

Scar of the Doll is a single player action game. It was developed by Child-Dream and was released on April 20, 2017. It received very positive reviews from players.

Scar of the Doll is a beloved '90s visual novel remastered for Steam. Asumi goes to Tokyo to search for her only sister whom she has mysteriously not heard from for months. With an intelligent and unpredictable story, uncover a frightening truth in this thrilling suspense mystery.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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95%

Audience ScoreBased on 76 reviews

story24 positive mentions

The story is engaging with unexpected twists and a compelling narrative that keeps players intrigued throughout.
The atmosphere and music are well-crafted, enhancing the overall experience and immersing players in the game's suspenseful tone.
Despite its short length, the game offers a nostalgic charm and is considered a must-play for fans of visual novels, especially those who enjoy mystery and thriller elements.

The game can feel overly linear, with many choices leading to game overs, which may frustrate players who prefer more meaningful decision-making.
Some players found the graphics and art style dated, which may not appeal to modern visual novel fans.
The translation and dialogue can be awkward at times, detracting from the overall storytelling experience.

story
66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
58%
6%
The story of the game is characterized by its engaging and unpredictable narrative, filled with twists, sudden deaths, and a mix of mystery and psychological horror elements. While some players found the writing and translation lacking, many appreciated the depth and thought-provoking nature of the plot, which keeps players curious and invested throughout. Despite some graphical issues and a linear structure, the overall storytelling experience is often described as enjoyable and reminiscent of a "choose your own adventure" thriller.
- “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.”
music
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
60%
20%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its nostalgic MIDI background and memorable tracks that enhance the atmosphere, while others criticize it for being repetitive and poorly integrated with the gameplay. The overall ambiance is noted as tense and immersive, although some find the music choices in certain scenes to be odd or silly. Despite some technical issues and a few flat moments in the soundtrack, many appreciate the game's unique vibe and the role of music in shaping the experience.
- “The music and atmosphere are immaculate, and I had fun experiencing the story again.”
- “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.”
- “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 dialogue feels flat at times, and some of the characters feel under-developed.”
graphics
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
31%
19%
The graphics of "Scar of the Doll" feature a nostalgic 90s art style that combines charming visuals with timelessly classic sprites and artwork, though some modern players may find it dated. While there are minor graphic issues and typos, the overall presentation is clean and well-executed, contributing positively to the game's engaging story. Despite its age, the unique aesthetic and appealing portrait art style resonate with many players, making it a worthwhile experience.
- “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.”
- “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.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive quality, enhanced by an exceptional soundtrack and a tense, unsettling ambiance. While it may lack cutting-edge visuals, the compelling story and effective atmosphere create a memorable experience for players. Overall, the atmosphere is a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's appeal.
- “The music and atmosphere are immaculate, and I had fun experiencing the story again.”
- “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.”