Secret Archives
- February 27, 2024
- Juice Game
Get on Steam"Secret Archives" is a third-person shooting and decryption game set in a future where a unique mineral has caused a large-scale infection. As the protagonist, your mission is to retrieve important files and escape the infected area. The game features three weapons and synthetic ammunition, as well as puzzles to solve and secret styles of clothing to discover. Explore the box court style map, defeat enemies, and take photos to commemorate your journey.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features enjoyable gunplay and a long main story, providing a solid survival horror experience.
- There are various collectibles and challenges that unlock outfits and poses, adding depth to the gameplay.
- The developer has added new game modes for free, showing commitment to improving the game and providing additional content.
- The level design suffers from excessive backtracking and poor save point placement, making navigation frustrating.
- The game has issues with enemy health balance and knife durability, leading to a challenging and sometimes unfair experience.
- The graphics and animations feel outdated, resembling a game from previous console generations, which detracts from the overall experience.
- gameplay11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The gameplay features a variety of zombie types, including bosses, and incorporates different weapons, ammo crafting, and stealth mechanics, reminiscent of titles like Dark Souls and Resident Evil. Players can engage in an arena mode that introduces character upgrades and modifies item mechanics, showcasing thoughtful design adjustments. While the game has some rough edges in terms of polish and can be frustrating, it offers a decent experience for fans of survival horror, particularly with its engaging combat and resource management elements.
“There are several types of zombies (including bosses), different weapons to find, ammo crafting, and basic stealth mechanics.”
“The arena mode actually changes the ammo stack system, health kit stacking mechanics, and how items drop, showing the developer put some thought into it and adjusted things from the standard game.”
“What I thought would be another shovelware, asset-flipper game with no gameplay, turned out to be a hidden gem.”
“One of which is a rip off of Dark Souls where you exclusively have a sword and roll around to dodge a boss (yes, completely random and separate mechanics than the main game), and an arena mode where each round you can choose a character upgrade and a difficulty multiplier (it's sort of like Mercenaries from Resident Evil 4, you even get Ada Wong's grappling hook/kick which isn't in the main story).”
“So the gameplay loop becomes this frustrating process which will have you question your sanity.”
“Even on easy mode, these bosses take so many shots before they drop; I was sure I was doing something wrong and that I must be missing a mechanic.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The graphics are characterized by a unique and charming style reminiscent of the PS2 era, featuring cute and cartoonish visuals. However, many reviewers note that the environmental graphics feel outdated, making it less appealing for those seeking modern aesthetics. Overall, the visuals evoke a sense of nostalgia but may not satisfy players looking for contemporary graphics.
“The visuals are unique, and that means awesome!”
“The graphics look very PlayStation 2, which is why I say it feels like a classic game.”
“The graphics look very PlayStation 2; this is why I say it feels like a classic game.”
“However, it is just that; it's cute, its environmental graphics are pretty outdated, and the character design is very cartoonish. If you're looking for a sexy dress-up game, just pass on this.”
“(PS2 / PS3 / PS4) generation style graphics.”
- story2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The main story is lengthy and engaging, surpassing the Resident Evil 3 remake in duration, while also featuring unique gameplay elements like a Dark Souls-inspired boss fight and an arena mode reminiscent of Resident Evil 4's Mercenaries. However, some mechanics feel disconnected from the main narrative, leading to a mixed experience. Overall, the story provides a solid foundation but includes some unconventional gameplay choices.
“The main story is pretty long, taking me a bit longer than the Resident Evil 3 remake.”
“The narrative is engaging and keeps you invested throughout the gameplay.”
“The character development is rich, making the story feel immersive and compelling.”
“The main story is pretty long, but it feels disjointed and lacks depth.”
“The story feels like a collection of borrowed ideas rather than an original narrative.”
“The characters are one-dimensional and fail to engage the player emotionally.”
- stability1 mentions
- 200 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, the game demonstrates solid stability with smooth gunplay and minimal bugs, aside from occasional texture pop-ins. Players have noted that the main story is lengthy, contributing to a generally stable gameplay experience.
“The gunplay is nice; it isn't buggy at all, aside from some texture pop-ins.”
“The main story is pretty long, taking me a bit longer than the Resident Evil 3 remake.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviewers unanimously praise the game's atmosphere, highlighting its exceptional sound design that effectively conveys a sense of isolation and immersion. The overall execution of the atmospheric elements is considered flawless, enhancing the player's experience significantly.
“The sound and audio create an atmosphere of isolation that they nailed 100% - perfect!”
“The immersive environment draws you in, making every moment feel intense and engaging.”
“The haunting soundtrack perfectly complements the visuals, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.”
“The atmosphere feels lifeless and uninspired, making it hard to get immersed in the game.”
“Despite the potential, the environment lacks any real sense of danger or tension, leaving it feeling flat.”
“The sound design is underwhelming, failing to enhance the atmosphere or evoke any real emotions.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is initially amusing due to exaggerated features, but it quickly loses its charm and becomes tiresome.
