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.
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 game suffers from poor level design, with excessive backtracking and large, empty areas that can make navigation tedious.
- Inventory management is strict, leading to frustration with limited ammo and essential supplies, especially on higher difficulties.
- The game lacks polish in terms of animations and mechanics, with some combat elements feeling awkward and outdated.
- gameplay15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The gameplay features a variety of zombie types, including bosses, and incorporates different weapons, ammo crafting, and basic stealth mechanics. While some mechanics feel derivative, such as the Dark Souls-inspired boss fights, the arena mode introduces unique character upgrades and changes to item management, showcasing thoughtful design. Overall, the game offers a mix of enjoyable combat and resource management, though it may lack polish compared to similar titles, making it a decent choice for fans of the genre.
“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.”
“For a £13.49 game that I got on the 10% introductory sale, I can say it's a decent game if you want a Resident Evil game with colored doors and some puzzles involving finding key items to progress. The three weapons—handgun, assault rifle, and shotgun—feel nice to use, and on easy and normal, you get a lot of ammo. Item management is handy, especially when being able to get the zombies to de-aggro and allow you to sneak by, which is great on hard to save ammo as they are much tankier.”
“The gameplay loop becomes this frustrating process which will have you question your sanity.”
“It has boss fights with awkward mechanics, just without flashy graphics.”
“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.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The graphics are described as having a nostalgic, PlayStation 2-era style, featuring unique and cartoonish visuals that some find charming, while others consider them outdated and lacking in polish. The environmental graphics are noted to be pretty but not particularly impressive, making the overall aesthetic feel more like a classic game rather than a modern one.
“Visuals are unique & that means awesome!”
“The graphics look very PlayStation 2, which is why I say it feels like a classic game.”
“It has boss fights with as awkward mechanics as anything from the RE3 series, just without flashy graphics.”
“(PS2 / PS3 / PS4) generation style graphics.”
“The graphics look very PlayStation 2; this is why I say it feels like a classic game.”
- story4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's main story is lengthy and engaging, surpassing that of the Resident Evil 3 remake, but some players feel it lacks depth, with one reviewer questioning the relevance of story in a zombie game. Additionally, there are separate mechanics and modes that diverge from the main narrative, such as a Dark Souls-inspired boss fight and an arena mode reminiscent of Resident Evil 4's Mercenaries. Overall, while the gameplay is praised, the story aspect appears to be minimal or unimportant to some players.
“The main story is pretty long; it took me a bit longer than the Resident Evil 3 remake.”
“There is no story.”
“Were you ever interested in story, in a zombie game?”
- stability1 mentions
- 200 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that the game is stable with smooth gunplay and minimal bugs, aside from occasional texture pop-ins. The main story is also noted for its length, providing a solid 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.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is praised for its smooth performance, attributed to its visually simple design, with the exception of the character graphics.
“The game runs smoothly because it's visually simple, except for the character.”
“The optimization is impressive, allowing for seamless gameplay even on lower-end devices.”
“I appreciate how the developers focused on performance, making the game accessible to a wider audience.”
- 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.”
“The atmosphere feels lifeless and uninspired, making it hard to get immersed in the game.”
“Despite the potential, the environment lacks any real depth or character, leaving it feeling flat.”
“The sound design is underwhelming, failing to enhance the atmosphere or evoke any real emotion.”
- 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.
