ShadowSide
- August 17, 2018
- AdroVGames
- 6h median play time
Get on Steam"ShadowSide" is a single-player simulation game with a gripping story and fantastic visuals. As policeman Alex Carter, players explore the eerie, atmospheric town of Nightwood, where they'll uncover shocking truths and encounter several possible endings. With stunningly realistic graphics and an interactive environment, players can inspect objects and locations, adding depth to the immersive gameplay experience.
Reviews
- The game features beautiful graphics and a well-crafted atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
- The story, while convoluted, offers intriguing twists and keeps players engaged with its mysterious elements.
- There are multiple endings and achievements to pursue, adding replay value for players who enjoy exploration and completion.
- The narrative is disjointed and confusing, making it difficult for players to follow the plot and understand character motivations.
- Gameplay can feel tedious due to excessive walking and poorly designed level navigation, leading to frustration.
- Technical issues such as crashes, lack of save options, and inconsistent controls detract from the overall experience.
- story100 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The story of the game is described as convoluted and confusing, with many players struggling to follow its numerous twists and genre shifts, ranging from crime thriller to supernatural horror. While some appreciate the intriguing premise and atmospheric elements, many criticize the lack of coherent plot development and character depth, leading to a narrative that feels disjointed and poorly executed. Overall, the ambitious scope of the story seems to overwhelm the game's design, resulting in a frustrating experience for players seeking a clear and engaging narrative.
“The story is rather mature, being a strange spiritual possession type of story happening amidst members of law enforcement.”
“I think this game is a prime example of how a good story is not simply told through dialogue but through atmosphere, environments, world-building, and perspective.”
“The story is intriguing if a bit convoluted, with unexpected and weird plot twists that keep the player engaged.”
“The story seems to be vague and all over the place; the narrative is definitely messy, and I really don't understand what's going on or what my purpose is.”
“The story is a mess.”
“It just keeps changing, and none of the plot elements meld together; the story is needlessly convoluted, and it's all frustratingly difficult to understand.”
- graphics36 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 28 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beauty and attention to detail, showcasing stunning environments and atmospheric visuals that enhance the overall experience. While some users noted issues with optimization and gameplay dullness, the general consensus is that the graphics are a standout feature, making the game visually appealing despite its narrative shortcomings. Overall, the game's use of the CryEngine contributes to a rich and immersive visual experience, though some players experienced technical issues that detracted from their enjoyment.
“It drew me in with its gorgeous graphics, lovingly created environments, and a willingness to just let the player walk for ages and bask in that setting.”
“Not to mention the visuals are absolutely gorgeous, really adding to the atmosphere and the stunning variety in said environments had gone a long way in keeping things fresh.”
“Every chapter is unique and the graphics are very beautiful, partly stunning!”
“Badly developed game, poor graphics and interaction. With this price, you can buy way better games than this; do not waste your money.”
“Similarly to the investigator, the graphics menu only allows preset values. We do have v-sync, chromatic aberration, and motion blur available, but additional options would have been nice.”
“If you have a pretty decent graphics card, give this one a shot; this game eats your GPU cores like you wouldn't expect.”
- atmosphere28 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 18 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its beautiful graphics, immersive environments, and effective use of sound, creating a tense and eerie experience. While some players appreciate the atmospheric storytelling and chilling settings, others criticize the gameplay as dull and disjointed, suggesting that the strong atmosphere cannot fully compensate for the game's narrative shortcomings. Overall, the game successfully evokes a sense of horror and suspense, though it may not appeal to those seeking more dynamic gameplay.
“I think this game is a prime example of how a good story is not simply told through dialogue but through atmosphere, environments, world-building, and perspective.”
“Not to mention the visuals are absolutely gorgeous, really adding to the atmosphere, and the stunning variety in said environments has gone a long way in keeping things fresh.”
“The dark sci-fi thriller of Shadowside is a visually neat, fairly ambitious, and occasionally intriguing walking simulator that mainly emphasizes running since walking is far too slow and needlessly time-consuming, as you search for various collectibles and documents in the overall linear landscapes that refreshingly involve snowy scenery, providing a decent and chilly atmosphere of something obscure happening.”
“Atmosphere: it is tense when it has to be, and quite scary with a real sense of impending doom for a great deal of its playtime... until it switches to another random stroll through some abandoned Russian town/farmstead.”
“The dark sci-fi thriller Shadowside is a visually neat, fairly ambitious, and occasionally intriguing walking simulator that mainly emphasizes running since walking is far too slow and needlessly time-consuming, as you search for various collectibles and documents in the overall linear landscapes that refreshingly enough involve snowy scenery, providing a decent and chilly atmosphere of something obscure happening.”
“But if you are easily distressed by jump scares and a suspenseful atmosphere, then go into this with caution.”
- gameplay26 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay has been criticized for being dull and overly simplistic, often resembling a walking simulator with minimal player interaction and inconsistent mechanics. While some players appreciated the atmosphere and visual design, many found the gameplay to be linear, repetitive, and plagued by technical issues, leading to a frustrating experience. Overall, the game lacks depth and cohesion, which detracts from its potential despite a well-written story and engaging horror elements.
“The gameplay is easy, so I did what I liked -- I played for the story.”
“This game combines a well-written story, frightening horror parts, tense gameplay, and beautiful scenery.”
“I got about 7 hours of gameplay out of it, but that is with exploring as much as possible and stopping to take screenshots.”
“It has no consistent mechanics and plays like a Unity demo (CryEngine demo to be exact); basically, it's a walking simulator with jumpscares.”
“The gameplay makes you think you are interacting, but you are just pressing a button and watching something happen that plays out the same way every time.”
“But after that, it's a very shallow game, with a confusing story, very linear and simplistic gameplay, where you press a button and automatically the character does stuff with zero player interaction.”
- optimization10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews; while some players report excellent performance with stable frame rates and a well-optimized engine, others experience significant lag and performance dips, particularly in large areas. Overall, the game's optimization appears inconsistent, with some users unable to play at higher resolutions due to performance issues, while others enjoy smooth gameplay.
“On a final note, the visuals are great, the sound is just right, and the game is optimized well.”
“Optimized 3D engine (144 fps at 2K with 1080 Ti).”
“The developer did a great job with optimization, as it's completely stable, rendering at a constant 60+ fps with no crashes, bugs, or glitches... at least in my experience.”
“This is a walking simulator, and you are just walking in the game's very empty, lifeless world, which has many dead ends in a badly optimized, laggy engine.”
“Performance is so poor you have to use 800x600.”
“Large areas make for some dips in performance at times.”
- music7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as having a nice and creepy quality, contributing to its atmospheric potential. However, it suffers from repetitiveness, particularly during lengthy load screens, which can detract from the overall experience. While some players appreciate the background music's quality, others find it monotonous and sleep-inducing over time.
“Furthermore, the story has some very unexpected and weird plot twists... and the music is nice and creepy.”
“It's a shame because the game has nice graphics and music, and it feels like it has the potential to be a good game.”
“The soundtrack makes you fall asleep, and the game not looking nearly as good as in the screens here.”
“The deathly-boring clichés, not to mention the senseless walking from A to B to experience zero that is worth a minute of your time.”
“At least the background music is well created.”
- stability3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally praised, with many players experiencing smooth performance at 60+ fps and no crashes. However, some users have encountered game-breaking glitches that hinder progress, indicating that while optimization is strong, there are still occasional issues that need addressing.
“The game runs smoothly without any bugs or glitches.”
“I appreciate how stable the gameplay is; it never crashes.”
“The experience is consistently reliable, making it enjoyable.”
“My biggest problem with the game came in the form of a couple of game-breaking glitches. For example, on the farm, I couldn't pick up the shovel, so I was wandering around trying to look for a key or something.”
“The game is plagued by stability issues, with frequent crashes and bugs that disrupt gameplay.”
“I encountered several frustrating bugs that made it difficult to progress, including one that caused my character to get stuck in the environment.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often feeling like a slow collection of monotonous tasks rather than engaging exploration. This has led to some frustration, with players noting that it detracts from the overall experience.
“Grinding is a rewarding experience that keeps you engaged.”
“The grind may be tough, but the sense of achievement makes it worthwhile.”
“Seems mostly like a slow collection of tedious tasks tied together with walking simulation, which is not something I'm very interested in.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“This goes from being exploration to being completely tedious.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviewers express confusion over the game's monetization strategy, noting a dissonance between the game's setting and its advertising elements, such as English-language signs and dialogue amidst a predominantly Russian environment. This inconsistency detracts from immersion and raises questions about the game's marketing approach.
“Not making advertising, but the similar game name 'Bros' from the same developer did make it happen to me.”
“It was just jarring to see a police car with English writing, ads and posters in English, car speedometers in mph (which suggests the United States, not Russia), police radio banter in English, but then to have everybody speak Russian.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game effectively blends dark themes, such as murder and horror, with lighthearted humor through quirky sidequests, like the amusing quest to find a stuffed cat. This juxtaposition creates a unique comedic contrast that enhances the overall experience.
“The game brilliantly juxtaposes the serious topic of murder and being on the run with hilarious side quests, like the NPC who asks you to find their cat (spoiler alert: it's a stuffed cat) and other bouts of silliness.”
“The humor in this game is a delightful contrast to its darker themes, providing moments of levity that keep the experience engaging and entertaining.”
“From absurd character interactions to witty dialogue, the game masterfully weaves humor into its narrative, making even the most intense situations feel lighthearted.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with users expressing heartfelt recommendations that highlight its ability to resonate deeply with players.
“It's a heartfelt recommendation.”
“The emotional depth of the story left me in tears.”
“I felt a profound connection to the characters and their struggles.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game offers some replayability through its multiple endings, encouraging players to explore different outcomes. However, many reviewers note that later chapters require extensive running, which may detract from the overall experience.
“The game offers significant replay value with multiple endings to discover, though players should be ready for extensive exploration in the later chapters, which prioritize long journeys over story development.”
“With various choices leading to different outcomes, the replayability factor is high, encouraging players to experience all the unique paths the game has to offer.”
“Each playthrough reveals new elements and surprises, making it a joy to revisit the game and uncover all its secrets.”
“There is a bit of replay value given the multiple endings that can be found throughout the game, though be prepared to do a lot of running as many of the later chapters prefer long treks over story building.”
“Once you've experienced the main storyline, there's little incentive to replay the game, as the side quests feel repetitive and lack depth.”
“The game offers some replayability through different character choices, but the lack of significant changes in gameplay makes it feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
