Shiver
- October 25, 2017
- Kowai Sugoi Studios
Get on Steam"Shiver" is a single-player Horror Point and Click game that transports you to the eerie and abandoned Windy Oaks National Park in the early 1990s. With only your wits and bravery to rely on, you must uncover the park's mysteries, contact help, and escape before it's too late. The game's dense atmosphere is enhanced by its unique art style, created through a combination of painting and photography, and its spine-tingling puzzles.
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Reviews
- Atmospheric and creepy, effectively building tension and a sense of isolation.
- Engaging puzzles and beautiful graphics that enhance the overall experience.
- Short but enjoyable gameplay that leaves players wanting more.
- Very short playtime, often completed in under an hour, leading to a feeling of incompleteness.
- Lacks a substantial storyline and depth, making it feel more like a demo than a full game.
- Some players found it overpriced for the amount of content provided.
- story13 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as a brief yet engaging horror narrative that effectively builds tension and atmosphere, though many players express a desire for a more developed storyline and connections to previous installments. While some find the short playtime beneficial, others feel it limits the depth of the story, leading to mixed feelings about its completeness. Overall, the story captivates some players, but there is a consensus that it could benefit from expansion and further exploration.
“Its a good story-driven point-and-click game that is more effective in its short playtime than most games with triple the amount of content.”
“Shiver is a short but very spooky and atmospheric game; now let’s get into the story.”
“The story kept me captivated; I wanted to see how things played out for our protagonist.”
“No story.”
“Would have liked more to the story, but it's short so there's not so much time for it anyway.”
“Very short, no real storyline and very simple.”
- atmosphere11 mentions
- 73 % positive mentions
- 9 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is consistently praised for its creepiness and effective use of ambient sound, creating a spooky experience despite its short length. While some reviewers note that it may not fully align with traditional horror, the well-crafted visuals and sound design contribute to a compelling and immersive environment. Overall, it is described as a short yet atmospheric adventure that successfully evokes a sense of unease.
“Very atmospheric and creepy, well done!”
“The graphics and sound gave the right atmosphere.”
“Shiver is a short but very spooky and atmospheric game; now let’s get into the story.”
“The game's atmosphere is decently creepy, although the word 'horror' in the game's description is not accurate.”
“There is no background music, but I didn't feel the game needed it: the ambient sound of the howling wind sufficed to set the atmosphere.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of [i]shiver[/i] are praised for their beauty and unique aesthetic, showcasing a blend of hand-drawn and photo assets that contribute to the game's atmosphere. Reviewers note the quality of the artwork, especially for an indie title, and appreciate the absence of asset flipping, resulting in a cohesive visual experience. Overall, the graphics are rated positively, with a score of 7/10 reflecting their effectiveness.
“The graphics and sound gave the right atmosphere.”
“[i]shiver[/i]'s graphics are quite beautiful for an indie game this short and simple.”
“Shiver had a nice-looking aesthetic—everything is obviously drawn for this game specifically (see: no asset flipping).”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by traditional point-and-click mechanics, where players collect items to interact with the game world to progress. It serves as an introductory experience to the genre, showcasing basic elements while featuring a notable flashlight mechanic that adds visual appeal.
“I was pretty impressed by the flashlight mechanic—I'm sure it's easy to implement, but it looked really cool.”
“Gameplay is typical point-and-click adventuring, meaning you collect items to use on objects in the game world in order to advance in the game.”
“It feels like a demo to show people the basic gameplay of a typical point-and-click adventure game, so they can decide whether or not the genre is something they might like and then move on to full-fledged point-and-click adventure games.”
- music2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features minimal background music, relying instead on ambient sounds like howling wind to create an atmospheric experience. However, in contrast, another title, Shiver, effectively uses music alongside its environment to build tension, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
“Shiver is a nice and quick point-and-click experience that does a great job building tension with its music and the environment.”
“There is no background music, but I didn't feel the game needed it: the ambient sound of the howling wind sufficed to set the atmosphere.”
