SKYHILL
- October 5, 2015
- Mandragora
- 5h median play time
Solid and definitely has an audience. There could be some hard-to-ignore faults, but the experience is fun.
"Skyhill" is a single-player Horror Role Playing game with a compelling story and sensational gameplay. The experience is fresh in every session due to randomly generated maps and the need to scavenge for supplies. Outstanding graphics, a good soundtrack, and a spectacular atmosphere create a harrowing experience as you navigate through the post-apocalyptic world. However, be prepared for grinding and making tough decisions in your fight for survival.
Reviews
- Engaging and addictive gameplay with a unique premise of descending through a zombie-infested hotel.
- The crafting system is intuitive and allows for a variety of weapons and food, enhancing the survival aspect.
- Multiple endings and unlockable perks provide replayability and encourage experimentation with different strategies.
- Heavy reliance on RNG can lead to frustrating experiences, as success often feels out of the player's control.
- Combat mechanics are simplistic and can become repetitive, lacking depth and strategic options.
- The game can feel shallow and lacks significant content, making it less appealing for extended play.
- gameplay194 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is characterized by its simplicity and reliance on random number generation (RNG), leading to a mix of engaging and repetitive experiences. While some players appreciate the straightforward mechanics and strategic decision-making involved, many criticize the lack of depth and variety, resulting in a monotonous gameplay loop that can diminish enjoyment over time. Overall, the game offers a casual, accessible experience but may not satisfy those seeking more complex or varied gameplay.
“The gameplay itself is pretty fun, not easy but not too punishing either (depends on difficulty).”
“The gameplay is simple and easy to understand, but it also requires some figuring out to fully grasp the game's mechanics.”
“The gameplay is both redundant and highly luck dependent.”
“The random nature of the item search and the game's need for luck over strategy, especially the attack accuracy problem that has been criticized by players, makes the experience for most players likely to be very bad, and as players get deeper into the game, they will find that the gameplay becomes more and more repetitive and often loses its fun quickly.”
“However, the major issue with this game is that gameplay felt repetitive and there is very little variety.”
- story160 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally seen as decent but often criticized for being predictable and lacking depth, with many players finding it forgettable or poorly integrated into the gameplay. While some appreciate the atmospheric elements and the intrigue of uncovering the backstory through notes and quests, others feel that the narrative is overshadowed by repetitive mechanics and a lack of engaging plot development. Overall, the story offers some interesting twists and multiple endings, but it may not be the main draw for players seeking a more substantial narrative experience.
“The story is slightly unsettling and more than engaging enough (through texts, notes, and other clues to be found), and the 'secret' ending is a 'must' if you want to tie it all together.”
“The game's story and atmosphere are what make it truly special.”
“As you progress through the game, you'll discover clues about the hotel's past and the events that led up to the outbreak, which makes the story even more intriguing.”
“The storyline is quite forgettable and not intriguing.”
“The plot turned out to be brief and poorly written.”
“The story can branch off in three different ways, but all are jumbled together in the course of the playthrough that they contradict one another, and none actually contribute to the gameplay.”
- graphics63 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the unique art styles, such as comic-drawn and pixel art, which effectively convey the game's atmosphere. While some find the visuals simplistic or basic, they often feel that the graphics are sufficient for the gameplay experience, contributing to the overall charm of the game. Overall, the aesthetics are generally well-received, though opinions vary on their execution and detail.
“The graphics successfully reflect this dark atmosphere.”
“The pixel art style is well-done, and the environments and characters are incredibly detailed, which makes exploring the hotel all the more rewarding.”
“The game has a great aesthetic complete with some fully voice acted comic style cut scenes and its simple, streamlined interface makes the game incredibly easy to pick up and play.”
“The graphics are simple and basic.”
“The graphics are controverted, because although creatures are well designed, there are only six types, but backgrounds are boring with dull and flat designs.”
“Music, sounds, and graphics are just unambitious.”
- replayability54 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
Replayability in the game varies significantly among players, with some praising its high replay value due to strategic decisions, multiple endings, and unlockable perks that enhance the experience. However, others criticize it for a lack of depth and limited replayability after the initial playthrough, often citing a linear storyline and repetitive gameplay. Overall, while some players find the game endlessly replayable and engaging, others feel it quickly loses its appeal after completion.
“Strategic decisions shape the survival process and increase the replayability of the game.”
“The multiple endings give decent replay value and the different talents make each replay interesting enough from each other.”
“Great replayability - the combination of perks, stuff you find, character build you make, and the little quests always make for a different experience the next time you boot up the game.”
“Fun game on the first playthrough; however, there is very limited replayability as the gameplay is just the same of going left, right, and down.”
“I do not see a lot of replay value once the goal is reached.”
“Gets boring fast; it was alright to play for a few hours, but the replay value is non-existent.”
- atmosphere41 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for its immersive and haunting qualities, effectively conveying a post-apocalyptic world through both graphics and sound design. Players appreciate the combination of a rich narrative, atmospheric soundtrack, and engaging gameplay elements that enhance the overall experience. The game's ability to evoke feelings of tension, isolation, and mystery makes it a standout title for fans of atmospheric and strategic survival games.
“The atmosphere and graphics immerse the player in the destroyed world.”
“The game's story and atmosphere are what make it truly special.”
“The atmosphere is adequately creepy and a bit gory, but also delivers on the psychological aspects of fear and horror as you try to figure out what is happening, and how many layers of answers there are to that question... truly enjoyed this title, recommended.”
“Some games try to hide the repetitive mobile gameplay under the deep atmosphere.”
“- missing atmosphere”
“- atmosphere”
- music39 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its atmospheric qualities that enhance the overall experience, while others find it bland and forgettable. Many agree that while the soundtrack fits the game's tone, it lacks ambition and can detract from gameplay, leading some to mute it entirely. Overall, the music is seen as a fitting but unremarkable aspect of the game.
“The game features an atmospheric soundtrack that perfectly complements the story and adds to the tension and sense of isolation.”
“Great soundtrack and good atmosphere.”
“And I really enjoy the in-game music; it totally fits the atmosphere!”
“The bland music and mediocre sound effects could have been better, however.”
“There’s barely any music to speak of and the sound effects are entirely unimpressive.”
“Music, sounds, and graphics are just unambitious.”
- grinding20 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- -10 % neutral mentions
- 95 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, particularly when pursuing achievements or playing on higher difficulty settings. Many players recommend experiencing the game on easy mode for a more enjoyable run, as the extensive grinding required for progression and achievements can lead to frustration and a lack of replay value. While some players may find satisfaction in achievement hunting, the overall sentiment leans towards the grinding being a significant detractor from the game's enjoyment.
“Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding, as it allows you to unlock powerful abilities and gear.”
“The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel well-earned.”
“I love how the grinding mechanics encourage exploration and experimentation with different strategies.”
“On paper this sounds like a good idea for a game, but it quickly turns into a tedious slog.”
“Highly recommended to play through once on easy and be done with for the sake of your own sanity, as any other difficulty settings from normal up is really only suitable for gluttons of tedious time-wasting punishment.”
“If you play on higher difficulties, you will spend a ludicrous amount of time just grinding the first couple of levels so that you have a weapon you can use with the starting stats for the first combat.”
- stability7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 71 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users reporting frequent freezing, low FPS, and occasional lockups that render it unplayable. While some players have found temporary fixes for the freezing issues, others experience persistent bugs that disrupt gameplay. However, a few users noted that the overall programming is well-executed, suggesting that the game is not fundamentally buggy despite the stability concerns.
“The game runs great, especially with a mouse and keyboard setup.”
“On a more positive note, the art was decent, the voice acting was good, and the programming was well done; the game is not buggy.”
“Completely unplayable with the terribly low FPS, constant freezes, and complete lockups.”
“Every time I die, the game freezes up.”
“There have been a lot of problems regarding the game freezing every 4 seconds, and a fix that I found that solved my problem (might not work for everyone) was posted by user mental in the 'game freezes every 3 seconds for 3 seconds then repeats' in the Steam discussions.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews; while performance is generally good, the interface is not well-suited for desktop use, leading to a subpar user experience. Players have noted that the mechanics require strategic resource management, but the lack of clarity in outcomes can hinder effective decision-making. Overall, it appears that the game could benefit from further optimization for PC.
“Simple gameplay mechanics that challenge you to make optimized choices along the way, depending on the randomly generated elements.”
“Performance was good.”
“It's a table/phone game ported to PC, which isn't bad per se, but in this case, the interface wasn't optimized for desktop.”
“I can't figure it out, but it seems this game is poorly optimized.”
“If you don't have the benefit of foreknowledge, you have absolutely no way of knowing what the result of spending your precious and limited resources will be, which can easily ruin a strong performance by wasting items or upgrading your only weapon into a form you don't have the correct stats to wield.”
- monetization5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Monetization in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players expressing frustration over intrusive ads, while others appreciate that the ads are placed unobtrusively. Additionally, there are concerns about misleading advertising that does not accurately represent the gameplay experience. Overall, while the game is enjoyable, the monetization strategy has left some users feeling resentful.
“I can't give a full recommendation to a game that charges you to run ads in your face, but because they had the decency to put them in the corner of the screen, and the game is otherwise good without doing anything else offensive, I'll still give it the thumbs up.”
“I resent paying to see ads.”
“The first video advertising Skyhill on the Steam store page makes it seem a lot more fun than it actually is.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is influenced by both active and passive perks, which enhance the player's experience and progression. These perks contribute to the depth of character growth, allowing for varied playstyles and strategies.
“The character development in this game is incredibly deep, allowing players to shape their characters through both active and passive perks.”
“I love how the character development system offers a variety of choices that truly impact gameplay and story progression.”
“The way characters evolve throughout the game, with meaningful choices and unique perks, makes for a truly immersive experience.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression.”
“I was disappointed by how little the characters evolve throughout the game.”
“The choices I made didn't seem to impact the character development in any significant way.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game's humor to be surprisingly effective, even in the presence of glitches, likening the experience to the charm of a malfunctioning SNES. The humor contributes positively to the overall enjoyment, making the game feel engaging despite technical issues.
“Strangely enough, even with this glitch, the game is still 100% playable and is actually pretty funny; it's like playing on a SNES that's acting wonky.”
Critic Reviews
Skyhill Review
Skyhill has an interesting premise, but its systems are ultimately too simple in design to provide any compelling choices during gameplay. The overall lack of progression or variety makes replaying it after completing it once feel pointless.
55%Review: Skyhill
Solid and definitely has an audience. There could be some hard-to-ignore faults, but the experience is fun.
70%