Song of Horror
- May 28, 2021
- Protocol Games
- 18h median play time
Song of Horror has some great ideas and is genuinely scary at times, but random deaths and awkward controls sometimes threaten to spoil the experience.
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games Store"Song of Horror" is a horror game with a dynamic terror experience, controlled by an advanced AI that adapts to the player's actions. The antagonist, known as The Presence, hunts the player in unexpected ways, providing a unique experience for every player. The story is told through the perspective of various characters, each with their own connection to the mystery of the missing writer and his family.
PC
Playstation 4
Windows
Xbox One
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- Great atmosphere and sound design that keeps players on edge.
- Intriguing story with Lovecraftian elements and multiple character perspectives.
- Challenging puzzles that require thought and exploration.
- Permadeath mechanic can lead to frustrating restarts after losing all characters.
- Some puzzles are overly cryptic and lack clear hints, leading to confusion.
- Controls can be clunky, especially with fixed camera angles, making navigation difficult.
- story449 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of "Song of Horror" is widely praised for its engaging Lovecraftian themes and the unique permadeath mechanic that influences narrative progression, creating real stakes for players. While many reviewers appreciate the atmospheric storytelling and character depth, some criticize the episodic format and occasional lack of clarity in plot development. Overall, the game is recognized for its intriguing narrative and immersive horror experience, though opinions vary on the execution and coherence of the story.
“It's a great Lovecraftian story, maybe one of the best in recent years.”
“The story is well written and not too confusing, and it flows well from episode to episode.”
“The story is very engaging and it's a game that is right up my alley; once I have completed all the episodes, I'll be sure to play more from the developers.”
“Cheap jump scares all over, messy story, and no save points meaning that you have to restart the entire episode if you die with a character and want to continue the story with them.”
“The story could have been interesting but is ruined by the negative aspects of the game.”
“The story is convoluted mess, the amount of characters and timeline skips is simply too chaotic for the average gamer.”
- gameplay329 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Song of Horror" is characterized by exploration, puzzle-solving, and a unique permadeath mechanic that heightens tension and stakes, as characters can be permanently lost if not managed carefully. While the listening mechanic at doors and various quick-time events add to the horror experience, many players find the gameplay frustrating due to unclear mechanics, random instant deaths, and the repetitive nature of some tasks. Overall, the game offers a nostalgic nod to classic survival horror titles but suffers from execution issues that can detract from the overall experience.
“The permadeath mechanic adds a lot to the tension, although it might become frustrating for some because this game doesn't give a damn and will kill you for being careless and going through the wrong door and other interesting things.”
“With its chilling atmosphere, clever gameplay mechanics, and immersive narrative, it offers an unforgettable journey into the depths of darkness.”
“The main gameplay mechanics consist of exploring small maps, listening at doors to check if enemies are on the other side (enemies you can’t fight), checking for hiding spots, stumbling upon puzzles, unlocking doors, referring to your map (if you have one), and hoping a mini-game doesn’t trigger.”
“The permadeath mechanic can be frustrating as some of the deaths are quite random.”
“In a horror game, stress should be due to scares, not due to gameplay mechanics that are more frustrating than interesting.”
- atmosphere315 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Song of Horror" is widely praised for its immersive and chilling qualities, effectively combining detailed visuals, sound design, and a sense of dread that keeps players on edge. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to create tension through its environments and clever use of permadeath, which enhances emotional investment in the characters. While some criticisms exist regarding gameplay mechanics and puzzle design, the overall consensus is that the atmospheric experience is a standout feature that resonates with fans of the horror genre.
“Visually, it’s pleasing; the details are dense, gritty, and meticulous, but it’s really the sound that unifies the atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere contributes to the feeling of unease with the right amount of darkness, creepy locations, and unsettling sounds and ambience.”
“The atmosphere is exceptional - if that's what you like about horror games, you'll enjoy this one a lot.”
“Add to that the game having a lackluster atmosphere, resorting to jumpscares to get any reaction from the player and you have a forgettable experience.”
“Basically, after making a well-known/standard/cliched background ghost story and atmosphere, the devs from map design to puzzle to story to character to QTE to permadeath mechanic seem to do everything in their power to make the game not scary and really not even suspenseful.”
“No good scares, just cheap jumpscares and some noises all over the place... that's it... no atmosphere, no nothing.”
- music198 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in *Song of Horror* is widely praised for its ability to create a haunting and immersive atmosphere, effectively enhancing the game's tension and sense of dread. The soundtrack, which includes contributions from notable artists, is described as both eerie and well-integrated into the gameplay, with ambient sounds that complement the horror elements. Overall, the audio design, including music and sound effects, is considered one of the game's standout features, contributing significantly to its old-school survival horror experience.
“The soundtrack is excellent for setting mood and causing discomfort.”
“The music, graphics, and sounds are one of the highlights.”
“The ambient sounds, music, and visuals make the game really creepy!”
“The audio contributed somewhat to this lack - with 'frenzied' music playing in areas without anything occurring etc. The ambient noise was lovely, and the sounds of things thumping or skittering around was great, but again, didn't make up for the huge chunks of empty space between the presence attempting to explode through the door or the entire room shaking.”
“The sound effects, the music, all of it are so well done and the audio being a mechanic in the game where you listen through the doors for danger is something that just made me so happy!”
“The music makes it so tense, you don't know when these monsters or things are coming.”
- graphics110 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics in "Song of Horror" receive mixed reviews, with many praising the atmospheric visuals and aesthetic that evoke classic survival horror games like Resident Evil. While some players highlight the game's beautiful environments and effective lighting, others criticize graphical glitches and uncomfortable camera angles that detract from the experience. Overall, the visuals are generally regarded as strong for an indie title, contributing significantly to the game's eerie ambiance.
“In terms of visuals, 'Song of Horror' delivers a dark and foreboding aesthetic that perfectly matches the overall tone of the game.”
“The graphics are gorgeous.”
“Great graphics and genuinely made me nearly pee my pants a few times.”
“A few are just unreadable because of the dim lighting and murky graphics; I'd have spent much less time figuring out the fuse puzzle, for example, had the designer made it clearer what I'm even doing.”
“There's an annoying puzzle you have to back out of the game and then return to restart it, and the graphical glitches can be horrendous.”
“Graphics are 'meh' at the top end, and it runs poorly on my GTX 1070 (outdated sure but this doesn't look that polished for the framerate I'm getting).”
- replayability34 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is generally viewed positively, with many players appreciating the random events, multiple characters, and unique attributes that encourage different playthroughs. However, some critics note that certain elements, like static puzzles and repetitive minigames, can diminish the overall replay value. Overall, while the game offers varied experiences and hidden secrets to discover, its replayability may vary depending on player preferences for exploration and character choices.
“I'm amazed by the AI in this game since I managed to play through the first part twice so far and the majority is truly random, so I'd say it has nice replayability to experience different events.”
“The fact that you can't predict a fair part of the scary stuff makes replayability better.”
“Replay value - 7/10 (while the story always remains the same, you can play various characters that each have their own things to say about the environment, their own unique traits to help them in some specific way, and the game is designed in such a way that no two playthroughs will be exactly the same - the horror elements are selected from a pool, so you will experience different things each time you replay or restart).”
“From what I can see, the game does not offer much replayability unless you want to complete each chapter quicker than previous runs, but each chapter has plenty of content that makes each segment feel engaging, maintaining a great spooky vibe throughout the game.”
“The game does not have the feel of any replayability since puzzles do not change with each playthrough, leaving you with just the jumpscares which turn into annoying moments if you're trying to rush through the game, hindering you from continuing momentarily; minigames that are just uninspired and more or less tedious after playing any of the five for the 100th time.”
“I don't think there will be any replay value to this game, but that doesn't mean it isn't worth a playthrough.”
- stability30 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- -7 % neutral mentions
- 97 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with many players reporting significant bugs, glitches, and frustrating mechanics such as poorly functioning quick-time events and permadeath systems that can lead to repeated restarts. While some users have experienced minimal issues, the overall consensus indicates that the game suffers from unresolved technical problems that detract from the gameplay experience. Despite its potential as a survival horror title, these stability issues have left many players feeling disappointed and frustrated.
“I had no glitches, hangs, or bugs (and believe me, if there's a bug, I can find it!).”
“The game runs smoothly without any interruptions or crashes.”
“I was impressed by the overall stability; it felt polished and reliable throughout my playthrough.”
“There's an annoying puzzle you have to back out of the game and then return to restart it, and the graphical glitches can be horrendous.”
“It absolutely boggles the mind how a newbie developer can take such care getting everything else so right... and then completely shoot themselves in the foot including broken, buggy quick time events - and this in a game where death means death, back to the start, you're out of here.”
“Issues and glitches have been plaguing the game since launch, and despite a lot of fixes, there is still a lot wrong going on around it.”
- grinding27 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews consistently highlight the grinding aspect of the game as tedious and frustrating, with players expressing dissatisfaction over slow movement, repetitive puzzles, and the need for excessive backtracking. Many found the gameplay mechanics to detract from the overall experience, leading to a lack of engagement and enjoyment, particularly as the game progresses. Overall, the grinding elements are seen as a significant drawback, overshadowing the game's narrative and character strengths.
“This game is incredibly tedious.”
“Die too many times and you get to restart the entire chapter, losing hours of time, which means going back through and tediously collecting items and doing the bad puzzles all over again.”
“Constant key fetching mixed with frustrating tank controls and a sluggish pace make this one of the most tedious horror titles I've ever played.”
- humor11 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mix of heavy-handed character voice lines and animations that often veer into the uncanny valley, eliciting unintentional laughter. Players find the abruptness of character deaths and certain mechanics amusing, while the voice acting adds a Sims-like quality that contrasts with the game's horror elements. Overall, the humor is seen as a quirky aspect that can enhance the experience, even if it sometimes undermines the intended tension.
“The funny thing is, I almost always lost the characters with the highest strength stats, while the 'weak' ones were usually fine.”
“Great game, but the funny voice acting makes me feel like I'm playing a Sims game.”
“I quickly lost two characters with virtually no warning... almost laughing at how abrupt and unexpected it was.”
- optimization7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is widely criticized, with many users reporting poor performance across various settings, including significant slowdowns and random freeze-ups, particularly in the later chapters. While there are some isolated positive remarks about optimization, the consensus leans heavily towards dissatisfaction with the game's performance.
“And it's all optimized very well!”
“The game isn't greatly optimized and it may run slower than you'd expect on your hardware.”
“I encountered performance issues on the last two chapters of the game and some random freeze-ups that forced me to restart 2-3 times until the game decided to work again (these always happened with a 'whispers' random event).”
“Horrendous performance.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players highlight the emotional depth of "Song of Horror," emphasizing the profound attachment to characters and the heartbreak of permadeath, which can result from seemingly minor decisions. The game's ability to evoke physical anguish and lingering anxiety enhances the overall experience, making it a standout in the horror genre.
“It’s not just about the scary atmosphere or jump scares; it's the emotional impact of losing characters you've become attached to.”
“Song of Horror not only gets you with the jump scares, it completely reels you in with the storyline and makes you not only emotionally invested in the characters, but you almost feel the physical anguish when staring at their writhing faces - I would 10/10 recommend this for controller and PC players alike.”
“The permadeath mechanic was also heartbreaking at times, because I would get attached to a character only to make a bad decision or mess up a presence encounter and lose them.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviewers feel that the game's monetization strategy prioritizes advertising over production quality, suggesting a misallocation of resources that detracts from the overall experience.
“They should have invested less in advertising and more in game development.”
“The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive and detracts from the overall experience.”
“It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is criticized for being rushed and lacking depth, resulting in flat writing that fails to engage players and encourage them to invest in subsequent episodes.
“I appreciated their emphasis on sound indicators, but the writing, which is presumably the focus, felt far too rushed and blunt in terms of character development, making it too flat to invest in purchasing the other episodes.”
“The character development was lacking depth, leaving me feeling disconnected from the story and its characters.”
“I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, which diminished my overall engagement with the game.”
