SPIDER MALL !
- December 12, 2023
- GHOST DOG FILMS
Get on Steam"Spider Mall!" is a choice-based, FMV survival game where you play as Explorer X, trapped in an abandoned mall with security guards and a giant spider. Your decisions will affect who survives and how you escape, with multiple endings. The game is presented in a VHS bodycam-style for a unique and immersive experience.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a fun and nostalgic experience reminiscent of B-movie horror films, with engaging choices that lead to multiple endings.
- The acting and dialogue are surprisingly well done, adding to the immersion and humor throughout the gameplay.
- It's a short and enjoyable FMV experience that is perfect for casual play, especially with friends, and has high replayability due to its branching paths.
- The CGI spider is poorly executed and detracts from the overall experience, making it feel low-budget.
- Some choices in the game feel arbitrary, and the lack of checkpoints means players must replay the entire game to explore different outcomes.
- While the game is entertaining, it may not offer enough depth or gameplay variety for those seeking a more traditional gaming experience.
- story9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game features a short, engaging FMV horror story centered around an urban explorer being hunted by giant spiders, with player choices significantly impacting the narrative and leading to multiple endings that enhance replayability. While the production quality may resemble a low-budget film, the interactive storytelling and decision-making keep players entertained and invested in the plot. Overall, despite its flaws, the story offers a fun and immersive experience that encourages exploration of different outcomes.
“Great story with a ton of different endings, so the replayability is through the roof.”
“This game is a found footage game where you select options in the story, and the live-action actor responds to that decision, which affects the direction of the story.”
“Though overall I did enjoy the plot, and I had fun re-running it to see a separate outcome.”
“For obvious reasons, there isn't much to be done past watching the plot play out differently depending on your decisions, so don't expect a crazy amount of replay hours, but it was fun my first time playing.”
“I felt like I was watching a B-movie with a level story.”
“The actors aren't professionals, the spider doesn't look real, the story is a bit silly, yet my friends and I remained engaged throughout the entire experience.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its intentional campiness, reminiscent of a B-list horror film, with standout moments including a comically designed CGI spider and witty dialogue between characters. Players found the interactions, particularly between the explorer and guards, to be consistently amusing, contributing to an overall entertaining experience in this short FMV horror game.
“The acting and dialogue was actually quite well done, and the back and forth between Explorer X and the guards had me laughing throughout.”
“Really funny, pretty short FMV horror game you can reasonably see most things and all endings in around 2 hours.”
“The 3D model for the spider was funny.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity, primarily involving clicking on the screen to make decisions, which makes it accessible for newcomers to the genre. Players find the straightforward mechanics enjoyable, particularly as an introduction to full-motion video (FMV) games.
“This was fun, I haven't played an FMV game before (though I've watched other people play a couple) and the simple gameplay was a pretty nice intro to it.”
“Very easy gameplay as you are just clicking on the screen to make decisions.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game effectively creates a dense and immersive atmosphere, with players enjoying the experience of exploring its environments, such as the back passages of a mall. Despite its low budget, the atmosphere contributes significantly to the overall enjoyment, making it a fun and engaging experience.
“This very low-budget game transfers quite a dense atmosphere.”
“I really enjoyed the atmosphere; it was a fun game overall, and the checkpoints were a nice addition.”
“I loved the atmosphere of creeping around the back passages of the mall.”
“This very low budget game transfers quite a dense atmosphere.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability due to its engaging story and multiple endings, encouraging players to start anew to explore different choices. While the overall design is praised, some players noted that replaying requires beginning the game again, which may be a drawback for some.
“Great story with a ton of different endings, so the replayability is through the roof.”
“The game was pretty good, and I enjoyed it. It was well designed and has replayability, but you have to play from the beginning to see different choices. Overall, it was pretty good, ignoring the spider, which looks like something out of a low-budget horror movie, but I guess it works.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The graphics in "Spider Mall!" receive mixed reviews; while the real people are praised, the overall visuals, including the spider design, are considered subpar. However, the VHS aesthetic adds a unique charm, and the sound design is generally well-received.
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users finding certain elements, like the spider design, unappealing, while appreciating the strong performances of the actors.
