Stormhill Mystery: Family Shadows
- January 28, 2019
- Specialbit Studio
- 15h median play time
Get on Steam"Stormhill Mystery: Family Shadows" is a story-driven, atmospheric adventure game. As the player, you will uncover the dark secrets of a cursed family while exploring the atmospheric and hand-painted environments of Stormhill. The game features intuitive puzzle mechanics and a rich, immersive narrative.
Reviews
- The game features beautiful artwork and a captivating atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience.
- The story is well-told with a satisfying conclusion, and the bonus chapter adds depth to the narrative.
- Puzzles are enjoyable and logical, making it a good introduction for beginners to the point-and-click genre.
- The game lacks hidden object scenes, which some players expected based on its aesthetics.
- Gameplay can be short and simplistic, with some puzzles being too easy and lacking challenge.
- There are frequent technical issues, including crashes and glitches that can disrupt the experience.
- story61 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its intriguing elements and well-tied conclusion, while others find it basic and uninspired, often lacking depth and coherence. While there are enjoyable aspects, such as a bonus chapter and some Lovecraftian references, many reviews highlight that the narrative feels rushed or clichéd, leaving a sense of dissatisfaction. Overall, the story serves as a backdrop for the gameplay, but it may not leave a lasting impression on players seeking a compelling narrative.
“The story is very well told and tied everything together at the end.”
“It was great to see a story end with no rush and that went with the theme.”
“I really like the fact that this game actually has a story, and not just finding one object after another, and sometimes solve puzzles.”
“The story is very basic, paranormal shenanigans, a few Lovecraftian references here and there (although the atmosphere itself is not Lovecraftian at all, just paranormal, ghostly, magic-like), a couple of ghosts, not much else.”
“The characters were not sympathetic, the plot was rushed and didn't make much sense, and the voiceovers were terrible.”
“The story is plain boring, no horror whatsoever.”
- graphics26 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the art style, particularly in cut scenes, for its colorful and appealing design. However, some players feel that while the visuals are decent, they lack polish and could benefit from further refinement. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's atmosphere, but opinions vary on their execution and impact on gameplay.
“Now the art style for the cut scenes is so pretty and cute and much more colorful, very contrasting art styles but it works.”
“What draws me to this game (besides my sudden wanting for casual games) is the artwork.”
“I want to mention that the visuals in the game are nicely done.”
“Graphics and sound quality are meh.”
“It was fun to play although most of it was just okay and, graphics aside, nothing did really stand out.”
“Uninspired graphics, uneventful storyline, and trivial puzzles.”
- gameplay9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay features enjoyable puzzles and exploration, complemented by an intriguing story that enhances the mechanics, providing around two hours of playtime. However, some players find the mechanics inconsistent and frustrating, leading to mixed feelings about the overall experience. While the game can be a pleasant distraction at a discounted price, its value may be questioned given the short duration and gameplay issues.
“The puzzles and exploration felt fun, and the story of the house added depth, allowing for some cool game mechanics.”
“This is a well-done game with an interesting story and offers about 2 hours of engaging gameplay.”
“The overall mechanics work well, and the puzzles are fairly logical for the most part.”
“The game mechanics are annoying: inconsistent, fussy, illogical.”
“The story and the artwork were okay, but the actual gameplay falls short.”
“Even $8 is a tall ask for about two hours of gameplay, but on sale, and in the right frame of mind, it's a pleasant enough distraction.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a mild horror theme, featuring paranormal elements and ghostly encounters that create a spooky yet not overly frightening experience. While it incorporates some Lovecraftian references, the overall ambiance leans more towards general paranormal and magical themes, effectively enhancing the game's eerie vibe.
“Loved the horror theme; it's not too scary, but there was a good atmosphere.”
“The game does mild horror with extra spookiness quite well, from the atmospherics to the ghosts.”
“Artwork and atmosphere.”
“The story is very basic, with paranormal shenanigans and a few Lovecraftian references here and there; however, the atmosphere itself is not Lovecraftian at all, just paranormal, ghostly, and magical, with not much else.”
“The artwork and atmosphere are lacking.”
- music4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising its ability to create an eerie atmosphere that complements the visuals and enhances the hidden object gameplay. While some find the plot to be somewhat generic, the sound design effectively contributes to the overall mystery and tension of the experience.
“I loved the music throughout the game and the background noises to make it eerie and a little scary.”
“After that, it lets you do your thing: hidden object style, along with creepy music and OSTs, to unveil the mystery of the story.”
“Creepy visuals and music, interesting if a bit generic plot.”
“The music is repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
“The soundtrack feels out of place and doesn't match the game's atmosphere, which detracts from the overall experience.”
“While the sound effects are decent, the music is forgettable and fails to enhance the gameplay.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game has low replayability, with players expressing that it lacks engaging content to warrant multiple playthroughs, particularly due to tedious tasks like finding "morphing" objects.
“Overall, I can't complain about the price as I purchased this randomly during a sale at a steep discount, but I don't think this game has a lot of replay value for me, and I don't have the patience to find 'morphing' objects.”
“The replay value for the game is low.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, often characterized by lengthy animations and repetitive tasks that detract from the overall experience. Some users even opted to skip puzzles due to their monotonous nature.
“Other times, a single click unleashes a long, tedious animation: watch as eight bolts are slowly removed, one at a time.”
“I also skipped a couple of the puzzles just because they were too tedious.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players report a stable experience with no bugs or freezes encountered during gameplay, indicating a smooth performance overall.
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