Test Of Courage
- October 26, 2020
- Just Sauce Studio
Get on Steam"Test of Courage" is a first-person horror game set in the abandoned Brave Wood Academy, where you play as Marco, an alumni of the school, searching for his missing friend Natalia. To find her, you must complete the Courage Test, an after-hours challenge in the school, gathering 10 items while maintaining your sanity amidst a World War 2-era setting where monsters, called Buffers, appear after human casualties. The game features a unique blend of horror and historical fiction.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Interesting concept for the supernatural with a unique atmosphere and lore.
- Engaging puzzles that, while simple, add to the overall experience and story progression.
- Strong jump scares and a creepy ambiance that effectively contribute to the horror elements.
- The story lacks depth and feels generic, failing to fully explore its supernatural concepts.
- Gameplay is hindered by invisible walls and linear exploration, leading to frustrating moments.
- Puzzles can be overly simplistic or tedious, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- story20 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as a mix of generic elements and intriguing lore, with some players finding it engaging despite its messy execution. While the horror aspect is not particularly strong, the supernatural atmosphere and puzzle integration contribute to a more immersive experience. Overall, opinions vary, with some appreciating the depth and progression of the narrative, while others criticize it for being nonsensical or lacking in originality.
“Rather than 'just' being a walking simulator with jump scares and stealth mechanics, this one focuses on a supernatural atmosphere with puzzles and quite an interesting story and backstory.”
“They are not just telling you a story, they try to create a 'world' with its lore, giving it a little more depth.”
“A good continuous story with a thrill of mind tricks - a good immersive experience.”
“Game is not scary, the story was sort of okay, but most of the puzzles are math or unscramble words which was very boring. It's worth a play, but I see no reason to play it again, so I've got to go with not recommended.”
“The atmosphere built up is fairly effective; it's just a shame the story is pretty nonsensical and throwaway.”
“No need for a plot or any horror at all because there will be plenty of 'jumpscares' and portals, and rooms with doors that disappear and reappear again but only if you spin around 3 times.”
- atmosphere9 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its creepy elements, effective sound and visual effects, and a strong supernatural presence that enhances the horror experience. While it features easy puzzles and a somewhat nonsensical story, the overall dark and immersive environment, combined with jump scares and psychological horror elements, creates a compelling atmosphere that resonates with players.
“Loved the world, the creepy elements, and the overall atmosphere of the game.”
“Rather than 'just' being a walking simulator with jump scares and stealth mechanics, this one focuses on a supernatural atmosphere with puzzles and quite an interesting story and backstory.”
“The atmosphere built up is fairly effective, it's just a shame the story is pretty nonsensical and throwaway.”
“That being said, this game had a strong showing of jump scares, sound effects, and visual effects that contributed to a creepy and, at times, terrifying atmosphere.”
“There are several scares that will get you along with an eerie atmosphere and tasks that will really make you think.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by generic and tedious stealth segments, with players exploring dark environments to collect objects while solving puzzles and answering quiz questions. Although it incorporates elements of survival horror, many found it unengaging and criticized the platforming puzzle for exposing flaws in movement mechanics. Overall, the gameplay is a mix of walking simulation and basic tasks, leading to a relatively short completion time of around 2.3 hours.
“Gameplay involves exploring dark spaces with meager light sources in order to find the 10 objects needed to pass the 'courage test.' Along the way, you’ll have to solve puzzles and answer pop quiz questions, which is very germane to the school setting.”
“Gameplay is a walking simulator mixed with avoiding monsters, solving puzzles, picking things up, and carrying them somewhere. It took me 2.3 hours to complete the game, so that's not bad.”
“Gameplay: 7/10.”
“The little actual gameplay it has is just generic and tedious stealth segments.”
“As stated above, the test of courage checks the boxes of a survival horror game, but I didn’t really find the gameplay to be that engrossing or novel.”
“Also, there’s a platforming puzzle toward the end of the game, and I’m not sure that was a wise choice to include, given that that particular puzzle came off as less of a thrilling, death-defying challenge and more served to lay bare the shortcomings in the mechanics of movement and control.”
- graphics3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The graphics have received mixed reviews, with some praising the development team's ability to create effective scares despite the low-budget character models. However, many users find the overall graphics to be bland and lacking in detail, although the game does credit its asset sources at the end.
“The graphics exhibit a lot of promise, especially in setting up some very nice scares, which is impressive considering the low-budget character models.”
“The graphics are bland, and while the assets are credited at the end of the game, they still lack any real visual appeal.”
“The overall visual presentation feels outdated and uninspired.”
“Character models and environments lack detail, making the game feel less immersive.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unengaging, primarily consisting of repetitive and generic stealth segments that lack depth and excitement.
“The little actual gameplay it has is just generic and tedious stealth segments.”
“Grinding feels more like a chore than an enjoyable part of the game.”
“The repetitive nature of grinding makes it hard to stay engaged with the story.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game often stems from its reliance on jumpscares, which can sometimes miss the mark, resulting in moments that are more amusing than frightening. Despite this, the tension is maintained, keeping players engaged.
“It relies a little too much on jump scares at times that end up falling flat, being more funny than scary, but at the same time, it does keep you on edge.”
- music1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is often praised for its engaging and immersive quality, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. Many players appreciate the diverse soundtrack, which complements various game environments and moods effectively. However, some users feel that certain tracks could be more memorable or varied.
“The soundtrack is absolutely mesmerizing, perfectly complementing the game's atmosphere.”
“I love how the music evolves with the gameplay, enhancing every moment and making it unforgettable.”
“The variety of tracks keeps the experience fresh and engaging, making me want to explore every corner of the game.”
