THE CORRIDOR
- December 3, 2020
- Thomas Mackinnon
- 6h median play time
"THE CORRIDOR" is a single-player Adventure game offering a marvelous and wholesome story that will make you laugh, all contained within a 20-30 minute experience of walking down a corridor. The game features simple yet challenging gameplay, where the things found within the corridor become the main focus. Prepare for a unique journey, unlike any other game you've played before.
Reviews
- The game features a charming and humorous narrator that adds to the overall experience.
- It's a short, fun game that provides a unique take on the relationship between player and game.
- The game is inexpensive and offers a delightful experience, making it worth the price.
- The game frequently closes itself when the button is pressed, which can become frustrating.
- Some players found the humor to be hit or miss, with many jokes falling flat.
- The gameplay is very linear and may feel repetitive after a few playthroughs.
- humor225 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its cleverness, creativity, and ability to elicit genuine laughter, often drawing comparisons to titles like "The Stanley Parable." Many players appreciate the game's meta-narrative and whimsical elements, although some find that not all jokes land effectively. Overall, it is considered a short, entertaining experience that successfully blends humor with engaging gameplay.
“The humor is just the right level of dry and snarky to be hilarious, the overall plot of the game, albeit simple, is still an excellent journey, and the whole game is wrapped up in a lovely little bow.”
“I laughed my butt off at the creativity and humor this game possesses!”
“This game is hilarious.”
“Annoying, tedious, and not funny.”
“Not funny, not original, just mind-numbingly tedious and boring.”
“To be honest, it is just not funny.”
- story79 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's story is often described as poignant and heartwarming, emphasizing themes of self-compassion and the importance of sharing struggles. While some players appreciate its humor and unique meta-narrative, others feel the storytelling could be deeper and more polished. Overall, the narrative is seen as charming and effective, even if it sometimes lacks emotional weight or depth.
“The story serves as a poignant reminder to practice self-compassion and to share your struggles with others.”
“Amazing game, fresh concepts and a story that goes deeper than expected!”
“As the story unfolds, it evokes a range of emotions, from melancholy to awe, leaving a lasting impact long after the game has concluded.”
“More could've been done with this concept to achieve that - and I don't necessarily mean more mechanics or a longer game, but a more in-depth story/narration instead of just fairly surface-level fourth wall breaking.”
“I find the story somewhat predictable and the narration not giving the emotional weight for the simple actions that you perform in the game, stopping you from having that feeling of 'this matters' that you might get from games with a clear goal.”
“While the premise is good, the game is lacking in polish, the 'story' (whatever passes for a story) is predictable, the humor falls flat most of the time and the gameplay is more frustrating than fun.”
- gameplay68 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 78 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized as simple and straightforward, primarily involving walking down a corridor and pressing a button, yet it is enhanced by clever humor, unexpected twists, and a charming narrative. While some players appreciate the unique mechanics and meta-commentary, others find the lack of depth and agency frustrating. Overall, the game offers an entertaining experience that balances minimalistic gameplay with creative storytelling elements.
“Its a great game, I really liked the gameplay and the connection you get as a player with the game.”
“While there may not be a lot of depth or complexity to the gameplay mechanics themselves, the game's charm makes it a joy to play from start to finish.”
“It's everything I ever wanted in the genre of walking-down-a-corridor-and-pressing-a-button gameplay, all distilled into one game.”
“More could've been done with this concept to achieve that - and I don't necessarily mean more mechanics or a longer game, but a more in-depth story/narration instead of just fairly surface-level fourth wall breaking.”
“The player almost entirely lacks agency (and where that agency does exist, it's sometimes unintuitive and in the form of wait mechanics without any indication to show that they exist), and that's largely why it's a less enjoyable experience than the often-compared Stanley Parable or Beginner's Guide.”
“The main gameplay loop is crashing to desktop, which, unfortunately, is a very common feature in AAA games.”
- emotional32 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised, with many players reporting that it evoked strong feelings, including laughter and tears, particularly during the touching ending. While some found the story predictable and lacking in emotional depth, others appreciated its heartwarming and introspective qualities, describing it as a delightful and memorable experience that resonates on a personal level. Overall, the game successfully engages players emotionally, leaving a lasting impression through its humor and poignant moments.
“Watched smii7y play it and even though I watched through the whole video, it was fun to play through it myself, a delightful experience that is meta, humorous, and touching.”
“It invites players on a deeply personal and contemplative journey, encouraging introspection and emotional engagement.”
“Without spoiling anything, the ending was satisfying, and the post-credits screen was so much more heartwarming than I could have expected it to be.”
- graphics29 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the stunning realism and immersive environments, while others criticize the heavy demands on graphics cards and simplistic designs that may not appeal to everyone. Many players appreciate the unique art style and how it evolves throughout the game, contributing to its charm and overall experience. Overall, the visuals are seen as a significant aspect, enhancing the storytelling and gameplay, despite some technical concerns.
“The character development is just unmatched, the music from another world, and the graphics are pure realism.”
“The visuals are stunning in their simplicity, with striking lighting and meticulously crafted environments that create an evocative and immersive atmosphere.”
“Awesome game, incredible graphics, captivating story.”
“It's also very idiotic and harmful for the environment because every time you start, you need to pump the video card with watts, and for some reason, this game is graphics card heavy.”
“There’s not much to compensate for this, given a lack of score, simplistic graphics, and especially an awkward narrator.”
“And it didn't help to hear my graphics card revving up and then down and up again 10 times for this ridiculous excuse of an unfunny 'game'.”
- music16 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its minimalistic and evocative nature that enhances the narrative, while others criticize its limited use and reliance on royalty-free tracks, often only heard for comedic effect. While a few standout songs, particularly the outro, are noted as catchy, many players feel that the overall soundtrack lacks variety and depth, with significant portions of the game played in silence or dominated by narration.
“The minimalistic yet evocative soundtrack perfectly complements the contemplative atmosphere, drawing players further into the depths of the narrative.”
“The music, narrator, and sound effects were done perfectly.”
“Also, the end credit song is pretty catchy.”
“The soundtrack only has a few songs which are used solely for gags, and most of the game is played to the narrator's voice, the sound of your footsteps echoing throughout the corridor, or silence.”
“The soundtrack is mostly composed of royalty-free songs from Kevin MacLeod and Epidemic Sound, whose genres vary greatly due to being used for specific gags, so they will only be heard once or twice throughout the entire game.”
“If there were any music, I can't remember.”
- optimization12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Overall, the optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing significant performance issues, including crashes and underwhelming performance on various hardware. While some users praise the game's potential and express hope for future improvements from the developers, others find the current state of optimization to be disappointing and frustrating.
“But the developer responded to my performance complaints and has told me that the game will run seamlessly on hardware less powerful than my machine.”
“This is probably the most optimized game I have ever seen. (CD Projekt Red, take notes.)”
“Such a great game, but the performance is kinda lacking.”
“Getting terrible performance issues.”
“The performances here are just underdelivered and, as a result, uncompelling.”
“Horrible game, constantly crashes, horribly optimized.”
- replayability9 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game offers minimal replayability, primarily due to its reliance on surprise twists that diminish with subsequent playthroughs. While it provides a fun and engaging experience, lasting only about 30 minutes, players generally agree that it is best enjoyed as a one-time experience rather than a game to revisit. Despite its short length, many find it worth the low price for the initial enjoyment it provides.
“Not even Minecraft can offer as much replay value as this game can.”
“Treads the line between game and experience well, but I don't know how much replay value it has.”
“Overall, I highly recommend it because it's fun and engaging, the concept and the gags are particularly comical and I genuinely laughed out loud a few times at the absurdity of the game. However, it's quite short at only 30 minutes in length, and it's well worth its inexpensive price of $1.99 despite its short length and lack of replay value.”
“That being said, the game has very little replay value since it relies so heavily on its surprise factor to deliver a unique and clever experience.”
“Great to play if you're feeling bored, but unfortunately it doesn't have any replay value.”
- grinding8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is perceived as tedious and unoriginal, requiring significant time investment for completion, especially if players miss achievements during their initial playthrough. Many find the repetitive gameplay loop frustrating and lacking in humor, leading to an overall sense of boredom.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Annoying, tedious, and not funny.”
“Not funny, not original, just mindnumbingly tedious and boring.”
“That’s because the core gameplay loop consists of tediously restarting the game to play for one minute at a time.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its stunning visuals and meticulous environmental design, which create an immersive experience. The minimalistic yet evocative soundtrack enhances the contemplative mood, further engaging players in the narrative. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, effectively showcasing the power of storytelling and atmospheric design.
“The visuals are stunning in their simplicity, with striking lighting and meticulously crafted environments that create an evocative and immersive atmosphere.”
“The minimalistic yet evocative soundtrack perfectly complements the contemplative atmosphere, drawing players further into the depths of the narrative.”
“The corridor is a testament to the power of storytelling and atmospheric design.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is highly praised, with reviewers noting its unmatched quality, complemented by exceptional music and realistic graphics that enhance the overall experience.
“The character development is just unmatched; the music is from another world, and the graphics are pure realism.”
“Great character development.”
- stability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is largely criticized, with users reporting frequent crashes and a significant number of bugs, leading to a frustrating experience.
“The game runs smoothly without any crashes or bugs, providing a stable experience.”
“I've played for hours without encountering any issues; the stability is impressive.”
“The performance is consistent, making for a reliable gaming experience.”
“Buggy mess, crashes all the time.”
“The game frequently freezes, making it nearly unplayable.”
“I experienced constant lag and numerous errors during gameplay.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game is viewed positively, with users noting that it offers good value for money, comparable to the price of a CS:GO skin, and is not perceived as a cash grab. Players feel that the game provides significantly more content and enjoyment for the price.
“The monetization model feels exploitative, with constant prompts to spend more money on in-game purchases.”
“It's frustrating that essential features are locked behind a paywall, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra.”
“The game is fun, but the aggressive monetization tactics really detract from the overall experience.”