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The Crack (壳中之物）

62%Game Brain Score
atmosphere, music
story, character development
90% User Score Based on 20 reviews

Platforms

Mac OSMac OSPCPCWindowsWindowsLinuxLinux
Buy NowGet on Steam

About

Are you still contacting your friends from school? Do you still remember the love from the youth? And even more, do you still have the dream that keeps your heart beating? You’ve been trained to have a heart covered by unbreakable shell. In this game, you are going through a journey to crack it, leading to the long forgotten. Who is murmuring in the dark? Who is screaming for help through the…

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Play Modes
The Crack (壳中之物） screenshot
The Crack (壳中之物） screenshot
The Crack (壳中之物） screenshot
The Crack (壳中之物） screenshot
The Crack (壳中之物） screenshot

90%
Audience ScoreBased on 20 reviews
atmosphere4 positive mentions
story3 negative mentions
  • The Crack offers a haunting narrative experience that emphasizes isolation and self-discovery, leaving a lasting impression on players.
  • The minimalist visual style and haunting soundtrack effectively create an oppressive atmosphere that enhances the storytelling.
  • The game features a compelling story with multiple choices and environmental clues that engage players in solving the mystery.
  • Many players feel that the game lacks substantial gameplay, often describing it as more of an e-book than a traditional game.
  • The writing quality is criticized as poorly executed, with some players noting that the translation is subpar and detracts from the experience.
  • The slow pacing and lack of clear objectives may frustrate players who prefer fast-paced action or more interactive gameplay.
  • story
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is praised for its organic unfolding through environmental storytelling and cryptic messages, creating a slow-burn experience that emphasizes atmosphere over action. Players appreciate the well-written plot and character flashbacks that enhance understanding, though some note that the English translation is still a work in progress. Overall, the narrative is engaging and suspenseful, requiring attention to detail to unravel its mysteries.

    • “Regardless of this, the best part of the game is definitely the story which gives you flashbacks that help you understand better the character we are playing and the unexpected storyline where you need to pay attention to the environment and characters' dialogue to be able to solve the mystery.”
    • “Just be prepared for a slow-burn experience that prioritizes atmosphere and story over action.”
    • “Little dearies, this game is a suspenseful story... with a mystery that lightly taps your foot and makes you look at it, trying to figure out what in the hell touched you with such grace in the first place... currently the translation isn't great (for English users), however...! It's a work in progress!”
    • “The narrative unfolds organically through environmental storytelling and cryptic messages, leaving you to piece together the bigger picture.”
  • atmosphere
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by an oppressive and unsettling environment, enhanced by sparse sound effects and haunting ambient music that evoke a constant sense of unease. This immersive atmosphere supports a thought-provoking narrative, making it a unique experience for players who appreciate a slow-burn story over action.

    • “Sparse sound effects and haunting ambient music create a soundscape that perfectly complements the game's atmosphere.”
    • “The oppressive atmosphere, with its decaying environments and unsettling soundscapes, creates a sense of constant unease that keeps you on edge.”
    • “Just be prepared for a slow-burn experience that prioritizes atmosphere and story over action.”
  • music
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is described as a minimalist masterpiece, featuring haunting ambient sounds that enhance the atmosphere and narrative depth. While it effectively serves as a character in its own right, some players note that it can become repetitive over time.

    • “The soundtrack in the game is a masterpiece of minimalism.”
    • “Sparse sound effects and haunting ambient music create a soundscape that perfectly complements the game's atmosphere.”
    • “The music is more than just background noise; it becomes a character itself, adding depth and emotional weight to the narrative.”
    • “a soundtrack that haunts”
  • character development
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development is noted for its simplicity, with the protagonist depicted in shadow, which enhances the sense of mystery surrounding them. This design choice contributes to an intriguing yet minimalistic portrayal of the character.

  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's music is highlighted as a pivotal element that transcends mere background noise, serving as a character that enriches the narrative with significant emotional depth and weight.

    • “The music is more than just background noise; it becomes a character itself, adding depth and emotional weight to the narrative.”
  • gameplay
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of this visual/interactive novel is criticized for lacking substance, primarily consisting of clicking through poorly written dialogue that detracts from the overall experience. Many users question how such low-quality writing was allowed on the platform.

    • “As a visual/interactive novel, this doesn't feature any notable gameplay; it's just a lot of clicking through badly written dialogue that would never have been accepted or published in print, which poses the question, 'how did something this badly written end up on Steam?'”
  • grinding
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users find the grinding aspect of visual novels and e-books to be tedious, likening it to a frustrating experience where the narrative unfolds slowly, requiring constant clicking to progress rather than allowing for a more fluid reading experience. This mechanic detracts from the enjoyment of the story, making it feel laborious.

    • “Visual novels/e-books are tedious at best... imagine the best novel you ever read, be that Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy or 2001: A Space Odyssey or Twilight (if you have terrible taste in literature), but then translate that to a format where the words dribble out and you have to click your mouse every time you want to read the next sentence, instead of just turning the pages.”

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