The Crooked Man
- December 31, 2012
- Uri Games
- 6h median play time
Get on Steam"The Crooked Man" is a point-and-click psychological horror game. Players navigate through a dark and atmospheric world, uncovering the secrets of a cursed village. The game features intense puzzle-solving and a chilling narrative, inspired by the works of Edgar Allan Poe and H.P. Lovecraft.
Reviews
- The story and characters are engaging and emotionally resonant, making it a memorable experience.
- The game features clever puzzles that challenge players without being overly frustrating.
- The atmosphere is creepy and well-crafted, enhancing the horror elements throughout the game.
- The combat mechanics can be clunky and frustrating, especially during boss fights.
- Some puzzles and objectives can be vague, leading to confusion and backtracking.
- The game may not be as scary for seasoned horror fans, relying more on atmosphere than jump scares.
- story344 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The story of "The Crooked Man" is widely praised for its emotional depth and engaging narrative, exploring themes of depression, personal struggles, and human connections. Players appreciate the well-developed characters and the way the plot unfolds, often leading to poignant moments that resonate on a personal level. While some find the gameplay lacking, the compelling storytelling and atmospheric horror elements make it a standout experience in the RPG Maker genre.
“The story is incredibly well-written, the characters are all lovable and intriguing, and it handles deep psychological themes with care.”
“The story is so profound and emotionally moving, exploring themes of guilt, loneliness, and the consequences of one's actions.”
“The characters are relatable and fleshed out, and the writing forces you to see things from the perspective of other characters, making the story deeply engaging.”
“The story is weak but the message is excellent, if that makes sense.”
“I personally was not affectionate of any of the characters, maybe because the story lacks a certain depth as it is a very small game.”
“Overall experience with the game: this is a pretty decent RPG horror game, but a bit on the weaker side as far as story.”
- atmosphere53 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its haunting and immersive qualities, effectively combining pixel art, sound design, and storytelling to create a creepy yet emotionally resonant experience. Reviewers note that the subtle tension and psychological depth enhance the gameplay, making it a standout in the RPG horror genre. While some find it less scary than expected, the overall ambiance and character interactions contribute significantly to its engaging narrative.
“The pixel art and atmospheric music create a haunting ambiance, perfectly complementing the game’s themes.”
“The sound design, from creaking floorboards to distant echoes, adds layers to the atmospheric tension, making every step through the haunted landscapes a nerve-wracking journey.”
“The eerily atmospheric environments, coupled with subtle yet effective character designs, create an immersive experience that's both nostalgic and nightmarish.”
“Sound design and atmosphere make it very creepy at times.”
“The unsettling atmosphere intensifies when David experiences eerie nights in his newfound residence, discovering a blood-soaked message that ignites his quest to unearth the truth behind the haunting.”
“I think that's what ruins these games for most people is thinking they're gonna get the absolute pants scared off of them, when in actuality the goal is to simply provide a mysterious, unsettling atmosphere.”
- gameplay49 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally described as straightforward and typical of RPG Maker titles, focusing on exploration, puzzle-solving, and basic combat mechanics. While some players find it lacking in depth and variety, many appreciate how it serves as a vehicle for the game's strong narrative and character development. Overall, the gameplay is seen as enjoyable, especially for fans of the genre, despite some criticisms regarding its simplicity and occasional lack of clarity in mechanics.
“A surprisingly amazing RPG Maker horror game, played the whole game on stream for fun and ended up being miserable. The story is incredibly well-written, the characters are all lovable and intriguing, and the gameplay is the usual RPG Maker flair, so if you like that style, you'll enjoy it.”
“Gameplay-wise, it's that fun RPG Maker horror format that I enjoy a lot, stacked on very fun yet difficult puzzles.”
“Through its evocative storytelling, thought-provoking themes, and atmospheric gameplay, this game leaves an indelible impression, cementing its place among the finest offerings in the RPG Maker series.”
“The worst thing gameplay-wise is the fact the game never explains most of its functions.”
“The gameplay is fairly basic for this genre.”
“Clearly, the JRPG interface is just a vehicle for the story; the story isn't a vehicle for actual gameplay, not with choices or mechanics.”
- graphics47 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are primarily characterized by a nostalgic pixel art style typical of RPG Maker titles, which some players find charming despite its simplicity and occasional outdatedness. While the visuals may not be cutting-edge, they effectively complement the game's compelling narrative and atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience. Many reviewers appreciate the art style for its ability to evoke emotion and nostalgia, suggesting that the graphics serve the storytelling rather than detract from it.
“The pixel graphics are really good with some nice detail, especially when it comes to the cutscenes.”
“Visually, the game adopts a retro pixel art style that, rather than detracting from the horror, enhances it.”
“Despite the graphics, which I personally find charming and nostalgic, JRPGs like 'The Crooked Man' tend to be very story-driven and puzzle-oriented with multiple endings.”
“Sure, the graphics are a bit outdated.”
“The graphics are okay; what you would expect from an RPG Maker, and the illustrations, while low quality, allow you to get more of a feel for the characters.”
“The art style doesn't always work in the game's favor.”
- emotional46 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The Crooked Man is widely praised for its deeply emotional narrative that explores themes of depression, loss, and acceptance, leaving many players in tears by the end. Despite some gameplay frustrations, the rich characterization and heartfelt storytelling create a profound emotional journey that resonates with players, making it a standout title in the horror genre. The game's ability to evoke strong feelings and tackle heavy themes has garnered it a dedicated following, with many recommending multiple playthroughs to fully appreciate its emotional depth.
“The crooked man is a captivating horror game with a deep and emotional narrative that keeps players engaged.”
“The story is so profound and emotionally moving.”
“The characters are all memorable and have extremely relatable personal struggles; the story is beautiful and emotional, and the ending never fails to make me cry.”
- music32 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric and haunting qualities, effectively enhancing the overall experience and complementing the narrative. While some players feel that the soundtrack could benefit from more variety and presence in certain chapters, many appreciate its ability to evoke emotion and tension, contributing significantly to the game's psychological horror elements. Overall, the music is seen as a strong point, with a few critiques regarding its consistency and depth.
“The pixel art and atmospheric music create a haunting ambiance, perfectly complementing the game’s themes.”
“The soundtrack is nothing short of hauntingly beautiful.”
“With its captivating narrative, evocative visuals, and haunting soundtrack, it stands as a testament to the power of storytelling in the horror genre.”
“I dislike the lack of music in some chapters and a few puzzles you have to do.”
“I just wish they would add more music; the game feels a bit empty.”
“There is music, but they never remove you from the hopeless predicament you're in, instead only echoing sound effects taking you into the dark corners of your mind.”
- grinding7 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 86 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and at times frustrating, particularly during second playthroughs. While some enjoy the emotional journey and puzzles, many feel that the gameplay oscillates between being overly easy and excessively repetitive, detracting from the overall experience.
“When it's not tedious, then it's totally opposite: so easy, the game holds your hand and tells you exactly what to do.”
“While some of the battle sequences weren't difficult, it did get a bit tedious after a while, especially when doing the second playthrough for the closure of the story.”
“Although playing the game can be quite tedious and unforgiving, pushing past that will reward you with a very lovely and emotional journey.”
“I played it a bit but found it too tedious.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game features strong replayability due to its well-crafted puzzles and multiple endings, which provide a satisfying challenge and emotional depth. However, some players note that aside from the story's climax, there isn't much variation in subsequent playthroughs, leading to mixed opinions on its overall replay value.
“The well-crafted puzzles offer a satisfying challenge, and the multiple endings add significant replay value.”
“It is well worth the money and has good replayability due to the multiple endings, great atmosphere, and an emotionally gripping storyline.”
“The game does have replay value, but there isn't much different aside from the climax of the story during a second run-through.”
“Replayability: 5/10”
“Does it have a bit of replayability?”
- character development5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
Overall, the character development in the game is praised for its engaging and intriguing nature, particularly highlighted through the character of David. The combination of atmospheric environments and effective character designs enhances the immersive experience, although some reviewers noted that the character design itself could be considered basic.
“I love the story and character development.”
“This would be in my top 10 based on storyline, artwork, character development, and overall how the game was made to be played. All of it was beautiful, and I am super happy I bought this.”
“The characters were engaging, and the character development that came from David was intriguing.”
“Character design: basic”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find certain achievements in the game to be amusing, adding a lighthearted element to the overall experience.
“Some achievements are hilarious to unlock.”
“The game's humor had me laughing out loud at unexpected moments.”
“The witty dialogue and clever puns kept me entertained throughout my playthrough.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy primarily revolves around microtransactions, which have received mixed reviews from users. While some appreciate the optional nature of these purchases, others feel they can create an imbalance in gameplay or detract from the overall experience.
“The game is riddled with microtransactions that feel exploitative.”
“It's frustrating how much you have to spend to enjoy the game fully.”
“The monetization model is overly aggressive, making it hard to progress without spending money.”
