The Curse of Elmwood
- July 20, 2024
- STuNT
Get on Steam"The Curse of Elmwood" is an atmospheric horror game where you investigate an old mansion rumored to be haunted by ghosts and under a powerful curse. You must explore the dark and damp corridors, uncover secrets of the mansion's past owners, and survive the chilling whispers and supernatural occurrences as you spend the night in the Elmwood Mansion. The game promises a thrilling and nerve-wracking experience as you delve deeper into the mansion's mysteries.
Reviews
- The graphics are beautiful and create an immersive atmosphere.
- The game features a couple of well-placed jump scares that enhance the horror experience.
- There are interesting puzzles and a ghost story that adds depth to the gameplay.
- The music is poorly designed and does not fit the game's aesthetic, with non-functional volume controls.
- The game runs poorly on various settings, leading to performance issues.
- There is a lack of direction for puzzles and item usage, causing frustration for players.
- graphics7 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally praised for their beauty and high quality, contributing to a cozy yet atmospheric horror experience. However, some users note that many rooms lack distinctiveness, which can detract from the overall visual appeal. The game effectively utilizes the Unreal Engine, offering various graphic settings that enhance the immersive tension.
“The graphics are beautiful.”
“Cozy atmospheric horror with excellent graphics and interesting riddles.”
“Excellent graphics and sound create a unique feeling of tension.”
“Doesn’t fit the aesthetic at all.”
“It's based on the Unreal Engine and has a bunch of graphic settings, including a 30 fps lock (my preferred option).”
- music6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game has been widely criticized as the worst ever experienced by players, described as annoying and reminiscent of low-quality 8-bit soundtracks. Many users reported that the volume controls were ineffective, forcing them to endure the music at full volume, which detracted significantly from the overall experience. Some even resorted to muting the game entirely to enjoy their own music instead.
“I had to play the game on mute with headphones listening to my own midnight jazz music.”
“The worst music I think I’ve ever heard in a game.”
“Now to add, the music is extremely annoying, with few randomly shifting pieces and the quality of an 8-bit Nintendo game sound. The scariest part of the game is that the volume controls are not working!”
“You have to listen to the annoying music at full volume all the time!”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- -40 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its cozy yet chilling horror elements, set within a mysterious ancient mansion that captivates players from the start. With excellent graphics and engaging puzzles, it effectively evokes a sense of dread and intrigue, making it a standout choice for fans of atmospheric horror.
“Cozy atmospheric horror with excellent graphics and interesting riddles.”
“The atmosphere of an ancient mansion, immersed in mysteries and horrors, captures you from the first minutes.”
“Horror game with a dark atmosphere where you explore a cursed mansion, solving puzzles and uncovering its secrets.”
“The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the tension and dread that a horror game should evoke.”
“Despite the dark setting, the ambiance fails to immerse me; it feels more like a series of disconnected rooms than a cohesive haunted experience.”
“The eerie silence is broken too often by mundane sounds, which detracts from the overall unsettling atmosphere I was hoping for.”
- story2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The story features an intriguing ghost narrative set in a mysterious, sprawling castle filled with closed doors and endless corridors, though it lacks sufficient backstory or introduction to fully engage players.
“There is a bit of an interesting ghost story.”
“Without any backstory or introduction, you are thrown into a reddish castle or manor with seemingly endless corridors and closed doors.”
“The plot feels disjointed and lacks coherence, making it difficult to engage with the characters or their motivations.”
“There are too many unanswered questions and loose ends, leaving the story feeling incomplete and unsatisfying.”
- gameplay1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "The Curse of Elmwood" is reminiscent of Resident Evil, featuring first-person exploration of a large mansion filled with puzzles to solve, complemented by impressive graphics. Fans of survival horror and puzzle-solving gameplay are likely to enjoy this experience.
“The Curse of Elmwood is similar to Resident Evil in first person and features impressive graphics. We explore a vast mansion and solve riddles, making it a great choice for fans of this type of gameplay.”
“The gameplay is immersive and engaging, with a perfect blend of exploration and puzzle-solving that keeps you on your toes.”
“I love how the game combines action and strategy, allowing for a unique experience with every playthrough.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is considered decent for a solo developer, but it requires significant improvements, particularly regarding issues like clipping, stuttering, and problematic door mechanics that can hinder gameplay.
“Not bad for a single-person development, but it needs work: clipping, stuttering, and doors that push you out of the room and lock you out if you don't enter fast enough.”
