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 game features beautiful graphics that create an immersive atmosphere.
- There are a couple of well-placed jump scares that enhance the horror experience.
- The puzzles are varied and interesting, providing a good challenge for players.
- The music is poorly executed and does not fit the game's aesthetic, with volume controls that do not work.
- The game runs poorly on many systems, leading to performance issues.
- There is a lack of direction for puzzles and item usage, which can lead to player frustration.
- music7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The music in the game has been widely criticized, with users describing it as the worst they've encountered, featuring annoying, low-quality tracks reminiscent of 8-bit Nintendo games. Many players found the soundtrack unbearable, leading them to mute the game entirely, and reported issues with the volume controls that left the music playing at full volume. Overall, the soundtrack detracted significantly from the gaming experience.
“The exclusive soundtrack by Wesley Willis adds a unique flavor to the game experience.”
“The music creates an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall gameplay.”
“The combination of sound effects and background music really draws you into the game world.”
“The worst music I think I’ve ever heard in a game.”
“I had to play the game on mute with headphones listening to my own midnight jazz music.”
“Now to add, the music is extremely annoying, with few randomly shifting pieces and the quality of 8-bit Nintendo game sound. The volume controls are not working!”
- graphics7 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- -14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally praised for their beauty and high quality, contributing to a cozy yet tense atmosphere in the game. However, some users noted that many rooms appear similar, which can detract from the overall experience. The use of the Unreal Engine allows for various graphic settings, enhancing the visual experience further.
“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.”
“The graphics are underwhelming and fail to impress.”
“The character models look outdated and lack detail.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- -40 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game delivers a captivating atmosphere of cozy yet eerie horror, set within a mysterious ancient mansion that effectively immerses players from the start. With excellent graphics and intriguing puzzles, it evokes a sense of dread and curiosity, making it a standout choice for fans of atmospheric horror. Players have reported feeling genuine chills while exploring the dark, cursed environment.
“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 atmosphere fails to immerse me; it feels more like a series of disconnected rooms than a cohesive haunted mansion.”
“The eerie sounds and visuals are overshadowed by a lack of meaningful interaction, making the atmosphere feel hollow and unengaging.”
- story2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The story features an intriguing ghost narrative set within a mysterious, sprawling castle filled with closed doors and endless corridors. However, players feel disoriented due to the lack of backstory or introduction, which leaves them to navigate the eerie environment without context.
“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 numerous plot holes that leave you questioning the logic of the story, detracting from the overall experience.”
- 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 mechanics 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 engaging and keeps you on your toes with its challenging puzzles and immersive environment.”
“I love how the gameplay combines exploration and problem-solving, creating a thrilling experience that keeps you invested.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % 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 lock players out of rooms.
“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.”
“The optimization is lacking; I frequently experience frame drops and long loading times that disrupt the gameplay.”
“There are significant performance issues, especially in crowded areas, which makes the game feel unpolished and frustrating.”
