The Dolls
- May 25, 2016
- HUSH Interactive
In "The Dolls," you are a night watchman at an old doll factory, now revived by a toy business. Amidst the production of new dolls, you must keep the automatic machines running and ensure everything stays in order. However, rumors of disappearing construction workers and hidden, decrepit dolls hint at a darker secret within the factory's walls.
Reviews
- The game has a creepy atmosphere and decent sound design that can create tension.
- Some players appreciate the freedom of movement compared to traditional FNAF gameplay.
- The dolls are well-designed and add a unique twist to the horror experience.
- The game is criticized for being a cheap rip-off of Five Nights at Freddy's with little originality.
- Gameplay mechanics are poorly explained, leading to confusion and frustration for players.
- Many players found the jump scares to be ineffective and the overall experience boring.
- gameplay24 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed to negative feedback, with many users criticizing its lack of originality and depth, often comparing it unfavorably to the Five Nights at Freddy's franchise. Players noted issues such as poor mechanics, a lack of engaging puzzles or story, and an overall frustrating experience due to random scare mechanics and ineffective gameplay elements. While some appreciated the atmosphere and sound design, the consensus is that the game fails to deliver meaningful or innovative gameplay.
“I'm not a fan of the aforementioned franchise, but what makes it so successful is that it actually has decent mechanics, a good story, and a lot of innovative gameplay.”
“I mean that this is Five Nights at Freddy's with dolls, from the lights, doors, and limited power survival mechanics, right down to the introductory phone call that you get at the beginning of each night.”
“There's no bugs or pedantically unfair gameplay quirks to speak of.”
“Graphics aren't great, gameplay is terrible and there isn't even a good premise behind the game.”
“No puzzles, no effort in the story, just a huge amount of useless gameplay.”
“Only buy this one, on sale, if you've already conquered the original FNAF (and probably all the sequels as well), and are absolutely dying for an inferior game with an almost identical premise and gameplay.”
- music9 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as creepy and intense, effectively creating a tense atmosphere that enhances the horror experience. While some players found the soundtrack to be a disorienting mix of unsettling sounds, including mechanical noises and eerie laughter, others noted that it occasionally felt disconnected from the gameplay. Additionally, the use of non-original music in the intro raised some concerns among players.
“The sounds and music are pretty creepy; at some points, it put me on edge.”
“I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
“The intensity of the music seems like it should sync with apparitions from foes, but it does not.”
“The nightmarish soundtrack is probably the high point of it all; a swirling disconcerting stew of mechanical grunts, violin shrieks, and hideous doll laughter.”
“The music from the intro is not even original; it's from a YouTube video which contains custom-made doll music.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed to negative feedback, with many users criticizing the overall quality, including issues like cloudiness, poor visual transitions, and reliance on low-quality assets. While some praise certain aesthetic elements, the consensus leans towards dissatisfaction due to technical problems and a lack of polish.
“Beautifully done graphics.”
“Graphics aren't great, gameplay is terrible, and there isn't even a good premise behind the game.”
“Especially since the visuals seem to blink into darker shades, and usually that's when you get jumped by an instant-death scripted scene.”
“Elaborating on the rest of the issues with this title, I'll simply skip (e.g. Unity assets, bad graphics, lots of typos in the store page synopsis) as I have already done so during many reviews pertaining to similar 'quality' software.”
- story7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The story has been described as repetitive and lacking depth, with some players finding it boring and uninspired. While a few acknowledge the narrative's moral about perseverance, many criticize the overall execution, citing poor graphics and gameplay mechanics that detract from the experience.
“I'm not a fan of the aforementioned franchise, but what makes it so successful is that it actually has decent mechanics, a good story, and a lot of innovative gameplay.”
“Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
“Same story, different game. The graphics are bad, the controls are bad; I only bought it because it was cheap.”
“No puzzles, no effort in the story, just a huge amount of useless gameplay.”
“I was getting bored on mission two, so I just experimented venturing out between moments where the music was freaking out.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game has been criticized as a blatant cash grab, with users expressing disappointment that it attempts to exploit the popularity of the FNAF franchise rather than offering a genuine gaming experience.
“If you like FNAF, don't get this game; it's a horrible cash grab trying to profit off the FNAF idea.”
“I don't feel bad for the developers at all, since they just tried to do a quick cash grab.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviewers emphasize the importance of maintaining the game's atmosphere, warning against changes that could detract from the overall experience and lead to frustrating gameplay. A strong atmosphere is seen as essential for player immersion and enjoyment.
“But don't make changes that completely remove the atmosphere and provide an annoying gameplay just to keep your game fresh.”
“The atmosphere feels bland and uninspired, lacking the depth that would draw players into the world.”
“Despite the potential, the game fails to create a compelling atmosphere, leaving players feeling disconnected and uninterested.”