The Dreadful Whispers
- September 5, 2019
- Blackthornprod Games
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Get on itch.io Store"The Dreadful Whispers" is an adventure game that challenges players to overcome fear and doubt. Explore handcrafted levels filled with puzzles, horrifying monsters, and secrets, while experiencing diverse endings based on your choices. With a unique reveal mechanic and haunting music, this game offers a dark and twisted take on the world, all created by a solo developer.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a unique art style and a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- The gameplay mechanics are inventive, particularly the character-swapping and puzzle elements, which provide a refreshing take on the platformer genre.
- The story conveys a powerful message about overcoming fears and personal struggles, resonating with many players.
- The game is quite short, typically lasting around 2 hours, which many players feel does not justify the price point.
- Controls can be awkward and unresponsive at times, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
- There are inconsistencies in the art quality and level design, with some areas feeling rushed or lacking polish.
- gameplay72 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its unique mechanics and artistic elements, while others criticize its simplicity and occasional frustrating controls. Some found the character-swapping and puzzle-solving engaging, though issues like awkward key bindings and inconsistent mechanics detracted from the experience. Overall, while the game offers interesting concepts and a captivating atmosphere, it struggles with execution and depth, leading to a somewhat polarizing reception.
“Interesting and fun gameplay, sometimes challenging, both gameplay-wise and intellectually.”
“Gameplay largely revolves around exploring the world with light puzzle elements based on mechanics that change constantly throughout the game, which makes each area feel new and refreshing.”
“Lots of unique game mechanics perfectly blended into an inspiring adventure, 10/10!”
“The puzzle game mechanics don't work well most of the time because you just have to finish the puzzle with one character, then with the other, as they are identical.”
“The controls are nonstandard for keyboard at least; 'W' is jump and 'space' is a spoilery mechanic that can kill you if you are not careful.”
“There were times where I died before the level would even load, or the in-game cursor (one of the mechanics) would fly to the other side of the level without giving time to adjust and insta-death.”
- graphics45 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the unique art style, atmospheric visuals, and effective use of color and effects. However, some users criticize the quality and depth of the graphics, describing them as poor or lacking in detail. Overall, while the art style is often highlighted as a strong point, opinions vary on its execution and the overall graphical experience.
“Very atmospheric, great Binding of Isaac style artwork.”
“I loved the art style and the color palettes and all of the visual effects!”
“The music was haunting and lovely, the graphics bold, stylized, and beautiful (or beautifully terrifying, take your pick!)”
“The graphics and animations are extremely poor and lazy.”
“I really don't like the art style of this game; it seems like the developer didn't have much time to think it through and just scribbled it.”
“The clash of the art styles in the game really detracts from the art which time and care was taken for.”
- music41 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its beauty, haunting quality, and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere. Composed by Dave Allen, the soundtrack is described as perfect and immersive, complementing the unique art style and gameplay. While some noted minor issues with sound effects, the overwhelming consensus is that the music significantly contributes to a captivating gaming experience.
“The music was haunting and lovely, the graphics bold, stylized, and beautiful (or beautifully terrifying, take your pick!).”
“The music adds a beautiful, intense, and haunting vibe to the entire experience.”
“A beautiful world accompanied by a haunting soundtrack.”
“It was obvious he recorded them with his voice; they were also low quality, which really clashed against the music.”
“This is an indie puzzle/platformer about overcoming fears that boasts a unique visual style and a haunting soundtrack.”
“Vibrant and colorful art, paired with surreal music and sound effects, giving this world a unique atmosphere.”
- story34 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its depth and relatability, while others criticize its execution and coherence. Many appreciate the unique artistic style and how it complements the narrative, though some find the plot predictable or lacking substance. Overall, the story is seen as a significant aspect that can enhance the experience, despite varying opinions on its quality and clarity.
“It's very rare that you see a game with a story about the developer's inner journey, and it's something that I've been searching for for a long time.”
“The story is thought-provoking and deep.”
“I love the story, the artwork, the soundtrack, and the gameplay.”
“I don't recommend this game; it tries to take itself seriously and tell a story, but its lack of a writer is extremely evident. At some points, I had no idea what was happening, and its art style was interesting but at times felt half-assed.”
“Story sucks; an advanced 4th grader could come up with it.”
“The plot isn't as amazing as it claims to be, and I've encountered bugs, including multi-jumping while next to a wall.”
- atmosphere12 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 8 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game is widely praised for its immersive and unique atmosphere, characterized by vibrant artwork and a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack. Reviewers highlight the effective blend of art style, music, and sound effects that create a captivating and sometimes spooky environment, making it a standout feature despite any gameplay issues. Overall, the atmosphere is described as both engaging and integral to the game's appeal.
“Perfect soundtrack, huge shout out to Dave Allen for his work; the atmosphere is really complete and breathtaking.”
“Vibrant and colorful art, paired with surreal music and sound effects, giving this world a unique atmosphere.”
“It is a very atmospheric and immersive game.”
“Sure, there weren't any jump scares or creepy artwork, but it certainly had the atmosphere, characters, and story from a horror game.”
“The game has its issues, but I'd recommend it for the atmosphere and puzzle mechanics alone.”
“It has its own spooky simplistic style that builds the atmosphere.”
- replayability10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has mixed reviews regarding replayability. While some players appreciate the alternate paths and potential for multiple playthroughs, others feel that the short duration (2-3 hours) and high cost limit its value. Achievements and different endings offer some incentive for replay, but many suggest that it lacks the depth found in more replayable titles.
“Replay value when trying to get all the stars or endings.”
“The game lacks replayability and costs too much for a 2-3 hour playthrough with all the achievements.”
“It's a relatively short game - I finished in about two hours - but there are lots of alternate paths and potential replayability that I intend to explore.”
“The game is very short, but with apparently lots of replay value, due to the significant amount of alternating paths.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game delivers a deeply touching experience, with players noting that the introductory tutorial evokes strong emotions, even bringing some to tears. The music enhances the emotional journey, and while the story may be simplistic, it effectively transitions between various emotional intensities, creating a powerful impact.
“A very touching experience.”
“The intro tutorial made me cry.”
“The music is great, and the story, while simplistic, is still quite touching.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect tedious due to the limitation of having only one save file, which complicates efforts to achieve 100% completion. Many feel that a second life or additional save options would alleviate the frustration associated with grinding.
“You'll need a second life for grinding, mate.”
“Only one save allowed, which makes it tedious to achieve 100% completion.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users have reported occasional freezing issues when exiting the game, necessitating manual termination to resolve the problem.
“The game sometimes freezes upon exit, requiring manual termination.”
“The stability issues are frustrating, as the game crashes unexpectedly during gameplay.”
“I frequently experience lag and stuttering, which disrupts the overall gaming experience.”
