The Final Take

About

The Final Take is a single player simulation game. It was developed by HUSH Interactive and was released on June 16, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Relive dark footage recorded from the perspective of multiple characters in this unique first person horror.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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69%

Audience ScoreBased on 281 reviews

story4 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

The game effectively creates a creepy atmosphere with its VHS-style visuals and sound design.
It's a budget-friendly horror experience that can provide some tension and scares, especially for newcomers to the genre.
The voice acting, while not perfect, adds a layer of immersion to the gameplay.

The gameplay is repetitive and lacks depth, primarily revolving around collecting notes and avoiding a single enemy.
The game is very short, with most players able to complete it in under an hour, leading to a lack of replayability.
The VHS filter and dark environments can make it difficult to see and navigate, detracting from the overall experience.

story
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
89%
5%
The story of the game is widely criticized for being shallow, incoherent, and lacking depth, with many reviewers noting that it feels incomplete or poorly developed. While some appreciate the initial setup and eerie atmosphere, the narrative often relies on clichés and fails to provide meaningful character development or resolution. Overall, players express disappointment in the story's execution, suggesting it detracts from the overall experience.
- “I really liked the plot and the overall concept; it had that eerie, VHS-filtered charm that pulled me in fast.”
- “First of all, the game's plot is coherent and - while not very complicated - it actually makes sense.”
- “The story is quite interesting and keeps you in suspense, despite the type of game.”
- “The story is so shallow that it's practically non-existent.”
- “The story doesn't make much sense - it feels incomplete.”
- “The story is relatively bland, having the main character start a job at a suspicious hospital whilst unordinary events start unfolding around her.”
gameplay
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
84%
7%
The gameplay is largely criticized for being repetitive and frustrating, often likened to other jump scare games with minimal innovation. Players navigate dark environments, avoiding monsters while searching for notes and collectibles, but many find the mechanics simplistic and the overall experience short, typically lasting under an hour. Additionally, the use of visual effects, such as a VHS filter, detracts from the gameplay rather than enhancing it, leading to a generally negative reception.
- “The gameplay mainly consists of avoiding monsters and looking for notes and collectibles.”
- “I liked the idea of the gameplay taking place through a VHS recording, and I wouldn't mind seeing the concept fleshed out a bit more in a future game.”
- “While the overall presentation is inspired by horror flicks such as 'The Blair Witch Project' and 'V/H/S', the VCR tracking effect is very overwhelming with a light tint barely lighting the gameplay's darkness.”
- “The gameplay itself is a bit lacking; you travel from room to room trying to find any notes or tapes (optional) to pick up or the objects you need to interact with to continue forward with the game.”
- “I would not recommend buying this game; it's a waste of time and money. Sorry, but the gameplay is not worth it, nor are the visuals.”
- “While the overall presentation is inspired by horror flicks such as 'The Blair Witch Project' and 'V/H/S', the VCR tracking effect is very overwhelming, with a light tint barely lighting the gameplay's darkness.”
graphics
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
57%
10%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the VHS aesthetic and atmospheric filters that enhance immersion, while others criticize the overall quality and performance, describing them as poor or difficult to see due to excessive distortion and brightness. Despite these issues, many agree that the unique visual style contributes to the game's creepy atmosphere, even if it sometimes obscures clarity. Overall, the graphics are seen as decent but could benefit from improvement.
- “The content on offer from 'the final take' is respectable enough with regard to visuals and atmosphere.”
- “It's well done, graphics look good and the game has a creepy atmosphere.”
- “The graphic presentation is really good using a lot of filters and effects to create the desired atmosphere.”
- “I would not recommend buying this game; it's a waste of time and money. Sorry, but the gameplay is not worth it, nor are the visuals.”
- “You can barely see anything in this game; it's too dark and the visuals are very distorted.”
- “That, combined with the game’s blurry VHS-style visuals, makes it fairly difficult to see, especially in the second chapter.”
atmosphere
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
43%
11%
The game's atmosphere is generally praised for its creepy and suspenseful qualities, effectively utilizing VHS filters and sound design to enhance the horror experience. However, some players feel that certain gameplay elements, like photo collection and lackluster voice acting, detract from the overall immersion. While the visuals and ambiance are well-executed, there are suggestions for improvements in lighting and gameplay mechanics to maintain the tension and engagement throughout.
- “The game cleverly uses a VHS/VCR filter that successfully hides its poor graphics; therefore, I wouldn't recommend turning it off. Not to mention, it does add to the atmosphere, just as much as the washed-out colors.”
- “The atmosphere of the game is just perfect, the feeling of being hunted.”
- “The game has a really good atmosphere to it and it definitely borrows heavily from Outlast.”
- “Voice actors sound uninterested and they suck out the atmosphere.”
- “Atmosphere was good at first, but the stupid idea of collecting photos all around broke it and degraded to a level of none.”
- “Most of the horror comes from the atmosphere, the lack of lighting, and the fact that you can't fight back any of the enemies you come across.”
music
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
45%
33%
The music in the game is described as both relaxing and eerie, effectively setting the mood for the gameplay. While some users found it enjoyable and fitting, others felt it lacked depth and was overshadowed by other elements like voice acting and gameplay mechanics. Overall, the music contributes to the atmosphere but may not leave a lasting impression.
- “Like a fever dream with good music.”
- “I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
- “When talking about audio, I'll start with the music as I don't have much to say.”
- “Music is creepy, but that's pretty much it.”
- “Another thing that stood out is the eerie music.”
emotional
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a strong emotional impact from the game, describing it as both heartwarming and capable of eliciting tears. Many express a deep investment in the experience, highlighting a mix of laughter and sadness that contributes to its memorable nature. Overall, the game is seen as an emotional rollercoaster that leaves a lasting impression.
- “I cried.”
- “Surprisingly wholesome for something that looked cursed.”
- “But I’m invested emotionally.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
33%
50%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the inclusion of trading cards and achievements, many feel that once the game is completed, there is little incentive to replay it due to the likelihood of having discovered everything in the first playthrough. However, a few users note that the balanced difficulty slider offers some potential for replay value, particularly given the game's short length.
- “With plenty of replay value to offset the game’s relatively short length, we also have a balanced difficulty slider.”
- “There are both trading cards and achievements, but the game has no replayability once finished the first time.”
- “The game has no replay value, as you're likely to have found everything in the first playthrough.”
- “If you get the four recordings in chapter one on the first try, there's absolutely no replay value, because then you'll have all the achievements pinned down.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
80%
The optimization of the game is highly inconsistent, with some players experiencing frustrating stuttering and dark environments that hinder gameplay, while others report smooth performance at a stable 60 fps. Overall, the lack of adjustable settings and poor performance on certain systems contribute to a negative perception of optimization.
- “The game is very well optimized, and it ran at a stable 60 fps for the entirety of my 45 minutes of playtime.”
- “I was impressed by how smoothly the game performed, even during intense action sequences.”
- “The optimization is top-notch, allowing for seamless gameplay without any noticeable lag or frame drops.”
- “The hospital setting is so colorless that it almost looks black and white. Some areas are so dark that it is hard to see, and I found the stuttering, static-filled 'found footage' view to be really annoying.”
- “But the constant stuttering of the screen can get pretty annoying, because it disrupts my ability to spot tricky items that need to be collected, like photos and notes.”
- “Frustrating gameplay, super dark environment, basically no settings (mouse/controller sensitivity and subtitles are really needed), and poor optimization.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
Overall, user experiences with stability are mixed; while some report no glitches, others encounter issues, particularly with Xbox controller support, which can lead to bugs. There are also concerns about the game's longevity and potential for glitches.
- “I personally experienced no glitches at all.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any crashes or interruptions.”
- “I was impressed by how stable the gameplay felt throughout my entire session.”
- “Yes, though expect glitches and a short lifespan.”
- “Game glitches out?”
- “Xbox controller support - having a controller turned on or plugged in causes the game to go buggy.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, with some describing it as a long and repetitive process that can detract from the overall experience. Many feel that it requires an excessive time investment, making it feel like a chore rather than an engaging part of gameplay.
- “It can be a bit grindy at times, but it adds to the overall experience.”
- “The grinding aspect can feel long and tedious, yet it offers a sense of accomplishment.”
- “Grinding may require a significant time investment, but it ultimately enhances the gameplay.”
- “one long, tedious grind”
- “you'll need a second life for grinding”
- “Sure, the game is around a half-hour in length, but even during my short playthrough it became tedious.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a quirky, b-movie style, featuring comically flawed enemies that evoke more laughter than fear. While the absurdity of the characters and situations can be entertaining, some players feel that it may not compensate for the overall gameplay experience.
- “The 'enemies' are broken, missing heads with floating eyes; they get stuck on nearly any obstacle and are more annoying and funny than scary.”
- “It made me laugh like a B-movie would, but if you're looking for an actual game to play and enjoy, it's probably best to spend your money elsewhere.”
- “We could get a 'too bad it's funny' type of narrative, but that's not the case.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game is criticized for resembling a cash grab, with many users feeling that the quality is akin to asset flip scams. Reviewers express disappointment that more effort wasn't invested in content creation, as the game offers less than an hour of gameplay, suggesting a focus on profit over player experience.
- “There's no evidence, so we need to give the benefit of the doubt... regardless, asset flip or not, the quality here is indistinguishable from many asset flip/cash grab scams, and that's a problem in itself.”
- “This could have been a great game if they spent more time investing in creating content for this game instead of cash grab.”
- “(It adds to the playtime at least because it has less than one (1) hour of content otherwise.)”