The Guilt and the Shadow
- February 2, 2015
- oophok
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Get on itch.io Store"The Guilt and The Shadow" is a 2D point-and-click style game that explores themes of mortality, illness, and the fragility of the human psyche. Players unravel a haunting story of reflection and redemption, while experiencing a unique blend of atmospheric visuals and somber music. The game's demo is currently available for those interested in trying it out.
Reviews
- The game features beautiful visuals and a unique art style that enhances the atmospheric experience.
- The sound design is exceptional, creating a dark and immersive ambiance that complements the story.
- The game offers a meaningful narrative that explores deep psychological themes, making it a memorable experience for some players.
- The gameplay is tedious, primarily consisting of slow walking and simple puzzles that can feel repetitive and unengaging.
- The story lacks coherence and depth, with dialogues and monologues that come off as unnatural.
- Many players found the game boring and frustrating, with technical issues such as unresponsive controls when trying to quit.
- story14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The game's story, centered on a protagonist grappling with grief, is noted for its dark atmosphere and meaningful themes, though some players feel that certain elements get lost in translation. While the narrative unfolds through flashbacks and psychiatric evaluations, creating a compelling mood, it may not fully engage all players. Overall, the story is appreciated for its depth and emotional resonance, particularly when experienced in one sitting.
“Cool art style and storyline.”
“Great atmosphere and story.”
“The game's story is focused on the protagonist attempting to work his way through his grief and depends on each level setting a mood that is capitalized on in the next.”
“But the story doesn't really catch your attention.”
“I think if some of the plot didn't get lost in translation, it would be better; also, allowing us to read the clues to the puzzle more than once would be nice.”
“A majority of the plot is told through flashbacks via floating text and disconnected psychiatric evaluations.”
- atmosphere12 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "The Guilt and the Shadow" is widely praised for its beautiful graphics, immersive audio design, and dark, gloomy ambiance that enhances the storytelling experience. Players appreciate the slow pacing, which allows for deeper immersion, although some note that the gameplay can feel tedious at times. Overall, the game is recognized as a strong atmospheric experience, best enjoyed in a quiet setting with headphones.
“The backgrounds are absolutely beautiful and the atmosphere is wonderful.”
“The audio design is also wonderful and creates the dark atmosphere that is necessary for this type of story.”
“The guilt and the shadow is technically a puzzle platformer, but this gameplay primarily exists as a way for the player to immerse themselves in its creepy atmosphere.”
“It's a slow game, reminds me a little of 'Year Walk' in its pacing and atmosphere.”
“This game is all about atmosphere, so make sure to put on headphones and turn the lights off; the difference is uncanny.”
- graphics9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stylish and whimsical art style, which effectively complements the atmospheric and psychological elements of the gameplay. Many players express satisfaction with the visuals, noting that they enhance the overall experience and make even repetitive tasks more enjoyable. The sound design is also highlighted as a strong point, further enriching the game's immersive qualities.
“The guilt and the shadow is a game I purchased solely on the strength of the graphics and promise of atmosphere, and I couldn't have been more pleased in these respects.”
“I found this game during the Steam summer sale of 2017 and I fell in love with the art style.”
“The visuals are stylish and the sound design is quite awesome.”
“Although that might sound awful, the visuals are worth checking out more than once, removing the dullness of backtracking.”
“The whimsical art style matches the slow, subtle psychological horror perfectly.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received largely negative feedback, with many users finding it lacking and unengaging. While it is technically a puzzle platformer, the mechanics seem secondary to the game's atmospheric elements, which some players appreciate but do not compensate for the overall gameplay experience.
“The Guilt and the Shadow is technically a puzzle platformer, but this gameplay primarily exists as a way for the player to immerse themselves in its creepy atmosphere.”
“And the gameplay part just plainly sucks.”
“However, I could not recommend this game based on pure gameplay.”
“The guilt and the shadow is technically a puzzle platformer, but this gameplay primarily exists as a way for the player to immerse themselves in that creepy atmosphere.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, as it involves repetitive back-and-forth traversal to solve puzzles. However, the strong visuals and engaging atmosphere help mitigate the monotony, preventing it from becoming overly frustrating.
“It's a very simple, somewhat tedious puzzler that requires your character to traverse areas back-and-forth to push blocks and climb ladders.”
“Strong visuals and great atmosphere, yet tedious puzzles and lack of narrative.”
- music2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music is highlighted as a standout feature of the game, with many reviewers praising its significance alongside the game's distinctive black, grey, and white art style. The soundtrack is considered a key selling point, enhancing the overall experience.
“The music and the black, grey, and white colors create the perfect atmosphere for this game.”
“I loved the art style of the game, but I think the soundtrack should be the main selling point.”
“The music and the black, grey, and white colors are what you need for this.”
“I loved the art style of the game, but I think the soundtrack should be the main selling point for this game.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game delivers a profound emotional experience, exploring the deep-seated guilt of a man haunted by his mother's suicide, effectively immersing players in his psychological turmoil.
“An emotional experience about the torments of a man plagued by the guilt of his mother's suicide.”
“The game masterfully captures the depth of human emotions, making players feel the weight of loss and regret.”
“Every moment is filled with raw emotion, drawing players into a narrative that resonates on a deeply personal level.”
