The Long Reach

About

"Calm down. This is all normal. Well, it’s a new normal. There was a malfunction that we can’t fix yet, but with your help I can make symptoms bearable. We’re all in the same boat here and should help each other." "I’m Shelly, a lead scientist in General Education research facility. The job title is longer, but it’s not important. Here’s what I know so far, though." "The experience-sharing program…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 328 reviews

story96 positive mentions

gameplay10 negative mentions

The game features great pixel art and a captivating atmosphere that enhances the horror experience.
The story is intriguing with unexpected twists, keeping players engaged throughout the gameplay.
The sound design and music effectively contribute to the overall mood, creating a creepy and immersive environment.

Gameplay often involves tedious backtracking and pixel hunting, which can be frustrating and detract from the experience.
Puzzles can be illogical or confusing, leading to trial-and-error gameplay that may frustrate players.
The writing and dialogue are inconsistent, with some lines feeling forced or cringeworthy, undermining the game's darker themes.

story
246 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
54%
7%
The story of "The Long Reach" is described as intriguing and atmospheric, with a mix of suspense and dark themes that engage players throughout the game. While many appreciate the unique plot twists and character development, some critiques highlight issues with dialogue quality and pacing, leading to moments of confusion and frustration. Overall, the narrative is seen as a strong point of the game, though it could benefit from further refinement and clarity.
- “It was suspenseful, and the plot and lore constantly built up with each decision you made, and the longer you played.”
- “Just on the verge of greatness, The Long Reach ends up as a good horror-adventure game with an intriguing and creative story and cast of characters, mostly decently designed puzzles, and lastly features great, cheeky dialogue and writing that further add to the specific type of humor and overall sarcastic tone it aims towards, that give more than enough character to the game.”
- “What I love about this game is that it grasped you with its story, it made you want to know more and as you thought you knew everything suddenly the tables turned and you knew nothing at all.”
- “Sadly what holds this game back is the juvenile storytelling and dialogue.”
- “However, the fact remains that the story is not fleshed out, and there are gaping plot holes that have no rhyme or reason to exist.”
- “The story was not engaging enough to make me power through the walking phases.”
graphics
86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
62%
3%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their detailed and beautiful pixel art style, which effectively captures a nostalgic yet unsettling atmosphere reminiscent of classic adventure games. Many reviewers highlight the impressive use of lighting and shadow, enhancing the overall visual experience, while some note that the graphics, though typical of retro games, contribute significantly to the game's dark and immersive storytelling. Overall, the art direction and aesthetic choices are considered strong points, despite some critiques regarding the lack of graphical options and occasional standard interior designs.
- “The pixel graphics are classy and do a lot with light and shadow; the environments and their corruption into fantastic hellscapes are beautiful, and the characters are likable but grounded.”
- “It's pixel art style is very detailed and honestly impressive.”
- “The art style is absolutely phenomenal.”
- “The graphics are fine, pretty typical of a retro story game of this sort.”
- “No graphics option to change display settings (resolution or windowed modes) and no controller support.”
- “It's a shame that such a story subject and pixel art style aren't enough to make up for the clunky dialogue mechanics and the one-shot death when discovering things.”
music
86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
48%
3%
The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many reviewers highlighting the immersive soundtrack and sound design. However, some players noted that certain tracks can become repetitive and jarring, particularly when they restart abruptly. Overall, the combination of music, sound effects, and art direction contributes significantly to the game's eerie and engaging atmosphere.
- “The OST is amazing and really immersive.”
- “I'd say it's totally worth your time, the characters you encounter, the cloying atmosphere and the eerie soundtrack all come together to form a very mesmerizing experience.”
- “Art direction and soundtrack are fantastic; the game itself is dripping with atmosphere.”
- “Additionally, when your pace is slowing down, some of the music can become noticeably repetitive.”
- “The music doesn't loop seamlessly, it just restarts which can be very jarring at times.”
- “Those taint - again, for me - the otherwise very nice pixel graphics and good, at times repetitive music and soundscape.”
atmosphere
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
37%
6%
The game excels in creating a captivating and suspenseful atmosphere, enhanced by its impressive pixel art, eerie soundtrack, and thoughtful design elements. Many players appreciate the blend of horror and nostalgia, noting that the atmospheric details and engaging story contribute significantly to the overall experience. However, some critiques mention that gameplay issues can detract from the immersive quality, leaving players wanting more depth in the narrative.
- “They definitely nail the atmosphere and the story is quite interesting to follow.”
- “Where it does excel is in creating a suspenseful and at times horrifying atmosphere.”
- “I'd say it's totally worth your time, the characters you encounter, the cloying atmosphere and the eerie soundtrack all come together to form a very mesmerizing experience.”
- “A number of tools quite regularly used (and used here) to set horror atmosphere are in effect irritating and immersion breaking for me.”
- “It might be suitable on sale, but only if you're really craving some half-decent atmosphere.”
- “Some major problems which make the gameplay boring and kill the atmosphere: 1) controls can't be changed - I never use my little finger (shift) for running, sorry.”
gameplay
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
72%
16%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it simplistic and lacking depth, often describing it as a point-and-click adventure that relies heavily on running and hiding rather than combat. While some appreciated the pixel art and puzzle elements, others criticized the vague mechanics, tedious item interactions, and short playtime, suggesting that the overall experience does not justify the price. The game is noted for its horror twist and occasional engaging moments, but many feel it ultimately falls short in delivering a satisfying gameplay experience.
- “Pixel art and gameplay are solid.”
- “The puzzles were difficult, but not too difficult, so that I could figure them out on my own during casual gameplay.”
- “The long reach is a classic point-and-click adventure game without actual point and click but with a horror twist and surprisingly fast pace in both gameplay and storytelling.”
- “Not worth the $20 bucks, I'd say a $7 value for such a brief gameplay of 3 hours.”
- “You can't fight them, only run and hide, and honestly this is my biggest negative with the gameplay.”
- “For one, the game gives you very little hints about its mechanics (open your inventory to unlock the door at the start!) and you might easily miss a single item which makes it so you are unable to progress.”
humor
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
93%
7%
The humor in the game is characterized by cheeky dialogue and a sarcastic tone that enhances its horror-adventure narrative, with many players finding the writing both entertaining and fitting for the game's atmosphere. However, some critiques point to an overabundance of forced humor and excessive swearing, which can detract from the intended seriousness of the horror elements. Overall, while the humor is appreciated by many, it occasionally feels out of place amidst the darker themes.
- “Hilarious in bleak situations.”
- “It's also got a sense of humor to it that mostly works, with some meta references strewn about.”
- “This game also managed to fit some very good humor in it provided by the protagonist and it did so without seeming out of place.”
- “There's a lot of unnecessary swearing, or just flat unfunny, try-hard dialogue going on.”
replayability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
50%
30%
Overall, the game has been criticized for its limited replayability, with many players noting that despite different voice lines and choices, the outcomes remain largely the same. While some find the experience enjoyable enough for a single playthrough, the short gameplay length of around four hours further diminishes the incentive to replay.
- “Still a wonderful game and replayable as well!”
- “If it had more than 4 hours of gameplay and any replayability, then okay, maybe.”
- “Not much replay value, and even though you receive different voice lines to say, they all end up with the same endpoint, which renders the difference in choices moot.”
- “- extremely limited replayability.”
- “It was enjoyable; it took four hours to play, and I can say that there's no replayability... unless you wait a couple of years and then replay the game, but not otherwise.”
grinding
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
10%
60%
The grinding aspect of the game is frequently criticized for being tedious and uneventful, with players noting that the repetitive back-and-forth tasks and pixel hunting can become frustrating. Many recommend using a guide to alleviate the monotony and streamline progress, as the gameplay often lacks meaningful engagement. Overall, while some enjoy the art style and mechanics, the grinding elements detract from the overall experience.
- “It can be a bit grindy sometimes, but the rewards make it worth it.”
- “The grinding aspect can feel a bit repetitive, yet it adds depth to the gameplay.”
- “While it can be a bit grindy, the sense of progression keeps me engaged.”
- “Much like the story, not a lot of it makes sense, and by the end of the 2-3 hour campaign the mostly uneventful back-and-forth treks have become tedious; following a guide to reduce the amount of meaningless scavenging is highly recommended.”
- “I started reading a playthrough just to progress through blocks, but then it just got long, boring, and tedious.”
- “I purchased the game on sale ($15); while I enjoyed the art style, gameplay, and mechanics, I disliked a lot of the tedious pixel hunting and combining items with random things that didn't really make sense.”
emotional
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
Players report a strong emotional impact from the game, feeling both drained and engaged by its narrative and challenges. While some express frustration with certain aspects, many appreciate the story's concept and the confidence boost gained from overcoming its puzzles. Overall, the emotional experience is a significant highlight, despite mixed feelings about the gameplay.
- “By the time I got to the end of it all, I was drained, both emotionally and physically.”
- “The worst thing is that I love the concept of the story and was really looking forward to seeing how it unfolds, but I'm not touching this game again.”
- “Nevertheless, the price was more than a bargain; it actually made me feel like a thief, maybe even more than the last 'Thief' title was able to!”
stability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The game is generally well-received but requires significant troubleshooting due to some stability issues, including bugs that affect achievement triggers. While no game is entirely free of bugs, players report that the experience is rewarding despite these challenges.
- “Amazing game takes a lot of troubleshooting but it pays off.”
- “Buggy achievement hint: [spoiler]the hidden achievements 'no respect for privacy' and 'feeling thirsty?' didn't trigger for me when you fulfill their respective requirements or when finishing the game or when continuing after.”
- “No game is totally bug-free.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's optimization has received criticism, with users expressing disappointment over performance issues that detract from the overall experience, suggesting that it should have run more smoothly.
- “Of course I don't want to belittle the game or anything, but it should've been smooth sailing in terms of performance, but no.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game features a straightforward monetization model with no downloadable content (DLC), microtransactions, or loot boxes, ensuring a complete experience without additional costs.
- “No DLCs, no microtransactions, no lootboxes.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Reviewers feel that the character development in the game is lacking, particularly in the middle sections, suggesting that additional depth and storytelling could enhance the overall experience and justify its price.
- “I think if there is a bit more story and character development in the middle, it would be worth the sticker price.”
- “I think if there is a bit more story, a bit more character development in the middle, it would be worth the sticker price.”