The Other Half

About

The Other Half is a single player role playing game with fantasy and mystery themes. It was developed by studioeggroll and was released on November 1, 2018. It received positive reviews from players.

"The Other Half" is a dark fantasy action adventure game, where you play as a Demon Hunter exploring a ruined world to cleanse a demonic infestation. The game features methodical combat, a melancholic narrative of loss, and is fully voiced with an original soundtrack. With hand-animated 2D characters set in a 3D world, you will uncover a twisted tale of intimacy and violence in order to save the once-beautiful land.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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82%

Audience ScoreBased on 76 reviews

story23 positive mentions

character development3 negative mentions

The game features a beautiful art style and engaging sound design that enhances the emotional narrative.
It tackles sensitive topics like sexual assault with a unique perspective, encouraging players to reflect on complex moral issues.
The combat mechanics, while simple, are effective and integrate well with the story, providing a satisfying gameplay experience.

The gameplay can feel repetitive and lacks depth, with limited enemy variety and combat mechanics that may not appeal to all players.
Some players found the narrative's handling of sensitive topics to be problematic, feeling it centers too much on the perpetrator's perspective.
The game is short, which may leave some players wanting more in terms of story development and character arcs.

story
88 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
68%
6%
The game's story is a beautifully crafted dark-fantasy narrative that intertwines themes of emotional abuse and personal redemption, presented through clever metaphors and engaging voice-overs. While the storytelling is praised for its depth and emotional impact, some players feel it lacks sufficient length and character development to fully explore its sensitive topics. Overall, the narrative is compelling and thought-provoking, though opinions vary on its execution and the balance between gameplay and storytelling.
- “The art and music are beautiful, the gameplay is simple but not boring, the difficulty is adjustable, and it's incredibly clever how the characters and their surroundings are all metaphors telling a deeper story.”
- “A dark-fantasy short story, where at half of the plot the fantasy part disappears and the story became dark...very, very dark.”
- “The game’s greatest strength is its story.”
- “The story touches a sensitive topic about emotional abuse, both onto others as well as oneself, but the game just isn't long enough to address anything significant about it.”
- “The story is stupid in the beginning and completely uninteresting.”
- “But in the end, it's short, the play is dull, the story is poisonously didactic, and the 'content warning' gives away the schtick right off the bat.”
gameplay
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
61%
8%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its simplicity and responsiveness, while others criticize it for being repetitive and drawn out, particularly due to a limited variety of enemies and mechanics. Many reviewers noted that the game focuses more on storytelling than on gameplay, suggesting that those seeking a rich gameplay experience may be disappointed. Overall, while the gameplay is described as functional and occasionally clever, it often feels secondary to the narrative, which is where the game truly shines.
- “It's gameplay focused, and tells a story with voice-overs during gameplay.”
- “The art and music are beautiful, the gameplay is simple but not boring, the difficulty is adjustable, and it's incredibly clever how the characters and their surroundings are all metaphors telling a deeper story.”
- “An excellent narrative experience that also has fun gameplay and the gameplay and narrative experience link together well with the metaphors spanning the psychological experiences of the secondary characters.”
- “The gameplay was about 25 minutes too long for my liking, as most of those 25 minutes ended up feeling like filler, fighting the same 3 enemy types.”
- “It seems like the developers were trying to extend the gameplay to over the 2-hour mark to prevent you from getting a refund.”
- “Unfortunately, most of the last quarter of the game largely felt grindy and repetitive in terms of both gameplay and story.”
graphics
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
69%
12%
19%
The game's graphics are widely praised for their beautiful art style, engaging visual effects, and seamless integration with the narrative and gameplay. While some players find the 3D visuals detract from the overall aesthetic, many appreciate the atmospheric design and the emotional depth conveyed through the visuals. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's immersive experience, despite a few critiques regarding simplicity.
- “It has a nice art style, interesting setting, and has some cool visual effects especially later in the game.”
- “First off, this game is gorgeous, both graphics, movements, and soundtrack.”
- “Also, it's staggeringly beautiful, not just because of the graphics style, but because of the way everything flows together.”
- “Art is split, 'ruined' by 3D visuals.”
- “The graphically phallic references as you progress would be funny if the subject wasn't so dour and serious.”
- “Gameplay and visual aesthetic feel too simplistic.”
music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
25%
8%
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and emotional resonance, complementing the art style and narrative effectively. Reviewers note that the soundtrack is well-integrated into the gameplay, enhancing the overall experience without being overpowering or dull. The combination of music, visuals, and storytelling creates a cohesive and impactful atmosphere that resonates with players.
- “The music, story, characters, art style, and combat were something truly amazing and were handled with care.”
- “First off, this game is gorgeous, both in graphics, movements, and soundtrack.”
- “What especially stood out to me was the beautiful and purposefully placed music that was able to invoke emotion precisely when the developer wanted to.”
- “Even the inventory system is metaphorical, and, as a work, the game is so heavily didactic that it is difficult to respond to, as the sentimental music, over-dramatic voice acting, and simple narrative tell you exactly what to feel and when.”
emotional
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game explores sensitive themes of emotional abuse and internal conflict, but its brevity limits the depth of these topics. While some players found the narrative engaging and emotionally impactful, others felt it fell short of delivering a profound experience, with mixed feelings about its handling of serious themes. Overall, it evokes a range of emotions, from sadness to introspection, but may not resonate deeply with all players.
- “The final arc shows what the consequences of playing to one's emotions without the understanding of knowing two sides of the proverbial coin can do to a friendship; as well as the emotional toll on the psyche of a human being puts the game at a near stand-still as you, the player, will struggle to wonder if what you're doing is really the right thing.”
- “Beautiful, emotional, sad story.”
- “I cried.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its seamless transition from serene landscapes to unsettling encounters, creating a captivating and eerie experience. The combination of a classy art style and effective soundtracks enhances the overall ambiance, although some players feel that certain narrative elements may disrupt the immersive atmosphere.
- “Everything about it is atmospheric, and it transitions from peaceful, pretty scenery to chilling and disturbing encounters wonderfully.”
- “Soundtracks and art style are great, classy, and atmospheric, and the gameplay is smooth and closely integrated with the narrative.”
- “The atmosphere can be pretty creepy.”
- “I get the metaphor in the end, but it just breaks the atmosphere.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that character development is a weak point, with some players expressing a desire for deeper writing to enhance their investment in the story.
- “I just wish the writing and character development were a little better to get me invested in the story.”
- “The characters feel one-dimensional and lack any real growth throughout the game.”
- “I found it hard to connect with the characters because their development was so predictable and uninspired.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is inconsistent; while some small details provide a lighthearted touch and contribute to the story, the overall tone is overshadowed by a serious atmosphere, making the more overt comedic elements feel out of place. Unlike other works that balance humor with seriousness effectively, this game struggles to achieve the same harmony.
- “There are small details interspersed throughout the world that, while at first seem random, bring the story together while adding a touch of humor.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game has been criticized for its lack of replayability, with users noting that it is short and offers little incentive to play again. Additionally, some find the combat mechanics to be clumsy, which may further detract from the overall experience.
- “Other than that, it's short, has zero replayability, and the combat feels a bit clumsy to me.”
- “Once you finish the game, there's really no incentive to play it again.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices and consequences makes replaying the game feel pointless.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Many players found the last quarter of the game to be excessively grindy and repetitive, suggesting that a more streamlined approach to storytelling and reduced grinding could enhance the overall experience and impact of the game.
- “Unfortunately, most of the last quarter of the game (until the tail end) largely felt grindy and repetitive in terms of both gameplay and story.”
- “Taking longer to tell the story and spending a bit less time grinding at the end would probably make the game more interesting and pack a larger punch.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization has been criticized, with users noting that it fails to deliver a smooth experience, unlike Haneke's "Funny Games," which succeeded through strong performances and direction.