The Other Half (pay what you want)
- July 1, 2020
- studioeggroll
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreThe Other Half is a dark fantasy action adventure where you unbury a tale of intimacy and violence in order to cleanse a demonic infestation from a once-beautiful land. Story A Demon Hunter receives a letter from Daniel, a man begging for help against a demonic infestation from the mountain which he calls home. The Hunter, in a search for him through the cold and abandoned world, will discover …
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Reviews
- The game features a compelling narrative that tackles sensitive topics with depth and nuance, making it a thought-provoking experience.
- The art style and sound design are praised for their beauty and effectiveness in enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.
- The combat mechanics, while simple, are engaging and well-integrated with the story, providing a unique gameplay experience.
- The gameplay can feel repetitive and lacks depth, with some players finding the combat mechanics cumbersome and uninteresting.
- The narrative's handling of sensitive topics, particularly sexual assault, has been criticized for potentially sympathizing with the perpetrator rather than focusing on the victim's perspective.
- The short runtime may leave some players wanting more development in both gameplay and story, leading to a feeling of underwhelming resolution.
- story148 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is a dark-fantasy narrative that intertwines themes of emotional abuse and personal redemption, presented through clever metaphors and voice-overs during gameplay. While the storytelling is praised for its depth and emotional impact, some players feel it lacks sufficient development and length to fully explore its sensitive topics. Overall, the narrative is engaging and thought-provoking, though opinions vary on its execution and the balance between gameplay and story.
“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.”
“This game tells a story, one that even while it's unfolding and you know how it ends keeps you at the edge of your seat praying for something else to happen.”
“Over its 2 hour run time, the game expertly keeps you wanting more as the story takes a dark turn.”
“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.”
“I saw what they tried to do, but it came off as 'I feel bad for assaulting someone, give me sympathy.' Honestly, a story that really didn't need to be told.”
“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.”
- gameplay74 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally described as simple and responsive, with a focus on integrating narrative elements through voice-overs and clever mechanics that reflect deeper themes. While some players find the combat and controls basic or awkward—especially without a controller—others appreciate the unique mechanics and the way gameplay enhances the storytelling experience. Overall, the gameplay is seen as secondary to the narrative, making it more appealing for those interested in the story rather than purely gameplay challenges.
“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.”
“What a treat it is then, for the gameplay to be also interesting and challenging at some times.”
“The actual gameplay itself falls short.”
“Gameplay is mediocre but clearly not the center of it.”
“It's very awkward to play without a controller and a lot of the transitions between story and gameplay take just long enough to take you out of the experience.”
- graphics32 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 16 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are widely praised for their beautiful art style, engaging visual effects, and smooth integration with the narrative, creating a cohesive and atmospheric experience. While some critiques mention a divide between 2D and 3D visuals, the overall sentiment highlights the stunning aesthetics and effective sound design that enhance the gameplay and storytelling. Players appreciate the attention to detail in the visuals, which contribute significantly to the game's emotional impact.
“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.”
“The narrative is both harrowing and engaging, complimented by amazing sound design and effective visuals.”
“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.”
“The visuals are inconsistent and detract from the overall experience.”
- music26 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and emotional impact, seamlessly integrating with the narrative and enhancing the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as one of the standout features, noting its ability to evoke specific feelings at key moments without being overpowering or dull. Overall, the music is described as classy, atmospheric, and thoughtfully composed, complementing the game's artistic visuals and storytelling.
“The most outstanding parts of this game would be its soundtrack, story, and voice acting, which is why I would recommend this game.”
“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.”
“Loved the art style, amazing soundtrack to an exceptional story; you'll only be able to play through it once, but that's all you need.”
“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.”
- emotional12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game explores sensitive themes of emotional abuse and its impact on relationships, delivering a poignant narrative that resonates deeply with players. However, its brevity limits the exploration of these significant topics, leaving some players feeling that the emotional weight could have been more effectively conveyed. Despite this, many found the story beautiful and moving, eliciting strong emotional responses.
“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.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its seamless transition from serene landscapes to unsettling encounters, creating a captivating and often creepy experience. The combination of a classy art style and effective soundtracks enhances the overall ambiance, although some players feel that certain narrative elements can disrupt this immersive quality. Overall, the atmosphere is a standout feature that deeply integrates with the gameplay.
“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.”
“Like, okay, I get the metaphor in the end, but still... it just breaks the atmosphere.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is inconsistent, with some players finding the graphic phallic references amusing, while others feel they clash with the game's serious tone. Although there are small, humorous details that enhance the story, the overall execution lacks the finesse seen in other works, leaving the humor feeling forced rather than organic.
“There are small details interspersed throughout the world that, while at first seem random, bring the story together while adding a touch of humor.”
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the character development in the game is lacking, with many players expressing a desire for improved 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.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized, with reviewers noting that it fails to deliver a smooth experience, unlike other titles that rely on strong performances and direction to compensate for technical shortcomings.
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the game has minimal replayability, with many players noting its short length and lack of engaging content to encourage multiple playthroughs. Additionally, some find the combat mechanics to be clumsy, further diminishing the incentive to revisit the game.
“Other than that, it's short, has zero replayability, and the combat feels a bit clumsy to me.”
