The Pony Factory
- January 18, 2024
- David Szymanski
Get on Steam"The Pony Factory" is a dark, black-and-white FPS game inspired by 1950's sci-fi films. You'll face agile enemies in meaty combat, using muzzle flashes and environmental clues to track them in the darkness. The game offers a short, minimalist campaign with improved features and new content from the original release, all set in a town where humans are transformed into magical ponies. Completion can be achieved in around 30 minutes.
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game effectively creates a tense atmosphere with its clever use of lighting and sound design, making encounters with enemies genuinely scary.
- The absurd humor in the notes and the overall premise adds a unique charm to the horror experience, making it both funny and frightening.
- Despite its short length, the game offers a satisfying gameplay experience with solid mechanics, particularly the flashlight and gun switching mechanic.
- The game is very short, with a playtime of around 30-40 minutes, which some players feel does not justify the price.
- There is a lack of enemy variety and the gameplay can become repetitive, especially with backtracking through previously explored areas.
- Some players experienced performance issues and frustrating combat mechanics, particularly with the final boss and enemy AI.
- story75 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its absurdity and comedic elements, while others criticize it for being underdeveloped and lacking depth. Many noted that the narrative is primarily conveyed through scattered notes, which can detract from the overall experience, although the atmosphere and gameplay mechanics were often praised. Overall, the story is seen as a quirky addition that may not satisfy those looking for a more substantial narrative.
“The game features a gripping story, fast-paced action reminiscent of even triple-A titles, wonderful and well-paced comedy that adds to the horror atmosphere rather than detracting from it, gorgeous creature design, inspired level design, and nigh infinite replayability with its challenge modes.”
“Colour gets introduced in this latter half to moody effect, and the story has a great final twist about your character.”
“The story littered throughout the world adds a refreshing comedic element.”
“I love Szymanski, but there is pretty much zero story and zero build-up or variety.”
“The story was not good enough to make up for such unfun gameplay :(”
“Just shooting and a small story told by pages found throughout.”
- gameplay70 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some praising the unique flashlight and weapon-switching mechanics that enhance the horror experience, reminiscent of Doom 3. However, many players criticize the overall execution, citing basic mechanics, limited enemy variety, and a lack of engaging narrative, leading to a feeling of minimal effort in design. While the atmosphere and art style are appreciated, the gameplay often feels clunky and unrefined, resulting in a less satisfying experience overall.
“I love the use of darkness, plus the shoot/flashlight switching mechanic.”
“The pistol shoots faster the longer you hold the trigger, which is a satisfying mechanic that I can't recall seeing in any other games.”
“It's incredible how much this one simple mechanic has enhanced the horror.”
“It has no idea, no interesting gameplay (excluding black-and-white darkness & flashlight/weapon-modes combo), or exciting game design.”
“Story was going for silly and it fell flat; music was nothing but a theremin making alien noises; enemy variety was lacking; and the gameplay was walking down a hallway and then back again.”
“Even though this unfinished technical demo has appealing b&w game design and unique flashlight mechanics, it feels like Szymanski puts little to no effort into the majority of his games and sells them in a half-baked state thinking it's a good practice.”
- atmosphere58 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its ability to blend oppressive horror with cartoonish absurdity, creating a memorable and immersive experience. Players appreciate the effective use of sound design, lighting, and level design, which contribute to a creepy and engaging environment, despite the game's simplistic mechanics and short length. Overall, the atmosphere stands out as the game's strongest aspect, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of horror.
“The atmosphere is really cool and I love the whole design and lore behind it.”
“If you haven't played it yet, I recommend you do it now, you'll discover a surprisingly scary and atmospheric experience that will keep you on your toes until the very last moments.”
“Despite a sardonic spin on the horror genre, the game efficiently establishes an oppressive atmosphere, once the tormented wailing of a pony begins to echo throughout the narrow corridors.”
“It's atmosphere is well done, balancing bleak and gritty horror with cartoonish absurdity.”
“Buy this game for the atmosphere, not the combat; it doesn't excel in PvE.”
- humor46 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its clever blend of humor and horror, featuring absurd dark humor in lore notes and a silly premise that enhances the overall experience. Players found themselves laughing out loud while also feeling genuine tension, with the comedic elements effectively complementing the game's creepy atmosphere. Overall, the humor is considered one of the strongest aspects, showcasing the developer's unique style and ability to create a fun yet frightening experience.
“The sense of absurd dark humor in the lore notes, and even in the overarching premise is pretty great, exactly what I would expect from the guy that made Iron Lung, Chop Goblins, Squirrel Stapler, and Dusk.”
“The comedy is genuinely funny and the game is actually pretty terrifying too.”
“One of the strongest aspects of the game is that it has a great sense of humor and I found the overall silly premise to fit really well with the horror aesthetic.”
- music38 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game is characterized by a cheesy yet effective horror soundtrack, heavily featuring theremin notes that enhance the atmosphere and tension, despite some tracks being perceived as goofy. While many players appreciate the unique and creepy soundscapes, there are criticisms regarding audio mixing and certain alien-themed tracks that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the soundtrack is well-received for its ability to evoke fear and complement the game's quirky premise.
“Even though the whole premise is goofy and you'll hear weird theremin notes as a soundtrack, it does a great job at maintaining tension and making you nervous about what's around the next corner.”
“It has a very cheesy horror feel going for it as well as its scary yet goofy soundtrack.”
“You have never felt more fear than seeing a skinless unicorn barreling around a corner in a dilapidated factory while theremin music wails in your ears like a pent-up banshee.”
“Story was going for silly and it fell flat; music was nothing but a theremin making alien noises; enemy variety was lacking; and the gameplay was walking down a hallway and then back again.”
“Only thing I find that kills the vibe is the UFO alien music that plays every now and then.”
“There's a sound cue, but it's buried underneath the music and there's no audio mixing in the options.”
- graphics35 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a unique b&w aesthetic with high contrast and effective use of lighting, contributing to a strong atmosphere that enhances the horror experience. While some players appreciate the retro charm and artistic design, others find the visuals technically simple and lacking in polish, leading to mixed feelings about their overall quality. Despite these criticisms, the visuals are often praised for their ability to create a cohesive and engaging atmosphere, even if they don't meet modern AAA standards.
“Although probably not for everyone, the Pony Factory has an amazing atmosphere and genuine art style that feels thought through instead of an interactive meme.”
“Loved the (mostly) black and white art style with high contrast and the mechanic of switching between the gun and light source.”
“It features a black and white aesthetic with some great use of baked lighting, has a basic combat system with some light resource management, and lots of terrifying encounters.”
“Don't expect the graphics to be anything to rave about; the charm lies in how terrible everything looks.”
“I should not need a graphics card to play a game that looks as technically simple as this.”
“Graphics: retro”
- replayability16 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The game offers limited replayability after the initial playthrough, which lasts about 45 minutes, with some players feeling that the linear design diminishes the desire to replay. However, it does include additional game modes and difficulty settings that can provide extra challenges for those seeking more content. Overall, while the core experience is short, there are options for players who enjoy revisiting the game in different ways.
“Great game, 1st playthrough lasted about 45 minutes but has a lot of replay value for only 3 bucks.”
“The game features a gripping story, fast-paced action reminiscent of even triple-A titles, wonderful and well-paced comedy that adds to the horror atmosphere rather than detracting from it, gorgeous creature design, inspired level design, and nigh infinite replayability with its challenge modes.”
“As said on the store page, it's short but there are bonus modes if you're looking for some replay value, an extra challenge or two, or just simply want to get the most of what the improvements offer.”
“Scary, however after you beat the game, there's no replayability. There is a veteran mode and a no lights mode, but after the first run, you won't feel like doing it.”
“There are also a few modes to help with replayability, though I think you'd have to be a specific type to run through the game multiple times as it's very linear.”
“There is a bit of replay value with additional game modes, but from what I understand, you will see most of it in about an hour or less depending on how good you're at it.”
- emotional8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a blend of horror and discomfort, evoking strong feelings of trauma and unease through its unsettling narrative and imagery. Players appreciate the effective use of jumpscares and the exploration of dark themes, such as corporate greed, which transforms innocent concepts into nightmarish experiences. Overall, the game successfully balances fun and fear, leaving a lasting emotional impact.
“This has caused me more emotional trauma than anything I've ever experienced.”
“It was a good mix of horror and fun, some good jumpscares and places that made me feel uncomfortable, but not so much that I just quit out of fear like I normally do.”
“A brilliant and striking narrative about how corporate greed will twist and rend any wholesome dream into a hellish nightmare... I think...”
- optimization8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized for significant performance issues, particularly during shooting sequences where effects like muzzle flashes cause frame drops. While some players found the gameplay enjoyable, the overall performance problems detract from the experience, making it difficult to recommend.
“The performance of the game is completely whack.”
“The performance is made even worse when attempting to shoot because the muzzle flash seems to be dropping frames as well.”
“It was enjoyable to play for the most part, but between the performance issues and the final boss, it's hard to truly 'recommend' the game because it has its share of issues.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game exhibits some stability issues, including bugs and glitches that can cause players to get stuck on objects, necessitating a restart. However, these problems are generally considered minor, especially given the game's short length and the fact that it was developed by a small team for a game jam.
“I know the game just released a couple of weeks ago, but it is a bit buggy. I've gotten stuck on certain objects and have needed to quit out of the game and go back into it, but this isn't really much of a problem.”
“I understand that all of the jank and glitches I experienced are due to this being a 10-20 minute long micro-game made by two people for a game jam.”
