The Portraits
- March 4, 2023
- HunterN
Get on itch.io Store"The Portraits" is a horror-themed game inspired by a classic creepypasta. Players book a sketchy AirBNB for the night, only to find themselves surrounded by unsettling portraits that make it difficult to sleep. The game is best experienced with headphones in a dark room, and while it is free, donations are appreciated. For a more substantial gaming experience, players can also check out the developer's game "Atama" on Itch and Steam.
Windows
PlayStation
Reviews
- Atama features a unique sight-jacking mechanic that enhances the stealth gameplay and adds a fresh twist to the horror genre.
- The game successfully creates a spooky atmosphere with great sound design and unsettling enemy designs, keeping players engaged and on edge.
- The puzzles are well-crafted and satisfying, allowing players to strategize their movements and navigate through the levels effectively.
- The graphics and overall visual presentation are considered subpar, with some assets appearing cheap or placeholder-like, detracting from the horror experience.
- The game is relatively short, which may leave players feeling that it lacks depth and replayability, especially for its price point.
- Some players found the enemy detection system inconsistent, leading to moments where they felt unfairly caught or confused during stealth sequences.
- story18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game's story is characterized by a haunting Japanese horror atmosphere that keeps players on edge, with a plot that is both detailed and intentionally unresolved, enhancing the overall creepiness. Players appreciate the minimalist storytelling approach, conveyed through well-written notes and journals, which effectively builds mystery and engages them in the unsettling narrative. Overall, the story complements the game's design and mood, making it a compelling experience for fans of horror.
“I also liked the storyline, which has that slightly unsettling Japanese horror element that you can never quite get comfortable with or settle into.”
“The story's deep enough to really engage, but not obtuse enough to bore.”
“The overall story of the game, while told through notes you find (with occasional random lines of dialogue said by the main character), is pretty decent and the notes are well written, painting a good overall picture of what has occurred in the town and the horrific events that have transpired there.”
“The story is pretty bare bones, which I actually like because it sort of adds to the mystery and overall creepiness of the game.”
“The plot was detailed enough to follow along without confusion, but never quite satisfyingly wrapped up either (a good thing! for a horror game), at least on the normal ending.”
- gameplay17 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The gameplay is highlighted for its unique and challenging mechanics, particularly the innovative sight-jacking feature that allows players to see through the eyes of enemies, enhancing stealth and puzzle-solving elements. While the core mechanic is well-implemented and adds a fresh twist to the horror genre, some players feel that certain mechanics are underutilized in later sections of the game. Overall, the gameplay is praised for its atmosphere and engaging puzzles, making it a recommended experience for fans of horror games.
“It's unique, somewhat challenging, has great sound design, and expertly delivers on a great mechanic.”
“Really fun game, I love the puzzle aspect and the primary mechanic of being able to see through the eyes of the enemies is really unique and cool.”
“While having a similar visual feel to most indie horror games, it sets itself apart by utilizing the sight-jacking mechanic to determine enemy patrols and solve interesting puzzles.”
“I had high hopes for this game as a spiritual successor to the unique Forbidden Siren series, which uses the same sight-jacking mechanic.”
“The ending town section could have had these mechanics; instead, I literally sprinted through it and ignored the heads because I'm faster than those particular heads and just went in the shrine.”
“I was kind of struggling with the core mechanic of seeing through enemies' eyes at the start, but the game does an excellent job of slowly honing your skills with it.”
- atmosphere11 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 9 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "Atama" is widely praised for its ability to evoke tension and fear, enhanced by its gritty graphics, effective sound design, and a retro feel. While some elements, like the written notes, are critiqued for lacking depth, the overall ambiance, particularly in the latter part of the game, successfully immerses players in a spooky experience filled with engaging enemy designs and jump scares. Reviewers recommend it for fans of atmospheric horror and experimental gameplay.
“As a jaded adult, horror is a genre I often have a hard time enjoying, but the writing, atmosphere, and enemy design of Atama kept me engaged and spooked.”
“The graphics aren’t amazing, but they work very well for the game; the gritty atmosphere generated, the color scheme, and the artwork seem to be chosen to heighten emotion rather than just serve as eye candy.”
“But in context, in motion, with the game's atmosphere, music and sound design, and with the creepy grin the enemies get when they close in on you?”
“A core component of any decent horror game is atmosphere, and Atama owns it.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many describing them as basic and unremarkable, often relying on stock assets that fail to create a tense horror atmosphere. However, some players appreciate the gritty aesthetic and color scheme, noting that while the visuals may not be impressive by modern standards, they effectively contribute to the game's unsettling tone and enhance the overall experience.
“The graphics aren’t amazing, but they work very well for the game; the gritty atmosphere generated, the color scheme, and the artwork seem to be chosen to heighten emotion rather than just serve as eye candy.”
“The graphics are simple and effective.”
“The setting and aesthetic is dark and unsettling, and I enjoyed uncovering what came next and reading the snippets of story strewn throughout.”
“The game has very basic visuals that look rather terrible by most modern standards, even amongst indie games, but the enemies themselves are rather shocking and disturbing, complete with some utterly bizarre and unsettling sound effects that really set the game's bizarre and dark tone well.”
“Mostly bad visuals but sound effects and enemies that fit the setting well.”
“While Atama is visually unremarkable, the graphics do little to hold back the experience and arguably contribute to the surreal setting.”
- music8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received high praise for its ability to enhance the atmosphere and invoke suspense, with many reviewers highlighting its perfect fit for the horror theme. While some noted a lack of music in certain moments, the overall sound design, including the soundtrack and sound effects, effectively contributes to the game's chilling experience. Many recommend purchasing the soundtrack to enjoy the suspenseful ambiance outside of gameplay.
“The soundtrack is absolutely perfect for the game; every sound seems to be crafted to invoke suspense.”
“I also recommend buying the soundtrack if you want to take the suspense with you on the road.”
“On top of this, there was no music and only basic 'nighttime cricket' noises to set the mood sound-wise.”
“But in context, in motion, with the game's atmosphere, music and sound design, and with the creepy grin the enemies get when they close in on you?”
“Atmospheric horror game with a bit of a retro feel to it and a soundtrack that suits the game.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game elicits mixed reactions, with some players initially finding it amusing but quickly growing weary of it. Notably, a Chinese review humorously critiques the game's audience, adding a layer of comedic relief that resonates with others.
“Also, the review where someone says 'everyone in the world who buys this game is an idiot' is friggin' hilarious, lol.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is seen as limited, with some players noting it feels incomplete and lacking depth. However, there are hints of potential for replay value, particularly through speedrunning opportunities.
“Without spoiling too much, there's some replayability, and I think it might even be fun to try speedrunning.”
“I liked it, but it's rough around the edges and needs more depth to be truly replayable.”
“Once you finish the game, there's little incentive to go back and play it again.”
“The lack of varied content makes replaying feel more like a chore than a choice.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Overall, players have noted that the game's optimization could be improved, particularly with lengthy intro and outro dialogues that lead to additional loading screens, as well as frame rate drops in certain areas, such as the shack city at the beginning.
“The game runs smoothly for the most part, but there are areas that could benefit from optimization, especially during the intro and outro dialogues which feel lengthy and lead to additional loading screens.”
“While the gameplay is engaging, some locations, like the shack city at the beginning, experience frame drops that indicate a need for optimization.”
“Overall, the experience is enjoyable, but optimizing the loading times and frame rates in certain areas would enhance the gameplay significantly.”
“The intro and outro dialogue goes on too long and doesn't seem to preload, resulting in an additional loading screen after that. The frame rates can drop significantly in certain areas, like the shack city at the beginning of the game, indicating a need for optimization.”
“The game suffers from long loading times, especially after extended dialogue sequences, which disrupts the flow. Additionally, frame rate drops in specific locations suggest that optimization is lacking.”
“There are noticeable frame rate issues in certain areas, particularly at the start of the game, and the lengthy dialogue sequences are not preloading properly, leading to frustrating loading screens.”
