The Shadow People
- June 19, 2021
- Roc Studios
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreThe Shadow People is a retro point and click horror adventure game with a minimalistic aesthetic. As a student cramming for finals, you drive all the way to school, sit through class, and try to slog your way back home. But fatigue sets in, and dark creatures dance in the edge of your eyesight.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a charming retro aesthetic and atmosphere, reminiscent of classic point-and-click adventures.
- It's a free game with multiple endings, providing replayability and an intriguing story that engages players.
- The puzzles are enjoyable and not overly difficult, making it a great introduction to the genre for new players.
- The music can be repetitive and annoying, detracting from the overall experience.
- The interaction menu is cluttered with many options that feel unnecessary, leading to confusion during gameplay.
- The game is prone to crashes, which can disrupt the experience and require frequent saving.
- story10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The story is described as interesting yet cryptic, with a surreal quality reminiscent of "Twin Peaks." While some players appreciate the atmosphere and puzzles, others find the narrative vague and lacking a cohesive theme, leading to confusion about the plot. The game features multiple endings, but these are more a result of maze-like navigation than varied storytelling choices.
“I find the story, puzzles, and atmosphere really enjoyable.”
“It tells a mysterious story and has a few interesting puzzles (you should take notes while playing!).”
“I didn't really understand the story or environment; it seems too vague, and I didn't really feel a sense of a theme that tied everything together.”
“I had to spend a lot of time looking through discussions to figure out that the developers intentionally removed easy access to an essential feature of the game at random important points because they couldn't figure out how to develop the game in a way so that people weren't playing the storyline out of order.”
“The story is very cryptic, but I think it offers enough details to where the player can understand what is happening.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their charming retro Game Boy aesthetic, effectively contributing to a creepy atmosphere and enhancing the overall experience. While some players appreciate the nostalgic visuals and music, others find certain creature designs simplistic and the audio more annoying than atmospheric. Overall, the game's presentation successfully captures a spooky vibe, appealing to fans of retro-style horror.
“Some really creepy tense moments and atmosphere here that really leverages the retro aesthetic.”
“A neat little 'macventure-like' with a charming Game Boy aesthetic!”
“If you're looking for a short and scary game with cool retro graphics, then this is your game.”
“The presentation is quite effective with spooky music and visuals, even though some of the creature designs don't go beyond simple stickmen, betraying the influence of childish internet creepypastas that the game would be better off without.”
“The music and graphics were way more annoying than scary, and the storyline was overdone.”
“None of the puzzles were obtuse with a solution that makes the player say 'that was bull****.' The Game Boy aesthetics, music, and general vibe really sell what the game is going for.”
- music7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it repetitive and poorly looped, leading to annoyance during gameplay. While some appreciate the nostalgic Game Boy style and its fit with the game's aesthetic, others feel it detracts from the overall experience, overshadowing the visuals and storyline. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a weak point, contributing to a less engaging atmosphere.
“Nice Game Boy style graphics and soundtrack.”
“The Game Boy aesthetics, music, and general vibe really sell what the game is going for.”
“The presentation is quite effective with spooky music and visuals.”
“The soundtrack is a bit repetitive and it's not looped properly, so it can be a little annoying.”
“The puzzles were easy and the music was very tiring.”
“The music and graphics were way more annoying than scary, and the storyline was overdone.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a creepy and tense ambiance that effectively utilizes a retro aesthetic, enhancing the overall experience. Players appreciate the blend of mystery and enjoyable storytelling, which, along with the retro style, contributes significantly to the game's immersive quality.
“Some really creepy tense moments and atmosphere here that really leverages the retro aesthetic.”
“The game had some decent atmosphere, a nice retro style, and a small amount of mystery with it.”
“Some really creepy, tense moments and atmosphere here that really leverage the retro aesthetic.”
“The style and atmosphere really add to the game's experience.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game boasts strong replayability due to its five distinct endings, which are influenced by player choices, item collection, and exploration. Reviewers highlight that most of these endings are unique and engaging, encouraging players to replay the game to experience all possible outcomes.
“The game offers multiple endings for more replayability, and most of them are cool and unique.”
“The game also provides replayability with 5 different endings that depend on your choices, the items you picked up along the way, and the rooms you discover.”
“The game also offers some replayability as it has 5 different endings depending on your choices, items you picked up along the way, and rooms you find.”
- stability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is reported to run smoothly, indicating a high level of stability with minimal issues.
“Runs great.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by specific moments, such as the comedic impact of Ending #4, which elicited laughter from players.
“Ending #4 made me laugh.”
“The witty dialogue throughout the game kept me chuckling.”
“I loved the clever puns and humorous references sprinkled in the storyline.”
