THE VOIDNESS - Scary LIDAR Scanner Horror Game
- April 17, 2023
- Steelkrill Studio
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"The Voidness" is a scary LIDAR scanner horror game where you scan the environment to see and try to escape the dark void. Using your microphone, beware that you are not alone as creatures can hear you, making this a tense and immersive experience. The first chapter is free on Itch.io, with additional chapters available for purchase on Steam. Follow the developer on Twitter for updates and support.
Reviews
- The game features a unique scanning mechanic that adds tension and immersion to the horror experience.
- Many players found the atmosphere and sound design to be effective in creating a creepy and unsettling environment.
- Despite its short length, the game delivers a memorable experience with a compelling story and good voice acting.
- The game suffers from frequent crashes and control issues, making it unplayable for some users.
- There is an over-reliance on jump scares, which some players found to be cheap and repetitive.
- Performance issues, particularly in certain areas, lead to frustrating gameplay experiences, even on high-end systems.
- story23 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 26 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The story is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its compelling narrative and unique mechanics, such as the scanning tool that enhances the horror experience. While some found the plot predictable or criticized the pacing, particularly with an infodump at the end, the overall atmosphere and voice acting were praised, contributing to a tense and engaging gameplay experience. Despite minor flaws, the story is considered a strong point of the game, especially for an indie title.
“The story told through both the narrative as well as the set piece clues was really enjoyable; it keeps you pushing forward to try to piece together what is going on and to survive.”
“An overall great indie-developed game - excellent story and dialogue, and the game knows how to scare without solely relying on jump scares.”
“The story was compelling and the gameplay was a very unique twist on a familiar style.”
“The story is a bit predictable, and one particular type of jumpscare was overused, but the lidar mechanic was really well-executed and the enemy encounters were genuinely tense!”
“There's a bit of a story here, but mostly at the start and a big infodump at the end.”
“The story is decent, borrowing a bit from other games, but it's still fine for a horror game.”
- gameplay22 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 23 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily driven by an innovative lidar scanning mechanic that enhances exploration and creates a tense atmosphere, though it is noted to be somewhat short, averaging around two hours. While the mechanics are generally well-executed and praised for their originality, some players found the pacing slow and the story predictable. Overall, the unique gameplay experience and heavy atmosphere have garnered positive feedback, making it a compelling choice for fans of the genre.
“The lidar mechanic was really well-executed and the enemy encounters were genuinely tense!”
“Felt very fresh with the scanning mechanics and just loved exploring.”
“Excellent original gameplay concept, executed extremely well.”
“In a few minutes of gameplay, I found so many things wrong.”
“Great for people who like this sort of concept, but between the run and the gameplay being a little too slow for my liking, I just went for the refund this time.”
“The voidness does a strong job creating an oppressive atmosphere, and as a fan of scanner sombre, it's interesting to compare and contrast the differences between the two titles.”
- atmosphere11 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its tension and creepiness, effectively creating an oppressive and spooky environment that enhances the overall experience. While some players noted a reliance on jump scares and issues with translation affecting immersion, the music and level design contribute positively to the game's unsettling ambiance. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, with many players appreciating its ability to evoke feelings of desolation and anxiety.
“Very good game with nice mechanics and a heavy atmosphere; the only fault is that it is a little short, but it's worth it.”
“The voidness does a strong job creating an oppressive atmosphere, and as a fan of Scanner Sombre, it's interesting to compare and contrast the differences between the two titles.”
“An interesting concept that delivers a creepy atmosphere and nail-biting tension.”
“This title has so much potential but sadly relies too much on jump scares instead of an unsettling atmosphere.”
“Some mechanics could be smoothed out, but the atmosphere is really creepy.”
“I really liked the atmosphere while I was playing; it felt quiet, desolate, and gloomy.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their quality and innovation, with players appreciating the visuals and movement. However, significant performance issues arise in certain areas, particularly after the introduction of the lidar scanner, leading to a lack of graphical options and customization that frustrates some users. Overall, while the graphics are impressive, technical limitations hinder the experience for many players.
“Awesome graphics and movement of the game though.”
“It controlled well, good graphics, good story.”
“This game has good sound, and graphics.”
“In the intro, I was running on the highest possible settings (I have a 4070 Super & 64GB of RAM), but roughly halfway through the game, when I first entered an area no longer in the void, the performance issues reared up. I lowered my graphics all the way to the lowest without much change.”
“The introductory non-LiDAR part works, but as soon as the LiDAR scanner gets introduced, it becomes unplayable immediately.”
“Graphical options are non-existent; I can't change resolution, can't switch VSync, can't change details, and can't turn on/off subtitles.”
- music4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its fitting soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere and adds a layer of creepiness. While the voice acting and audio elements are also noted as impressive, some reviewers feel there could be more dynamic use of the soundtrack to build tension. Overall, the music effectively contributes to the game's immersive experience.
“The certain elements of the music, the voice acting, and the audio were amazing.”
“Amazing job with the soundtrack; it fits perfectly into the game and adds a bit of extra creepiness.”
“There is very little of ramping up the soundtrack to increase tension or unique use of the lidar feature to disorient the player.”
“The music does its work and manages to put some tension on the atmosphere.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Users report significant optimization issues, particularly in specific areas of the game, leading to drastic drops in frame rates despite high-end hardware. While performance is generally good in less complex environments, certain locations cause severe lag, suggesting that further optimization is needed to ensure a smoother experience across all settings.
“Performance-wise, with the void, I get around 110 fps with a bunch of particles and 240 with almost none, which is great for a solo dev. However, for some reason at Spoilers Base 2, I get around 10 fps at lowest at ultra and 20 at lowest at medium. I didn't test low as 10 between medium and ultra says enough. Since I have a 4070 Ti, I believe these performance issues should be looked at.”
“In the intro, I was running on the highest possible settings (I have a 4070 Super & 64GB of RAM), but roughly halfway through the game, when I first entered an area no longer in the void, the performance issues reared up. I lowered my graphics all the way to the lowest without much change.”
“Performance-wise, with the void, I get around 110 FPS with a bunch of particles and 240 with almost none, which is great for a solo dev. But for some reason, at Spoilers Base 2, I get around 10 FPS at lowest at ultra and 20 at lowest at medium (I didn't test low as 10 between medium and ultra says enough) pretty commonly. Since I have a 4070 Ti, I believe these performance issues should be looked at.”
“The following may not happen to you as I am not sure if it was a hiccup in my rig or the game optimization.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users report significant stability issues, particularly with frequent lidar resetting glitches that persist despite attempts to troubleshoot and reinstall the game. This has led to frustration among players, indicating a need for improvements in stability.
“Lastly, the canonical glitches of the lidar resetting are annoyingly abundant.”
“Didn't work again even with a reinstall, and my days of troubleshooting games are done.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviews suggest that the humor in the game may fall flat, with some players finding the animation and presentation of certain elements to be awkward or reminiscent of outdated comedic styles. There is a call for improvement in the timing and execution of humorous moments to enhance the overall experience.
“The humor in this game is absolutely top-notch, with clever writing that keeps you laughing throughout.”
“I love how the game uses absurd situations to create hilarious moments that catch you off guard.”
“The witty dialogue and playful character interactions make every encounter a joy and add a delightful layer of comedy.”
