There's Something In The Ice
- March 25, 2024
- JustTomcuk
Get on Steam"There's Something In The Ice" is a first-person horror game set in an Antarctic research station, where three scientists uncover something terrifying while drilling into the ice. The game features realistic graphics, an advanced lighting system, and a plot presented through character dialogues, inspired by the movie "The Thing" and other sci-fi films and games. There are no notes to find, with the story unfolding solely through conversations with other characters.
Reviews
- Great atmosphere and sound design that immerses players in a creepy environment reminiscent of 'The Thing'.
- Short gameplay (around 90 minutes) makes it accessible for casual gamers, with a straightforward story that keeps players engaged.
- Good graphics and overall experience, with many players enjoying the homage to classic sci-fi horror films.
- Weak AI and voice acting detract from the immersion, with some players finding the dialogue unnecessary and poorly executed.
- Lack of meaningful gameplay mechanics, such as combat or puzzles, leads to a feeling of predictability and lack of tension.
- Some players experienced bugs and glitches, including game-breaking issues that hindered their overall enjoyment.
- story26 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game received mixed reviews, with many players finding it basic and straightforward, lacking depth and complexity. While some appreciated the engaging atmosphere and twists, others criticized the pacing and voice acting, describing the narrative as shallow or padded with unnecessary objectives. Overall, the story was seen as a decent foundation for the gameplay, but it could have benefited from more development and intrigue.
“Great story, great graphics and optimization, great controls and just overall great experience.”
“There's something in the ice was a fun short horror experience with a compelling foundational story line.”
“Overall story jives well, escalates pretty quickly, and has quite the ending!”
“The story is extremely shallow.”
“The story was so bland and the voice acting so poor that I don't even really care, but I was kinda interested to see her morph into something, but no, nothing morphs at all.”
“Boring story, no puzzles, quests were there just to move around the map and definitely not scary.”
- atmosphere18 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its creepy and unsettling tone, effectively building tension throughout the gameplay. While it draws inspiration from the cult classic "The Thing," some players feel it falls short in capturing the full sense of paranoia. Overall, the ambiance is noted as a standout feature, enhancing the experience despite some criticisms regarding other game elements.
“What this game did really well was create an atmosphere that was creepy, and at times, unsettling.”
“It's not extremely scary but has a very tense atmosphere that builds throughout the gameplay.”
“The atmosphere really shows the inspiration from the classic horror 'The Thing', but it has a unique twist.”
“It's really a shame, because the graphics and atmosphere are on point, but it's all let down by terrible AI voice acting, questionable writing, and murky objectives.”
“Atmosphere is unsettling and creepy in itself but very predictable, sadly.”
“Before you buy, please be aware that this is a walking simulator that entirely focuses on story and atmosphere, so please refrain from buying it and then giving a negative review because you did not find any puzzle or survival mechanic.”
- graphics13 mentions
- 69 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics in the game received high praise for their immersive quality and aesthetic appeal, often described as superb and above average compared to other indie titles. However, some reviews noted that while the visuals were impressive, they were occasionally undermined by issues such as poor voice acting and game-breaking glitches. Despite these drawbacks, many players found the graphics to be a standout feature that enhanced their overall experience.
“Graphics and audio were amazing, which helps with immersion.”
“Superb environment and even better sound; the aesthetics were incredible.”
“Great story, great graphics and optimization, great controls, and just an overall great experience.”
“The visuals are average, and so is the audio.”
“However, the mystery aspect in this game was more pronounced than in Abandoned Souls, which worked in its favor while the graphics maintained that.”
- gameplay5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a tense atmosphere and a strong focus on story, as it is primarily a walking simulator without puzzles or survival mechanics. Players can expect a playtime of 90-120 minutes, and the price is considered fair for the experience offered.
“Price point is very fair for a 90-120 minute gameplay.”
“Before you buy, please be aware that this is a walking simulator that entirely focuses on story and atmosphere, so please refrain from buying it and then giving a negative review because you did not find any puzzle or survival mechanic.”
“It's not extremely scary but has a very tense atmosphere that builds throughout the gameplay.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game features appealing graphics but suffers from significant stability issues, including two major glitches that can disrupt gameplay. Players have expressed a need for a checkpoint or save system to mitigate the impact of these glitches.
“The game itself is okay and graphically nice, along with the snow outside, but it was plagued with two game-breaking glitches that made me eventually give up.”
“Please add a checkpoint system or a save system in your game so at least if the game glitches out, it won't be that bad.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its excellent optimization, which enhances the overall experience alongside its compelling story, impressive graphics, and responsive controls.
“Great story, great graphics, and optimization, great controls, and just an overall great experience.”
- music1 mentions
- 200 % positive mentions
- -400 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The music in the game has garnered attention, with users expressing a strong desire for a soundtrack to accompany the background music (BGM), indicating that it enhances the overall gaming experience.
“The music perfectly complements the gameplay, enhancing the overall experience.”
“Each track is beautifully composed, making every moment in the game feel epic.”
“I need a soundtrack for this game's background music!”
“The music in this game is repetitive and lacks variety.”
“The soundtrack feels out of place and doesn't match the game's atmosphere.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is largely criticized, with users finding the story boring and lacking depth, as well as noting that the quests feel aimless and fail to evoke any fear or engagement.
“The story was boring and lacked emotional depth, with no puzzles to engage the player. The quests felt like mere tasks to navigate the map, and there was nothing scary about the experience.”
“The emotional impact was nonexistent; the narrative failed to connect with me on any level.”
“I found the game emotionally flat, with no compelling characters or story arcs to invest in.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of creepiness and comedic elements, with players finding the monster amusing despite the unsettling atmosphere.
“You made it creepy with the atmosphere, but the monster was kind of funny.”
“The witty dialogue and absurd situations had me laughing out loud.”
“I love how the game balances humor with its darker themes; it keeps things interesting!”
