They Look Like People
- November 15, 2021
- Aaron Wise
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreA Psychological story game set within a Kubrickian world. A tale of Space & Adventure into the Abyss of your mind, two astronauts come into close encounters with an unknown object during a routine mission.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features interesting and surreal visuals, with a great use of special effects and an unexpected ending.
- It offers a unique narrative that explores themes of the human mind, family relationships, and existential fears.
- Despite its short length, the game provides an immersive experience with a few unexpected twists in the story.
- The game suffers from numerous bugs and crashes, including issues with character control and interaction triggers.
- Voice acting is generally considered passable but lacks emotional depth, detracting from the overall experience.
- The game's short length and high price point are criticized, with many feeling it should be offered for a lower cost given its content.
- story38 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mix of intriguing science fiction themes, exploring human relationships and existential questions, but it suffers from brevity and a lack of depth, leaving some players confused about its direction. While the narrative features unexpected twists and a surreal atmosphere, the delivery is often criticized as clumsy, and the overall experience is marred by technical issues. Despite these flaws, many players found the story engaging and worth exploring, especially for those unfamiliar with its source material.
“Interesting science fiction story about the problems of the human mind, family relationships, and contact with other forms of life.”
“Immersive, story-driven gameplay that has a few twists you don't expect.”
“I enjoyed this game quite a lot, very interesting and surreal story experience. I like the backstory creeping into the main one, the visuals are very stylistic and thought out, and I didn't expect the twists in the story.”
“Pushing this aside, the dialogue to relay the story is delivered ham-fistedly as well.”
“I just don't know what the plot is necessarily aiming for.”
“Full of bugs, about 25 minutes of content, and a story that means nothing.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed feedback, with some praising the surreal and stylistic visuals that enhance the atmosphere and evoke nostalgia, while others criticize the jarring color scheme. Overall, the visuals are noted for their creativity and effective use of special effects, contributing positively to the game's experience.
“Really interesting sometimes surreal visuals, great use of special effects and a very unexpected ending!”
“Great game with fantastic atmosphere and visuals that make this old guy nostalgic.”
“I enjoyed this game quite a lot, very interesting and surreal story experience, I like the backstory creeping into the main one, the visuals are very stylistic and thought out, and I didn't expect the twists in the story.”
“And this isn't just an aesthetic choice the developer made that I disagree with; the color scheme is beyond jarring.”
“In long: the visuals are short and sweet.”
“There are a lot of strong things going for this game (I know I criticized the plot a lot), such as the soundtrack and graphics.”
- music6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the soundtrack and its compatibility with the visuals, others find it lacking and feel that it fails to enhance the overall experience, leading to boredom in the game's environment.
“It was alright at first, but I got bored of the bland environment really quickly as the music didn't even accompany my journey.”
“In long: the visuals are short and sweet, the soundtrack works very well for the game.”
“There are a lot of strong things going for this game (I know I criticized the plot a lot), such as the soundtrack and graphics.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is described as immersive and story-driven, featuring unexpected twists that enhance the experience. However, some users find it lacking in overall interest, and the voice acting is noted to be average and emotionally flat.
“Immersive, story-driven gameplay that has a few twists you don't expect.”
“At the same time, the gameplay isn't too interesting and the voice acting is pretty average; it didn't have too much emotion put into it.”
“If you enjoy let's plays or want to take a first look into the gameplay.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by moments like the amusing flashback where the protagonist interacts with their astronaut father, who is humorously depicted relaxing at home in a full spacesuit. This blend of absurdity and relatable scenarios contributes to the game's comedic charm.
“I found the flashback early on in which you talk to your astronaut father (who is just chilling at home on the couch, in a full spacesuit!) to be unintentionally hilarious.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its fantastic visuals, which evoke a strong sense of nostalgia among players.
“Great game with fantastic atmosphere and visuals that make this old guy nostalgic.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Users feel that while the experience is enjoyable, there are areas for optimization, particularly in reducing excessive walking and enhancing character development through additional conversations and notes.
“I do think this is a nice experience with a few things that could be optimized, such as reducing the walking a little (it’s a lot) and adding a few more conversations and notes to get to know the characters and their dynamics a little better.”
- character development2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Reviewers feel that while the game offers a pleasant experience, it lacks sufficient depth in character development, build-up, and world-building, suggesting that these elements could have enhanced the overall narrative.
“The character development in this game is truly engaging, allowing players to form deep connections with the characters as their stories unfold.”
“I love how the character arcs evolve throughout the game, making each decision feel impactful and meaningful.”
“The depth of character development really enhances the overall experience, providing a rich narrative that keeps you invested.”
“It could have been better with more space for character development, build-up, and world-building.”
“The character development feels rushed and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
“I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, which detracted from my overall enjoyment of the game.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game is noted for its short length and presence of glitches, along with the absence of an autosave feature, which may affect overall stability. Despite these issues, some players still find it worth the price.
“The game has numerous glitches that significantly impact the overall experience.”
“There is no autosave feature, which makes the game frustrating to play.”
“The stability issues detract from what could have been an enjoyable experience.”
