ToruTaru
- September 21, 2021
- hiddenVisions
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam"ToruTaru" is a procedurally generated horror game where you must save your girlfriend from a demon-possessed mansion. Explore randomly generated levels filled with traumatized spirits, and use talismans to fight or evade enemies. Climb the mansion, help others, and build your rank as a ToruTaru explorer in this early access game. Your choices and experiences will differ each playthrough, making for a unique and personalized horror experience.
Reviews
- Torutaru features a unique art style and an oppressive atmosphere that effectively builds tension and fear, making it a standout in the indie horror genre.
- The gameplay loop is engaging and offers a mix of strategic thinking and problem-solving, with procedurally generated levels that keep the experience fresh and unpredictable.
- The sound design and ambient effects enhance the overall experience, contributing to a genuinely scary atmosphere that immerses players in the game.
- The game suffers from numerous bugs and control issues, particularly for players using controllers, which can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
- As an early access title, it lacks certain quality-of-life features such as customizable controls and audio settings, which can hinder the overall enjoyment.
- The random nature of the level generation can lead to frustrating moments where players may feel unfairly punished, detracting from the horror experience.
- graphics15 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game's graphics feature a unique low-fi PS1 style that effectively enhances its haunting atmosphere, drawing comparisons to retro horror aesthetics. While many players appreciate the distinctive art style and its contribution to the overall experience, some find the repetitive environments and complex layouts frustrating. Overall, the visuals are praised for their ability to evoke a sense of dread, despite occasionally hindering navigation.
“The lo-fi graphics really enhance the atmosphere, and there are many types of ghosts with their own motivations, from harmless pranksters to downright evil spirits.”
“A game with a beautiful retro art style and haunting soundtrack, this really stood out to me, and given the price point, I saw no reason not to take a look.”
“The low-fi PS1 style graphics and the Japanese spectral horror aesthetic are big bonuses for me, but the hardcore difficulty is something that's turning me off.”
“Not much is explained to the player apart from a haunting introductory sequence that resembles nothing more than a nightmare, the layouts of the places you are exploring are infuriatingly complex, and the pixel graphics are both aesthetically pleasing to look at while simultaneously destroying your experience as you wander through similar looking rooms trying desperately to find your way and keep clear of all manner of moaning, screaming, breathing, murderous ghosts.”
“Despite the de-make graphics, or perhaps because of them, the atmosphere is unbelievable.”
- atmosphere13 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 23 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is consistently described as oppressive and immersive, heavily relying on sound design, minimalist graphics, and environmental cues to create a haunting experience. Players appreciate the variety of ghost designs and the effective use of ambient noises, which enhance the overall spookiness and engagement. The combination of soothing music and unsettling visuals contributes to a unique and captivating atmosphere that keeps players invested for hours.
“And sure while this game may have its jumpscares, the horror relies heavily on the atmosphere, environment, sound design, and the build-up to a chase, and when that chase comes?”
“With its minimalist design and soothing soundtrack, it creates a zen-like atmosphere that keeps you engaged for hours.”
“The atmosphere is oppressive to say the least.”
“Not just the sound of the creepy creatures in the monster, but the ambience and background noise really add to the atmosphere (sounds of running footsteps, voices, TVs turning on).”
“The atmosphere is set from the beginning with the oddly shaped people and the almost too soothing music.”
- gameplay10 mentions
- 70 % positive mentions
- 10 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a simple yet addictive loop that keeps players engaged, despite lacking a clear end-goal. While the unique art style and varied entities contribute to an entertaining experience, some players find it repetitive and suggest adding more gameplay elements to maintain interest. The atmosphere is notably spooky, with mechanics that create tension and challenge, enhancing the overall experience.
“So far the game doesn't have an end-goal as far as I know, but the gameplay loop is entertaining and the level and entity variation is enough to keep things fresh for a while.”
“It has a simple, yet addictive gameplay loop, which keeps you coming back.”
“Core gameplay loop is super fun.”
“When you get into the gameplay, the evil entities are creepy, and some of their mechanics make it hard to willingly navigate around corners.”
“All I know is that during my first gameplay session, I got so scared I couldn't move.”
- music6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for its minimalist and soothing qualities, creating a zen-like atmosphere that enhances engagement. The haunting soundtrack complements the unique art style, making it a standout feature, while the game design allows for strategic exploration without losing the immersive audio experience. However, some players suggest the addition of chase music to heighten tension during gameplay.
“With its minimalist design and soothing soundtrack, it creates a zen-like atmosphere that keeps you engaged for hours.”
“A game with a beautiful retro art style and haunting soundtrack, this really stood out to me, and given the price point, I saw no reason not to take a look.”
“As for music?”
“Add chase music”
“The atmosphere is set from the beginning with the oddly shaped people and the almost too soothing music.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Many users feel that the game has potential but currently suffers from optimization issues, suggesting that it could greatly improve with further refinement. Some express willingness to revisit and repurchase the game once these optimizations are implemented.
“I’m sure this will be a great experience once it’s been refined and optimized, and I’ll probably repurchase it when that day comes and give it another chance, at which point I’ll delete this review.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is considered fairly replayable, with players expressing enthusiasm for future content that could enhance the experience further.
“Fairly replayable already; I'm very much looking forward to additional content.”
“The game offers a variety of choices that make each playthrough feel unique.”
“With multiple endings and different character paths, I find myself coming back for more.”
“Fairly replayable already, very much looking forward to additional content.”
- story1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story is described as intriguing, capturing the interest of players and enhancing their overall gaming experience.
“The story is incredibly intriguing.”
“The narrative is rich and captivating, keeping me engaged from start to finish.”
“The character development throughout the story is exceptional, making me truly care about their journeys.”
