TRAFFIC
- September 1, 2022
- zzzlaud
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"TRAFFIC" is a first-person psychological horror game set in Wyoming during the 2008 economic recession. Players control a troubled child in a family of three, dealing with internal and external stresses. The game features a gripping story of trauma, with players piecing together the narrative through dialogue and environmental details. Secure your home, communicate with parents, and do chores while experiencing gut-wrenching tension and horrifying events.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a genuinely scary atmosphere with well-earned scares and a disturbing story.
- It features a unique retro PS1-style graphics that enhance the creepy ambiance.
- For its low price, the game provides a compact and engaging horror experience that many players found enjoyable.
- The game is plagued by bugs and soft locks, making progression frustrating and sometimes confusing.
- The story can be vague and hard to follow, leaving players unsure of their objectives.
- Some players experienced moments where gameplay mechanics, like the flashlight, failed, leading to disorienting situations.
- story15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The story in "Traffic" is described as dark and disturbing, revolving around themes of domestic abuse and kidnapping, but it often feels muddled and open to interpretation. While some players appreciate the surrealist approach and atmospheric execution, many find the narrative confusing and lacking clarity, particularly towards the end. Overall, it presents a compact horror experience that leaves room for personal interpretation, despite its unsettling content.
“Traffic is an indie horror title with a surrealist approach to telling a very dark story about a family.”
“The gameplay of Traffic follows a walking simulator-like experience where you wander around your house, carrying out chores, watching the disturbing events of the story unfold and doing some limited key hunts.”
“A compact, efficient, disturbing story executed well.”
“Traffic is a short indie game/walking simulator with a story about domestic abuse, kidnapping, and a trade of some sort.”
“I don't even know too much of what happened, as the story is kind of muddled and the most in-depth plot explanation is that.”
“There are also some moments where things really don't make too much sense, not even in a surrealist horror way; I think I got the gist of the story, but a certain percentage of this is open to your own interpretation.”
- stability5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is generally well-received for its horror atmosphere, but users report significant stability issues, including bugs that disrupt gameplay and hinder progression. These technical problems can lead to frustration, detracting from the overall experience, although some players still find it worth recommending for its price and unique indie qualities.
“It's a frustrating experience that took me out of what I truly saw as a good horror experience. As of now, it's just buggy where you have to basically know exactly what to do or the game is going to freak out and just no longer let you progress. Each restart removes all the tension that was built, and all the horror is simply replaced by frustration.”
“Truly scary, but it's kind of buggy.”
“A bit buggy, but overall a good experience.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is consistently described as creepy and immersive, enhanced by its retro PS1-style graphics and audio. While some players noted occasional clarity issues and bugs, the overall ambiance effectively contributes to a tense and engaging experience, making it a recommended indie title for those seeking a chilling atmosphere.
“The atmosphere and art style are amazing, even if the story lost me a bit towards the end.”
“Visually, the game embraces the old PS1/PS2 style with retro graphics that, while sometimes unclear, mostly enhance the atmosphere.”
“It's atmosphere is definitely creepy, and as always, I'm a sucker for PS1 graphics, so I can't hate on the audio-visual department.”
“Visually, we have a game going for the old PS1/2 style with retro graphics that are at times somewhat unclear but mostly add to the atmosphere here pretty well.”
“This game has tons of atmosphere and will have you looking over your shoulders at all times.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's graphics evoke a nostalgic PS1/PS2 style, contributing to a creepy atmosphere that many players appreciate. While some visuals may be unclear, they generally enhance the overall aesthetic and art style, making for an engaging experience.
“The atmosphere and art style are amazing.”
“Visually, the game embraces an old PS1/PS2 style with retro graphics that, while sometimes unclear, mostly enhance the atmosphere.”
“The graphics are reminiscent of PS1 era visuals, which may not appeal to everyone.”
“The retro graphics are somewhat unclear at times, which can detract from the overall experience.”
“While the atmosphere is creepy, the graphics feel outdated and may not meet modern expectations.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized as a "walking simulator," where players navigate through environments, complete random objectives, and engage in limited key hunts while experiencing a narrative filled with disturbing events. Overall, it emphasizes exploration and task completion within a confined setting.
“The gameplay of the game follows a walking simulator-like experience where you wander around your house, carrying out chores, watching the disturbing events of the story unfold, and engaging in some limited key hunts.”
“The gameplay is basically another 'walking simulator' where you follow through random objectives.”
“The gameplay of the game follows a walking simulator-like experience where you wander around your house, carrying out chores, watching the disturbing events of the story unfold, and doing some limited key hunts.”
