Traumada
- August 11, 2022
- James Horn
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Traumada" is a horror exploration game with puzzle-solving elements, played from a first-person perspective in a PS1/PS2 style. Uncover the mystery of a local girl's disappearance in the 1950s by exploring the nightmare version of the creator's childhood home, or descending into their own madness. The game features atmospheric horror and occasional jump scares, with a focus on uncovering clues and piecing together the past.
Reviews
- The game features a unique and personal storytelling approach, with a strong atmosphere and engaging visuals that evoke nostalgia.
- Players can interact with numerous objects, leading to a rich exploration experience and multiple endings that encourage replayability.
- The sound design and music are well-crafted, enhancing the overall ambiance and contributing to the game's emotional depth.
- The game may not deliver the expected horror experience, with some players finding it more boring than scary and lacking in tension.
- Technical issues, such as bugs in the solitaire minigame and problems with fullscreen display, detract from the overall experience.
- The story can feel loose and cryptic, leaving players with unanswered questions and a lack of compelling narrative drive.
- story13 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its atmospheric and ambiguous storytelling, while others found it lacking and poorly delivered. Many noted that the narrative relies heavily on cryptic visual cues and environmental storytelling, which can leave players feeling confused and requiring external resources to fully grasp the plot. Overall, while it offers a unique approach to storytelling, its effectiveness varies significantly among players.
“Highly recommend for horror fans and someone who likes ambiguous storytelling.”
“The story, which unfolds primarily through note reading, in-game PC browsing, and environmental cues, is well-done and a fun experience (not too text heavy and stays interesting).”
“The atmosphere and storytelling is really great.”
“The story wasn't too compelling for me, and the random aliens are a strange touch.”
“The story is quite lacking.”
“The story is very average and kind of poorly delivered; the main character will say things that are painfully obvious, and some of the scares were more goofy than scary.”
- atmosphere9 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 22 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its nostalgic and immersive qualities, with many reviewers highlighting the effective house design and storytelling that enhance the overall experience. While some noted that certain elements, like character commentary, can detract from the tension, the overall ambiance remains a standout feature that contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
“It has a great atmosphere, a pretty good story, and some nice dubbing.”
“The atmosphere and storytelling is really great.”
“Due to the main character's commentary, it builds very little tension and kills all atmosphere.”
“Despite the issues, I think this game tapped into something very special; the house design was amazing and the atmosphere alone made up for what is lacking.”
- music5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the overall experience, contributing to a personal and immersive atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, complementing the game's unique storytelling and art style. Overall, the music is described as both engaging and integral to the game's emotional impact.
“Definitely a fun time with beautiful art, music, and sound design. Above all, I liked it because it felt very personal; it was quite abstract, yet I found myself getting attached to the world created here.”
“Great song plays in the background, and in the board game, all your findings come together and help you win.”
“An interesting and unique introspective horror with some cool visuals and even cooler music, along with a lot of little extra details to interact and play with.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a nostalgic low-poly style combined with photorealistic textures, creating a unique visual experience that evokes a sense of unease. While the environments can feel repetitive, the art style and attention to detail contribute to an engaging atmosphere that complements the game's introspective horror theme. Overall, the graphics are well-received, enhancing the storytelling and emotional impact of the gameplay.
“Traumada offered a unique horror experience with PS2 graphics, focusing on the protagonist's childhood dream—or should I say 'trauma'—that makes you feel uneasy yet not too stressed compared to other jump scare festivals.”
“An interesting and unique introspective horror with some cool visuals, even cooler music, and a lot of little extra details to interact with and play with.”
“The graphics are strange; they evoke a very nostalgic vibe, are low-poly, yet often feature photorealistic textures plastered over them.”
“Traumada offered a unique horror experience with PS2 graphics and a focus on the protagonist's childhood dream, or should I say 'trauma,' that makes you feel uneasy yet not too stressed compared to other jump scare festivals.”
“It was somewhat boring at times, as you stroll around the same house, which at least changes its layout and visuals from time to time.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the quirky easter eggs and amusing achievements that add character, others are frustrated by the developer's nonchalance towards game-breaking bugs, which they find more irritating than funny.
“All the little easter eggs and some funny achievements give the game its own flair and character.”
“To make things worse, the dev knows about the bugs but he doesn't care and even finds it funny that the minigame is almost impossible to beat due to bugs.”
“Yeah, very funny.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its emotional depth, combining elements of horror with a heartfelt narrative reminiscent of "Gone Home" and "Silent Hill." Reviewers note a significant improvement in emotional storytelling compared to the developer's earlier works, which, while charming, felt more simplistic.
“A cute, emotional horror game that is reminiscent of a Silent Hill-inspired Gone Home.”
“It's a huge step up from the developer's first two games, which are charming and emotional as well, but feel more like Newgrounds flash titles.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is primarily driven by its multiple endings, encouraging players to complete the game at least twice to experience all content.
“Its replay value lies in the multiple endings, requiring the player to run through the entire game twice after the first playthrough to see everything.”
“The game offers a variety of choices that significantly impact the storyline, encouraging players to explore different paths and outcomes.”
“With numerous side quests and character interactions, each playthrough feels fresh and engaging, making you want to dive back in for more.”
“Its replay value rests in the multiple endings, requiring the player to run through the entire game twice after the first playthrough to see everything.”
“Once you've experienced the main story, there's little incentive to go back and play again.”
“The lack of significant changes in gameplay mechanics makes replaying feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
