Two Steps Back

About

A mystery/horror visual novel about dreams, reality, human bonds, and survival with a surprise ending!

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

43%

Audience ScoreBased on 14 reviews

story9 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

The artwork is well-done and effectively sets the mood, with some unique animated characters.
The story has interesting elements and could be compelling for those who enjoy short horror narratives.
The game can be enjoyable if approached as a free experience, providing a brief glimpse into a potentially larger story.

The game is unfinished and lacks interactivity, with no choices or meaningful player engagement.
The story is very short and feels incomplete, leaving players with unresolved questions and a sense of dissatisfaction.
The design and programming are poorly executed, leading to confusion and frustration in navigating between parts of the story.

story
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
60%
10%
The story aspect of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it intriguing yet overly brief, leading to disappointment for those expecting a more substantial experience. While certain elements, such as character interactions and themes of time travel and dreams, are praised, many criticize the plot's execution, lack of depth, and disjointed structure. Overall, the narrative offers interesting snippets but often falls short in coherence and development, leaving players wanting more.
- “The story is great, but it is a very short one!”
- “So if you buy it as a game you risk being upset, but if you buy this for the story, it is an interesting one, but it's very short, so be aware!”
- “Take a few minutes, enjoy the art, and don't go in with any expectations of resolution, and you'll at least get a story snippet that, for the most part, is higher quality than that of most visual novels.”
- “Poorly put together plot about dead people having banter about being in a dream sequence or the Matrix and having flashbacks.”
- “The most frustrating part was that there are two 'parts' of the story, but they are not connected in-game.”
- “The 'ending' of the second part starts falling apart into vagueness, losing the strong flow of the story before then.”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The music in the game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its ability to match the tone and enhance the atmosphere, while others criticize it as disjointed and lacking cohesion. The sound effects and ambient sounds are noted to be effective, but the overall soundtrack is seen as the weakest aspect, with some tracks being enjoyable and others described as annoying. Overall, the music contributes to the mood but may not resonate with all players.
- “The art and music are used effectively, and the freakish animations help set the mood.”
- “Also, the sound effects and music just matched perfectly!”
- “To be sure, there is some music and I enjoyed what I heard; the music obeys the tone and gestures of the characters, and most of the sound will be of the eerie-but-maybe-annoying ambience.”
- “The soundtrack is the worst part of the game.”
- “Any collection of sounds confined to separate 'tracks' is owed the title, but I didn't consider the majority of what I heard to be a sampling of a soundtrack; ambience that will either hit you as spot-on or make you wince a bit.”
- “This two-part 'novel' is a short story at best, the art is simple but effective, and so are the sounds and music, but the storytelling doesn't seem to go beyond common tropes.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some users criticizing the artwork and animations as poor, while others praise the unique art style and compelling visuals. Overall, the game's graphics are seen as a highlight by some, despite the negative opinions from others.
- “Unique art style and the animations are over the top.”
- “I loved the tone and, as I said before, the artwork is just amazing; I couldn't ask for more there.”
- “The artwork is bad and the story is equally terrible.”
- “The graphics look outdated and lack detail.”
- “The character models are poorly designed and lack realism.”
gameplay
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The gameplay is notably brief, averaging around 15 minutes, which some players feel is too short for the price, despite acknowledging the author's effort and the artistic quality of the work.
- “The gameplay time is around 15 minutes, possibly longer if you're a slow reader.”
- “The author worked hard on this and deserves the asking price for such a great artistic novel, but the work feels too short for something that I re-read and still don't have an hour's worth of gameplay.”
- “The gameplay time is maybe 15 minutes, perhaps longer if you're a slow reader.”
- “The work is entirely too short for something that I re-read and still don't have an hour's worth of gameplay.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players consistently highlight the game as an emotional journey, emphasizing its ability to evoke deep feelings and connect with them on a personal level.
- “An emotional journey.”
- “This game takes you on a rollercoaster of feelings, making you laugh, cry, and reflect.”
- “The character development is so profound that I felt a deep connection to their struggles and triumphs.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development is considered minimal and lacking depth, though it serves its purpose within the context of a short horror story.
- “The story and character development are insubstantial, but as a short horror story, it works well enough.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
Players note that the game offers some replayability, primarily driven by a strong desire for additional content and experiences after completing it.
- “The game has significant replay value, as it leaves you eager for more!”
- “Each playthrough offers new experiences and surprises, making you want to dive back in.”
- “With multiple endings and choices, the game encourages you to replay it to explore all possibilities.”
- “However, it does have some replay value if only because you're left desperate for more!”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back and play it again.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices and consequences makes replaying the game feel pointless.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
Reviewers note a deliberate contrast in the game's atmosphere, with lower-quality background images used intentionally to enhance the overall aesthetic and mood. This choice contributes to a unique and immersive experience, highlighting the game's artistic direction.
- “The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into the world with its stunning visuals and sound design.”
- “Every corner of the game is filled with a haunting ambiance that keeps you on edge and enhances the overall experience.”
- “The use of lighting and sound creates a palpable tension, making the atmosphere feel alive and reactive to your actions.”
- “There is a stark contrast between some of the visuals; it's obvious that the lower quality background images were intentionally designed to create a specific atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere feels inconsistent, with some areas lacking the depth and detail needed to immerse players fully.”
- “While the game attempts to create a unique atmosphere, it often falls flat due to repetitive sound design and uninspired environmental details.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users report noticeable stuttering issues during gameplay, which may detract from the overall experience for some players.
- “There is a good deal of stuttering during gameplay, which can be quite frustrating.”
- “The optimization is lacking, leading to frequent frame drops and lag.”
- “I experienced significant performance issues, making the game nearly unplayable at times.”