Valley of Shadows
- March 7, 2024
- BadTaste Studio
Valley of Shadows is a short psychological horror game. The events take place in an ordinary American suburb, with an ordinary family man, but the events that happen to him are not quite ordinary. The protagonist returns home to his family late at night after a hard day's work. But the house is empty, the wife and daughter suddenly disappeared somewhere, and a videotape left by a stranger on th…
Reviews
- The game features a gripping story with a heart-breaking ending that keeps players engaged.
- Great atmosphere and visuals, with a unique retro-horror aesthetic that enhances the experience.
- Smooth performance and good voice acting contribute to an overall enjoyable gameplay experience.
- The game is very short and lacks substantial gameplay, leaving players wanting more.
- There are significant bugs and stability issues, with some players experiencing game-breaking glitches.
- Navigation can be confusing, and the lack of guidance leads to moments of aimless wandering.
- story8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The story is praised for its unpredictability and gripping nature, with a well-built tension that keeps players engaged. However, some users noted that unnatural dialogue detracted from the overall experience. The gradual development of the plot leads to a heart-breaking and surprising conclusion that leaves players eager for the resolution.
“I love the story and what a heart-breaking end.”
“The story develops gradually and I promise you will not see the ending coming.”
“The dialogue felt a bit unnatural, which kept removing me from the story.”
“The story is unpredictable.”
“The story develops gradually, and I promise you will not see the ending coming.”
- gameplay7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay is described as engaging and suspenseful, keeping players on the edge of their seats; however, it is criticized for being somewhat predictable and lacking in depth, with some users noting that it feels too short.
“Gameplay impressions: https://youtu.”
“Check out my gameplay - https://www.youtube.”
“Very short, had me on the edge of my seat, but a bit easy to predict, and not enough gameplay.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are praised for their impressive horror aesthetic, featuring high-quality visuals and a stylized camcorder-like appearance that enhances the overall atmosphere.
“The game has a great horror aesthetic and visuals.”
“Nicely stylized, with camcorder-esque visuals.”
“Great visuals and a great atmosphere.”
“The graphics are disappointing, especially considering the high minimum requirements.”
“I expected much better visuals given the game's specifications, but the graphics fall flat.”
“Despite the high graphic minimum, the overall visual quality is underwhelming.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its eerie and suspenseful qualities, enhanced by impressive visuals that contribute to an immersive experience.
“Eerie atmosphere that builds suspense.”
“Great visuals and a great atmosphere.”
“Very atmospheric.”
“The atmosphere is eerie and builds suspense effectively.”
“The game lacks a cohesive atmosphere, making it feel disjointed.”
“Despite the potential, the atmosphere feels flat and uninspired.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game appears to be inconsistent, with some users reporting poor performance while others experience smooth gameplay on their systems.
“The game runs smoothly on my system.”
“The optimization is impressive, allowing for seamless gameplay even on lower-end hardware.”
“I appreciate how well the game utilizes system resources, resulting in minimal lag and quick load times.”
“The performance optimization is severely lacking, leading to frequent frame drops.”
“I was disappointed with the game's optimization; it struggles to run smoothly even on high-end hardware.”
“The optimization issues make the game nearly unplayable at times, which is frustrating.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by a compelling story that resonates deeply with players, culminating in a heart-wrenching conclusion that leaves a lasting impact.
“I love the story and what a heart-breaking end.”
“The characters' struggles felt so real, it brought me to tears.”
“This game made me reflect on my own life experiences; it was truly moving.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Many users express concerns about stability, noting that some releases feel like a gamble due to their tendency to be generic and plagued by bugs.
“I feel like you gamble on some of these releases because they end up being a generic, buggy mess.”