Who's Lila?
- February 23, 2022
- Garage Heathen
- 4h median play time
Get on Steam"Who's Lila?" is a narrative-driven adventure game that follows the story of a detective investigating the mysterious disappearance of a woman named Lila. The game features unique puzzle mechanics and a distinct 2D art style, immersing players in a dark and suspenseful atmosphere as they uncover the truth behind Lila's disappearance. With multiple endings and branching storylines, "Who's Lila?" offers a replayable and engaging experience.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- story586 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of "Who's Lila?" is a complex and layered narrative that captivates players with its intriguing twists and philosophical themes, drawing heavy inspiration from David Lynch's surreal storytelling style. While many players appreciate the depth and engagement of piecing together the plot through multiple endings, some criticize the narrative for becoming convoluted and overly meta, leading to confusion and a reliance on external guides. Overall, the game offers a unique storytelling experience that blends horror, mystery, and interactive mechanics, though it may not satisfy those seeking a straightforward narrative.
“The story is incredible and keeps you wanting more-- unlike a lot of games where I skip past dialogue, it's all intriguing and I genuinely wanted to read and soak it all in.”
“The story captivated me from beginning to end, truly a work of art....”
“The story had so many twists and turns that are so well-crafted and engaging, and the final reveal of the game stuck with me for days.”
“The problem is that the game leans heavily away from that after the first hour or two and instead starts shifting into an incredibly convoluted and confusing story with way too much meta-focus.”
“It's not an issue of the story being 'hard to understand', but rather that there quite literally is no story and the developer leaves the plot & even the entire existence of characters, purely to your own imagination.”
“All these various constantly clashing and unexplained concepts that exist purely to confuse the player and unnecessarily obstruct them from reaching any form of closure or satisfactory grasp of the story attempting to be told here.”
- gameplay368 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Who's Lila?" is centered around a unique mechanic that requires players to manually manipulate the protagonist's facial expressions to influence dialogue and narrative outcomes, creating an engaging yet challenging experience. While the innovative face-sculpting mechanic is praised for its originality and thematic depth, some players find the gameplay can become tedious and convoluted due to its reliance on external puzzles and the complexity of social interactions. Overall, the game is recognized for its intriguing blend of horror, mystery, and thought-provoking storytelling, though it may not appeal to everyone due to its unconventional approach and occasional gameplay frustrations.
“Incredible gameplay mechanics--not only is it unique, it also helps build the incredible narrative.”
“The central mechanic of having to manually sculpt a face into socially appropriate reactions is surprisingly hard, and helped me appreciate just how complex social interactions actually are.”
“The core gameplay loop - that is, uncovering segments of a fragmented story by making minute changes in a conversation - is genuinely fascinating, and the facial expression gimmick never gets old.”
“The main problem is that the game has too much stuff going on that's not the core of the gameplay.”
“The gameplay itself was lacking.”
“Gameplay itself is awkward as it’s often unclear how to proceed other than repeating scenes with different expressions.”
- graphics196 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Who's Lila" are characterized by a unique low-resolution pixel art style that evokes a surreal and unsettling atmosphere, reminiscent of David Lynch's works. Players appreciate the game's distinct art direction, which enhances the narrative and emotional experience, although some find the visuals can be difficult to interpret at times. The inclusion of various color palettes adds depth to the aesthetic, making the overall visual presentation both intriguing and immersive.
“The visuals and structure/storytelling present here are really well done and ooze atmosphere.”
“The graphics have a low-resolution but semi-photorealistic feel, giving allowance for our brain to fill in the gaps with our worst nightmares.”
“The atmosphere is phenomenal, the art style is truly uncanny compared to other horror retro games, and the music doesn't help lifting up the mood for the whole game, everything just keeps going downhill and it won't stop until the whole plot hits rock bottom.”
“But that f-ing stealth episode really doesn't fit this particular graphics style and UI.”
“Exits are frequently hidden, leaving the player unsure where to go, or that there even is somewhere to go, and the over-processed visuals make everything murky.”
“Personally, the weird graphics make it hard to make out what is what and that was annoying sometimes to me...but also it adds to the creep factor.”
- music126 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its impeccable quality, effectively enhancing the eerie and immersive atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to evoke a range of emotions, from soothing to unsettling, and its seamless integration with the game's narrative and visuals. Many express a desire to own the soundtrack, noting its uniqueness and the way it complements the game's surreal and dream-like qualities.
“The music is immaculate; and some of the endings cause a strong sense of familiarity.”
“The soundtrack is great, again made by the developer himself.”
“The music is also fantastic and sets a nice pleasant, warm atmosphere one moment and can be quite chilling the next.”
“The atmosphere is phenomenal, the art style is truly uncanny compared to other horror retro games, and the music doesn't help lift the mood for the whole game; everything just keeps going downhill and it won't stop until the whole plot hits rock bottom.”
“An unsettling adventure with some really effective visual jumpscares, but what is most unsettling is how well done the music is here.”
“The story, facial expression mechanic, two-bit art style, and haunting soundtrack come together to give the whole experience an uncanny, unsettling feel.”
- atmosphere100 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its surreal, eerie, and immersive qualities, enhanced by a haunting soundtrack and unique art style. Reviewers highlight its ability to create a dense, unsettling environment that draws players into a mysterious narrative, often drawing comparisons to Lynchian themes. While the atmosphere is a standout feature, some players note that it can become tedious over time, yet overall, it remains a compelling aspect that significantly contributes to the game's appeal.
“The visuals and structure/storytelling present here are really well done and ooze atmosphere.”
“This game creates an incredible, dense atmosphere.”
“Super immersive, the atmosphere is perfect and the story is pretty well thought out as well.”
“The gameplay and atmosphere carry it for a couple of hours, but after that it really starts to get tedious.”
“I like what the game is trying to do, and I think the atmosphere and design are genuinely creepy, but after all is said and done, there just isn't a good story here.”
“Atmosphere in this game is a suffocating prison; if you treat the game with the respect it treats you, then you'll come to find just how much passion was put into every little detail.”
- humor62 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a blend of absurdity and existential reflection, with players finding the central mechanic of manipulating facial expressions both hilarious and unsettling. Many reviews highlight the game's quirky charm, clever dialogue, and the ability to evoke laughter amidst its darker themes, making it a unique and memorable experience. Overall, the humor is seen as a key element that enhances the narrative while providing a fun and engaging gameplay experience.
“The central mechanic of twisting your face to fit certain emotions in dialogue is brilliant, hilarious, and downright terrifying at times.”
“Genuinely one of the most haunting, existentially terrifying, hilarious, beautiful, weird as all hell games I've ever played.”
“The narrative is so good, I was laughing, yelling, gasping, or straight up speechless just from reading the dialogue.”
- grinding28 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 4 % neutral mentions
- 93 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, as it often requires backtracking through long routes and replaying sections to achieve different endings or complete achievements. While the game's premise and visuals are appreciated, the repetitive nature of the gameplay and clunky controls detract from the overall experience, leading many to seek guides to avoid the chore of grinding. Overall, the ambition of the game is noted, but the execution leaves players feeling frustrated by the unnecessary repetition.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Ultimately have to rate this poorly - incredible concept with clearly a lot of time and effort put into it, but at the end of the day the game requires you to tediously backtrack and redo multiple drawn-out segments with minor actions changed up.”
“It was neat and entertaining for its ambition, but I reached a point where I just looked up the requirements for some endings because grinding for one was becoming a chore.”
“The gameplay and atmosphere carry it for a couple of hours, but after that it really starts to get tedious.”
- stability18 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with numerous players reporting frustrating glitches, including game-breaking bugs and softlocks that hinder progress. While some appreciate the graphics and overall gameplay, the prevalence of bugs, particularly in stealth sections, detracts from the experience. Overall, the game's stability is a major concern, impacting enjoyment and playability.
“Tldr: no follow-up accommodation to the epilepsy warning, very buggy game and tedious mechanics.”
“Excellent game, but experienced some game-breaking glitches I can't get around and have been cut out of some ending cut scenes, just one of many very frustrating glitches I experienced during my playthrough.”
“Behold, for the game may find itself ensnared in the clutches of glitches, thus leading to softlocks that doth impede thy progress.”
- emotional16 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its emotional depth, offering a unique and touching experience that evokes a wide range of feelings, from heartwarming to terrifying. Its innovative approach to dialogue through facial manipulation adds a creative layer to emotional engagement, although some players find the minigame mechanics frustrating and detrimental to the overall experience. Despite its imperfections, many reviewers highlight the game's ability to provoke profound emotions and convey a meaningful message about connection and support during difficult times.
“Ingenious, beautiful, touching, terrifying, and thought-provoking.”
“A heartwarming message for trying times - you're never truly alone <3.”
“What more do I have to say? It's not perfect at all, but it made me feel things I've never felt in a game before.”
- replayability12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game boasts impressive replayability with 15 different endings that encourage players to explore various narrative paths, enhancing the overall experience. Although it can be completed quickly, the intertwining nature of the endings adds significant depth and value, making it a standout title worth revisiting. Many reviewers suggest that the game’s quality and replay value justify a higher price point.
“This is a unique and wonderful gem of a game and encourages replayability to find different endings and discover more about who's Lila?”
“With it seeming like there are a lot of endings, this game delivers on its replay value and entertainment.”
“The way each ending intertwines with the other makes it an even better experience and gives it a lot of replayability.”
“In my opinion, it should be priced higher considering the replay value and quality.”
“With it seeming like there are a lot of endings (I haven't played through the whole game yet), this game delivers on its replay value and entertainment.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is noted for its interesting premise and appealing character designs, though players find the process of unlocking achievements to be tedious and the available guides unhelpful.
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The reviews suggest that the game's optimization reflects a disconnect between its visual presentation and underlying mechanics, creating a sense of dissonance in player experience. This disparity may lead to a feeling that the game's identity is more of a curated facade than a cohesive whole.
