Recent reviews by DeadeGuard98

Here's The Thing:
You adopt the role of John, single father of unknown circumstances, seeking to reunite with his daughter Mary. The latter of whom was detained by the authorities along with the rest of the kids and sent to a camp somewhere as the world went to hell… What from? Infighting, overcrowding, hunger, drought, and the usual foes~


This is a super special write-up simply as this makes the 225th entry in my reviews series since 2016 and it just so happens to coincide with my 25th birthday today! Anyway, I wanted to take the time to express a heartfelt thanks to anyone who’s checked out the work I do. I’m far from the most original or skilled of writers, but I do put in a lot of thought and effort into them~



I will just come right out and say it, this mini-adventure took me a mere thirty minutes to complete (for reasons to be disclosed in the cons) and a meagre 12 minutes to speedrun. I usually leave that playtime tidbit in the finishing portion of the first pro, but… y’know what? Even though it’s problematic, it is irrevocably what made the game too!

The controls had such ease to be grasped, there were no tutorials whatsoever except for a few on-screen button prompts, giving you immense and total focus on the little narrative all niftily wrapped up in a bow! This post-apocalyptic 2D platformer, which by the way we can’t ever have enough of those, is reminiscent of both The Last of Us (TLOU) & The Walking Dead in more ways than one and would probably be the most cited in terms of story parallels. And they’d be right, however, Project:Solace comes a close second as well in style. It’s actually darn trying to describe stuff because you never really get to see or experience much of anything, therein lies the key characteristic of its appeal.

In fact, you’re bound to discover that just like the world it paints as scarce in supplies and humanity, the story acts as its beacon of hope. A precious resource, something that all the players would focus on, much a scavenger would when they eye a nugget of meat or anything bearing even the slightest semblance of edible~
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2973840615

I may have tightened the noose by pointing out the story as its shining exemplar, for the hand drawn visuals and graphic novel-like opener were nothing short of striking and gritty! Granted, the in-game “universe” you witness is but a very microscopic section to a run-down city that you’ll pass by oh so quickly… that said it sticks to you and gnaws at you like an artistically emotional splinter. I adored how it also looked very humble and not too professional that it ended up causing a distraction, trust me we wouldn’t want that in here.

Thank God for ambient acoustic tracks that are a cliche to the genre or else I would have resorted to cannibalism as well. I felt as though Joel (you know the fella) was somewhere alive and well with a guitar in hand and punctuating an all-too-familiar journey. Luckily, it doesn’t play off that sentiment heavily and its echoey sound design has a seat at the empty table too~


It’s a premise we know all too well, therefore it need not be introduced or have much added to it. That said, the synopsis stating that it was directly influenced by Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road”; which also served as the pinnacle of inspiration for one TLOU, just changes everything! And having not read that book, instead just did some last-minute research, that makes me an expert to conclude…! But seriously, I do think it captured the spirit thoroughly while paving its own path. Something that’s proving to be a challenge for horror titles these days leaning towards and then relying on nostalgia alone~


Yes, I partially quoted James Sunderland- for who would know better of this dilemma than the man named after denial itself? What greater horror awaits out there than the truth of not knowing whether someone is alive or not? Besides the actual truth I mean. You know what… don’t respond to either of those!

While there is no proper resolution yet, and no, I didn’t just perform a “spoiler” because it’s in the name itself; I took a liking to it cause I really am dying to know what happens next! Along the way, you will come across a few survivors at their wits’ end which shouldn’t bode well for Mary, but somehow the hope springs eternal… in spite of it. Ultimately, the scariest bit is that the team doesn’t decide to continue this series and we are stuck in a purgatory of terrible fan fiction and self-envisioned endings. So, thank you for that~
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2973842254


You’ll notice the really stiff controls from the get go like rigor mortis is just about to set in… but this isn’t a psychological horror (not that I know of), so what gives!? The platforming ain’t all that fancy either, with the jumps that John does giving off the impression that he’s weighty as in he’s lethargic, which he well should be, but not quite?

Instead, he’s almost all stuffed, straight out of a buffet someplace! Just changing directions feel sloppy and delayed… Once a jump is initiated, there’s a very negligible slow-motion at play and you just have to wait until he’s done~


To not sound totally manic, I know- I KNOW (oops that ship has sailed) that I commended the game for its brevity and how it piques curiosity while leaving the good stuff to the imagination. But as it turns out, there is a fine line somewhat like a hair strand between “short” and “proof of concept”, guess which one it’s closer to…! The two separate preludes came off undeserving and just stalled for time. It’s subtle when it didn’t need to; winded when it should be. Interestingly, the voice acting felt unnaturally sped up as well, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say it was trying to catch up with the cinematics. Now that slayed me~


3 distinctive levels with highly uneven design choices. My hugest pet peeve? A game deliberately includes unfair environmental hazards that can off a person like *snaps fingers* and then spawn you back at the beginning- wait, is THAT why it’s called that?! There are checkpoints, but they are few and far between, so what that translates to is the slightest misstep and you’re out!

I wasn’t big on the progression either in that it deviated from the standard “safe” to “moderately threating” and then finally “danger zone” formula. Don’t get me wrong, it could be done, but the end felt barren and “ok, bye”. What’s weirder is it opts for partial gibberish voiceovers, when we’ve already heard full monologues from the start, why can’t it stay consistent~


x Multiple instances where the animations just lock up once a jump is performed.
x Takes fall damage after dropping a very short height and landing on air.


~ Some funky English present and one last check couldn’t have hurt!


https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2973843050

Last Words?
As disheartening as it was hopeful, it ends prematurely before it even truly began! Despite it being mired in mobility qualms and narrative indecisiveness, it planted seeds only it can~

https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2973130496

Here's The Thing:
You are “slim pickings” Johnny, the midnight shift attendant of the Quick Stop who falls prey to the drive-by of yellow van and a prank caller. Are the two related? What did that one lady have before coming there?? Does he at least get minimum wage??? Find out in…!


This review breaks my hiatus of two- nearing three weeks, the last game I reviewed just broke my spirit because it got me thinking that horror games are running out of ideas… and why Renaissance Pictures hasn’t taken action is beyond me!

Also, my birthday is in two days (10th May), and I know I usually keep mundane news of this sort to myself; but I want to try to be more candid and connect with anyone who reads my stuff. Thank you very much~



If you’ve given The Convenience Store a whirl, this experience of manning a gas station alone while catering to every busywork expected of a meagre salaryman should come as second nature. The biggest difference? It’s a short but sweet slasher with it taking partial inspiration fromPoop Killer and the remainder from Stay Out of The House’s opening segment; and like you, it works, surprisingly!

Get off the bus, replace your coworker, stock the shelves, operate the till, maintain the cleanliness of the premises, survive a gradually skulking killer who gets off on tormenting already sad workers, and y’know… the usual. Since it’s NOT your first day on the job, some things don’t get explained to you, but that’s all good since some of us get paid to sit around anyway; totally reasonable.

The shift should take up to 1 hour at most- best job in the world, right? It has just one outcome and that’s finding employment somewhere else… Or just don’t work at all, because no one has ever been terrorized from within their homes. Goodness, I just gave the idea for a sequel, didn’t I~

TIPS:
1) Loop around the gas pumps for the final showdown!
2) Hiding (other than the locker) is plain useless.


If you’re like me, you love any form of entertainment where the entirety of it revolves around a singular location and this delivered that good! You have all shift to familiarize yourself with the layout of the blasé space that is the inside of the store cause you don’t know when a life-threatening situation might break out in that false sense of security… Staring blankly outside the glass at the almost always vacant area where the pumps stand save for the traffic that zooms past or when the occasional customer decides to make a turn in.

The well-lit but lifeless workplace is essentially a bug-zapper… only for humans. Sure, it’s attractive and provides warmth, but it’s only a matter of time! The clientele has seen better days too, but at least they take your mind off the monotony. And speaking of, the silence grows ever more deafening when you’re hard at work, and so you make your own music with the amount of traipsing around to and fro the counter and the ding-chime of the automated door to warn you that break time’s over. Broken only by the faint intrusion from the radio blaring 80-90s slasher-esque tunes that really remind you of the genre you’re in~


The plot isn’t as riveting as that of a whodunnit nor is it invested in giving the killer an elaborate backstory… Both, however, still lend themselves towards a solid “wrong place at the wrong time” setup, flaws be damned! Let’s be real, we just want to be scared when it comes to these things, and its shelves are lined with every horror movie trope that you can think of! From a writer’s favorite location to the progression and even the ultimate face-off. The characters aren’t complex or developed killer fodder, but I’ll take it! Mindless thrills evocative of age-old franchises, some of which are still alive and kicking today! And for 2 bucks? I’d say money well spent~


Want to know what really made me lose my marbles? It wasn’t the killer… per se, but rather the sheer serendipity of it all. That, and I also thought about all the horror films I gratuitously indulged in, ones that prominently featured or had at least one token appearance of gas stations as killing areas! I found myself waiting for scares that never arrived, and spooked by ones I didn’t see coming, of which there were a few alright! Whereas The Convenience Store was mostly supernatural in terms of its dread, here it’s all man-made and the setting itself a quiet non-literal killer!

And to be on the receiving end of one of them dastard obscene phone calls WHILE within a video game is pretty chilling albeit only being in text form! I would know, because I very recently freaked myself out so thoroughly with my own impersonations of Ghostface which evidently the developer is a fan of for sure from the design and behavior of the antagonist~



The humor injected in the title was so disproportional that I fail to see what the supposed end game of that was meant to be…! My first playthrough, I chalked it up as painful and on my second- just an easter egg (not even to a great entry btw) that sorely misses. The only other reason I can think of is that it did so solely for the sake of differentiating itself from its peers of gas station horrors.

The dev himself has fessed up as being abundant, but THIS isn’t how you do it! It didn’t help that the English made it comical too. Plus, I felt the absence of voice-acting for the killer really hurt it, and no, I don’t want it to just have a carbon copy of Ghostface, but at least have a unique-sounding mascot. I mean, it’s super hard to really be unsettled by just a disembodied voice spouting out gibberish~
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2973132127


For a game real self-aware by how many similar titles on the market, it did insanely little to address the shortcomings from the others. I’m talking wonky triggers for the scares, abysmal player signposting, prompts to be done at just the exact spot, and the end product? A ton of waiting around which I’m sure actual workers of these joints do, but that’s not the issue. It missed out on some clever moments that would’ve fully capitalized its slasher identity and the ending was a cheap cop-out~


x Automated door didn’t open for some clients.
x The killer AI isn’t very smart and yet sometimes it is TOO smart.
x Clients walk down the edge of sidewalk all funny XD


~ Bullet sponge final boss doesn’t react to shots...
~ Would be nice if there is a “no progress will be saved” disclaimer; apart from the last trial-and-error encounter I mean.


https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2973131358

Last Words?
Cut and dried slasher whose tone could’ve been dialed up way higher if not held back by amateurish slip-ups at both pacing and uneventful humor. Does the job satisfactorily, and is well worth a stop~

https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2963408170

Here's The Thing:
Join a couple of couples made up of “not Ash” Scott and his beau Lauren, as well as mates Bradley and Misty! The shot caller rented a remote cabin in the woods for only 10 bucks and is shocked to learn that all their friends do is moan at the dilapidated state of the place… Or that eventually things turn out dead way~


This game is a lawsuit that’s bound to happen sooner or later due to copyright infringement of the Evil Dead franchise (be it brand likeness, recreation of signature scenes from the first two parts of the trilogy, and just other confused things done in poor taste). I’m no lawyer, but even I know something didn’t quite sit right…



The gameplay is your stereotypical horror walking simulator, that which then branches out into one groovy shooter, even if it’s the bare-bones type… but hey, it served its purpose! And that’s to have players relive the b-movie goodness and shock value of the first two instalments within the Evil Dead universe.

Therefore, you should expect some dope down-to-earth decapitating of “deadites”(?), familiar twists and turns, along with some inseparable cheeky winks and nods to the aforementioned films. The latter prompting some to let out the phrase “TOO much so”, but we will get to that… believe you me!

Your very first playthrough shouldn’t take up too much time, I’m talking less than 45 minutes at the very least, and 1 hour tops. So, like a certain somebody’s arm, you probably won’t be all that attached…! The reason it took me 2 hours was because I had to rewatch the two films it took after as I was playing it- just to see what’s what and how dangerous of a territory it, or rather the devs, trespassed and they just don’t know it yet~


But onto happier things for a second, I do think the team nailed the aesthetics and feng shui. Like from the insides of the cabin, to the essential overheads such as moonlight intensity and tragic borderline demented set pieces, and eventually the props themselves; that’s not yet taking into account the ways that they are subsequently used.

It really is a feat in itself to be able to replicate beloved sequences into a game format and then have them play out in almost the same exact fashion all while channeling the helplessness you felt when you first watched the OG! While the score strays away and meanders into the woods, only to resurface later on at the inopportune of places… there was also a track or two that followed in the vein and rhythm of the aftermath once the initial possessions have taken place. But, HMM, I can’t hold my tongue anymore, won’t be long now~
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2963409632

Before a pumped-up me clicked on “new game”, I made a bet with myself that this would add nothing new to the storyline- y’know the haplessly unmatched tale we’ve come to know inside and out, whose grotesque happenings are like nightmare fuel coursing our beings… and y’know what I was right! However, since its target audience is fans of the original two works, the appeal is not misguided I suppose. It’s more of a “greatest hits” reel than anything else really, once you’ve subtracted the opening that is.

Horror-wise though, it couldn’t quite deliver because there weren’t all that much, if any novel additions and certain limitations; no moving lips, amateurish voiceovers, dragged it down even further… But I will say this, it had heart & soul, on top of a stupid pluck of courage and that’s where we’re headed now~



It’s rare that I single out the quality of “voice acting” as something that messes up a game’s vibe but it did this time, hands down! It began above average with just one black hole in terms of performances, but as things went progressively downhill to mirror the turn of events, so did the lines and real fast too! And no, before anyone says this is me inciting and spewing hate towards a Lily Gao kind of situation- nope, it’s more that the team skimped on double-checking and talent direction…

Almost as if the actors waited around for the development to finish and got bored in the sound booth, then when the time came; uninterested, disconnected, and one-take lines are all we that we ended up with. The OGs had dark humor, but they were always intended, here… the acting felt out of place and near parody level. Some may reason that was done on purpose, but you can have serious performances in a satire as well~


The elephant in the basement- acts of plagiarism have been committed, I’m 90% sure by this accusation, and I’m not alone on that! This title is neither the first I’ve played nor reviewed to come from the same developer… They’ve always struck me as ballsy, derivative, and a carrion of horror masterpieces. Case in point? I give you Red Valley, their Silent Hill-esque title.

Looking back now, that would pale in comparison to the atrocities done here including straight up ripping off the screams and legendary one liner of the incomparable Bruce Campbell. That, or they hired a really phenomenal impersonator… But even I’m wrong, it doesn’t make much of a difference because it essentially borrows, in fact profits from the brand recognition of the Evil Dead IP! A meagre $2 but that’s besides the point, for it would not have existed without the former. Also, Evil Dead (the real one) is trending on Twitter, so… two birds with one bullet?

Seriously, cut out the tainted parts and you’re left with a forgettable game, and barely one at that. It can’t hold itself up, even if it tried! The developers need to take time to relearn some words as it claims that it is both a retelling, reimagining, and who knows what else interchangeably- but what right do they have to do so? And is it really either of those?? For a proper “inspired by” work, please refer to Cannibal Abduction~
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2963410801

Now the nitty gritty, gameplay is quite buggy and trashy- hence the genre. But that shouldn’t be an excuse! Sometimes it lacked signposting, other times it was very obvious with hints. The AI had many blindspots… Just refer to the “bugs” header and they’re not all listed because word count~


x Enemies ignore you when you’re on tables and elevated surfaces.
x Chainsaw hotkey keeps deactivating by itself, have to go to inventory to equip it again.
x Got stuck when going up steps…
x Health value alternates between 100 and 101.
x Book of the Dead can be brought outside the house.
x Padlock combo for puzzle box glitches out if you change the combo as it unlocks and cannot be opened.


~ Dialogue either progresses manually or automatically. Migraine!



Last Words?
Fun for what it is- but c’mon, Evil Dead in the flesh! A thoroughly lost version that can’t stand on its own feet even if more were sewn on… I’d watch the films, but if you HAD to; fine, worth a shot~

https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2959142324

Here's The Thing:
You step into the shoes- or should I say bare feet, of an unnamed boy who is visiting his grandmother. His family had plans of going to the amusement park but that went down the drain because of the constant downpour, what with it being the rainy season in Japan and all. Will he find something meaningful to do or will he just laze away?


This title was suggested by my new YouTuber friend and mentor “My Soul To Take”! So be sure to tune into his channel and subscribe~



This is no mere game, but rather an experience- a rainy day simulator, and in some ways a page out of everybody’s life stories. You are given free rein of how long you wish to dawdle in the house, whether it be 20, 40 or 60 minutes! Even though it is meant to capture the mundanity and agonizing lingering of time, it never felt stressful or all that boring. Besides, you could always skip to the next memorable event at the click of a button.

What do you do? Well, it can range from simply doing literally nothing sitting kneeled down on the side porch, your eyes transposed to the continuous precipitation; wandering around the house and really observing what is in it on account of being trapped by the watery prison; talking with as well as showing items of special significance to other members of the household which would get them to reminisce on better days, and embarking on a mini-adventure that will enliven the senses!

Although the game is up front with how long it can occupy you for, I found that I voluntarily stayed much longer than I had to thanks to its incredible ambiance and a very heartwarming homemade feel that is the end game sequence. It’s even something that I am fairly sure I would revisit on another rainy day, which isn’t always too far off from now~


I dunno about you, but I am head over heels for singular settings, and here, the developer manages to cast these short spells of magic that start and stop. Conjuring eyes-sparkling, if not mouth-watering scenes profoundly suggestive of My Neighbor Totoro (1988), Spirited Away (2001), or any Studio Ghibli production, really! The child-like wonder, imaginative play, bountiful interactions, and once you’re done with it… a beautiful treasure of a memory.

Even in its plain form, that is to say without you triggering the razzle-dazzle and fantasy seeping into reality- the house has a pulling and tugging sensation that washes over you, indicating to you that the creator went the extra mile in imbuing care and meaning into each and every room in addition to the personal effects that reside in them.

Same goes with the soundtrack, which channeled bouts of an invisible orchestra in your own little concert hall, propelling more than half of the game’s deeply mesmeric and satisfying mood! The remainder owed to the rustling together of ordinary yet crucial sound effects like the incessant pitter-pattering on hard surfaces, splish-splashing in the puddles, and your past moments in the rain making noise in your mind~


I like that the story worked multiple angles in that it could be interpreted as (1) a bystander’s short peering into a boy’s life with his family once his plans are thrown out the window! (2) A personal role-play with people referred to only by their titles “mum”, “brother”, “neighbor”, and etc because who hasn’t had their day invaded by the pesky rain!? (3) A journey back to your childhood and the possibly zany things you did out of boredom…

With that nostalgic effect further compounding if you were born into an Asian (or better yet Japanese) household or have ever spent any time in Japan during its annual June-July rainy period. However, with rain being such a universal element, it’s bound to land on a strong emotion or two! I also loved how it disguises itself as a story about nothing, or more like “doing nothing” when really it packs so much hope and meaning~


The game’s message is simple enough, and it hits like a flood- in life, a little rain must fall… So the itinerary of activities you had painstakingly set aside for that one day, and were looking real forward to didn’t pan out after all. Is your life ruined? Perhaps! But is it over? Not by a long shot! Even if time is a silent fun killer here with looming external shots of the house accentuating its stillness and dullness.

As this game guides you, there are a plethora of things to do in the confines of your own home; things you wouldn’t have appreciated, let alone given the time of day otherwise! It teaches and reminds you to make lemon out of lemonades, that your sticky situation is what you decide NOT to do with it! Improvise and you just might garner even more enjoyment and meaning than what you had originally envisioned.

One of the first few Western songs that came in mind as I was playing with the water was “Singin’ in The Rain” which as we all know is all about and for overcoming adversity, employing “rain” as a clever metaphor for life’s hurdles! Then, funnily enough, the more upbeat “Umbrella” creeped in too and I was itching to do a dance number with the eponymous object.

But yeah, I liked the resounding hopefulness behind the game, and the ending cemented that sentiment. I kind of wished there was a save feature, but that would go against what the game is trying to convey- you must get through the rain in order to view the rainbow… if it ever even arrives~
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2959142939


The physics of some objects and item grabbing was janky in some parts, but I will just continue skipping in the rain~


x None, and DOWNPOUR get that ;)


~ A couple of misspellings, but then again, I was too absorbed to care!
~ Slightly too long delay in between certain sentences of dialogue. Doesn’t bother me!
~ I could see my headless body at times- okay, that freaked me out!! But you can’t tell I’m crying cause of the rain droplets.


https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2959143271

Last Words?
Drops an all too familiar, usually blue topic on you, but puts a heavily breathtaking & sunny spin on it. Romanticizing even fantasizing the hail out of it- and I very much don’t yearn for it to pass~

2 hours long at most; 1 hour without crashes & softlocks.

Game bad-incomplete and player deception high…

Developer has a questionable track record of games as well as promises…


https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2952556871

Here's The Thing:
Something to do with a washed-up detective Thompson being brought back in, and rumors of the supernatural swirling up. Then factor in an old lady and whaddya get!? A mess~


As of writing this, the developer is still working on version 1.1 and is calling into question his purpose & suitability as a game designer… However, even with that in mind, I cannot go easy on this title! Because the decision to release it in such a sorry state implies so many negative traits.

Misguided confidence, plain narcissism, childish impatience, and above all, a certain degree of negligence as well as devil-may-care sadomasochism to shoulder come what may. He may get off on being obliterated by players; that’s the only other reason I can think of for these series of mini-problems with arguably *SIMPLE* fixes~



This took me five seconds to decide on, but the graphics are where it’s at! Its so-called haven that scores it a few points here and there. While every location might be your stereotypical horror movie set, they didn’t feel out of place unlike the other con…stituents! The apartment is sad, deadly silent, and unravels a possibly tragic origin story of its own; the diner is a crime scene waiting to happen- or at least it was just made to feel that way; the motel is a more modern spin on Bates’ establishment but with the same number of vacancies!

I liked that there were pulling details such as those which gnawed at your subconscious so you’ll play the “trust” card… Additionally, I’m a brown-noser for low-poly just cause warped faces, limbs, or everything else just make everything extra spicy in the creep condiment section! Although I’m drawing up blanks right now as to how to describe the game’s exact sound, especially since its sound effects & tracks were so low-key and overshadowed by its endless shortcomings… Nevertheless, I distinctly recall being lulled and taken away by a now-overly familiar film noir mood in addition to a partially “something is amiss” ensemble~



Here we go, culprit number one- the gameplay even though labelling it as such would be an insult to our intelligence. I was bored out of my mind due to the pointlessness of the tasks. Like, why would players even bother to seek out random numbers or collect eggs in the middle of a murder spree investigation? Well, I’ll enlighten you! A poor red herring, a maddening time waster, and a despicable tactic to drum up the playtime! Plus, the former triggered a cutscene that upon wrapping up, would take you back to the start of the game…!?

And to top that, I was then frustrated beyond belief when the dialogue system broke. In other words, say you pressed “E” during a conversation, said exchange would just play back from the beginning! I am not a fan of the way the dialogue options were handled, being unintuitive and badgering at best and incomprehensible at the very worst… Furthermore, it couldn’t work out a compromise between following a rigid “objective-based” progression or straying from it to opt for a more open design. As such, it felt like a prototype still in its embryonic form! Incomplete with fuzzy hints of fragmented ideas, and that’s what the plot ended up becoming too~


Silent Hill it is not, Twin Peaks definitely it will never be! Was it trying to pull a “The Sinner” narrative and twist? Where do I start!? By the by, it is not such a leap to assume that the dev asked himself precisely that question! Only, he made it in the most mysterious of ways possible… And I don’t mean in the good, deservingly cryptic and deeply misunderstood manner, much like the first time you watched Sucker Punch (2011).

Whereby repeated viewings of that would reveal an ever-increasing range of underlying symbols but that which fundamentally amounted to perfect sense with some decent room for theorizing further. This did the exact opposite of that and in fact, playing it more than once would just emphasize the flaws it always had… and break your mind necessitating a lobotomy to forget it. As it turns out “mystery” lives next door to “jarring” and “schizophrenic”, and their mail easily get mixed up~
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2952557767


Whereas the plot itself was meh, muddled, and messy to begin with… the conveyance of that storytelling somehow made it all the more of a fixer-upper! The choice to implement mini-cutscenes throughout was a nice touch, but not when they’re intended for menial chores like taking a shower or eating a pizza! Which add nothing besides a huge ego stroke like “look what I can do”.

And I can tell the dev was proud of himself there because of how long and unskippable they were! Meanwhile, the more pressing bits which would have propelled and sold the mystery (which, not gonna lie, I’m not 100% sure as to what that is yet… but someone probably died nine times out of ten) are either left as boringly flat news reports or just as white text displayed in front of a black background. I’m not convinced I’m playing as a veteran investigator or that it’s a mystery worth disentangling! It just looks nice on the outside, but it masks some ugly insides~


Where were we? Oh right, a not very well done game with misguided attempts at crafting and subsequently fleshing out that enigma. It couldn’t possibly go any more downhill from there, right? Wrong! Finally, there’s the scummy & deceitful sales pitch of deliberately leaving out that it is not yet finished!! Or maybe in the dev’s eyes & delusional mind it is, but what even is this!? The mystery is afoot, so it keeps going on and on? There’s some attempts to question perps, pull at a thread, but they end as quickly & abruptly as they began!

Seriously, it may well be an early access or have “prologue” in the title at this rate… The developer is pretty active on Twitter, but not on Steam (y’know where it really counts), so if you don’t follow him on there; then no way in hell you’ll know what he’s got cooking up in terms of progress updates and patches~


x Crashes every chance it gets! Which is a first for a low-poly game…
x Interface meshes with pause menu.
x NPC with walker glitches out and becomes a funny-creepy phantom!
x Save system is broken- reloads progress but always starts from the beginning.
x Achievements don’t pop up.
x Cursor frequently disappears on you.
x Brightness is outta whack!


~ Misspellings galore and incredibly wonky English!


https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2952559555

Last Words?
Asks of you a simple favor, it claims… but push comes to shove- doesn’t hold its end of the bargain nor does it reciprocate! Makes your time a living hell, doing everything in its power to complicate~

Shoutout to

Indie Gems,

for GEMME-ing a key! Follow them here right now for more well, y’know~

https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2948918986

Here's The Thing:
You take on the role of an unnamed stressed out female student- maybe it’s even your life now, in which case good for you then!? It certainly is the reality for me, ehehe! Anyway, you wake up and something is off… For starters, there’s a trapdoor that should or should not be there~



Two parts point-and-click, one part slice-of-life, one part adventure, and what do you get? The tasty cake that is bittersweet life! The first thing the MC thought to do upon waking up is burying her head in the books but before she can- breakfast is a calling, not really, because they can’t talk and all so they’re just laying there. Point is, you have to do these inanely mundane tasks in order so as to get on with the dead-end routine of student life…

Peppered throughout this quaint apartment are objects nestled with bits of casual observations and comments that mean absolutely nothing at all. They certainly won’t contain any lore, or hints towards the big ugly truth that’s right in front of her face! And there is definitely no reason to keep on pressing an object in hopes of yielding more information that you already know deep, deep, deeeeeeep down… wait where now!?

Ahem, the trip down memory lane should occupy a mere 50 minutes of your day! That includes uncovering all three endings and taking the time to look around the post-game bonus “Explore” mode; providing a stark yet rejuvenating contrast in color palettes and unsurprisingly mood! Priced at 2 bucks, it’s an incredible steal for a pick-me-up~


Whereas some would be quick to point out the jarring decision in having the game play out in a 9:16 aspect ratio, and I fully admit I did too initially. But then it grew on me, which is strange to say, because of how constricted everything looks. I believe there possibly were some graphical and creative restrictions but the devs made do with what they got, and the outcome? A willowy and blurry beauty that would fit like a glove if released on mobile or should you ever decide to create YouTube shorts for it!

The muted colors make everything seem lifeless, and that’s what the MC essentially is after pushing herself in her studies. OMG it’s also me! The compact field of vision, an almost “out of focus” gaze is how she perceives of her surroundings… She’s not seeing the big picture so to speak, no pun intended (but if you knew me, you’d call BS). It’s reflected in the apartment’s subtle state of disarray as well!

Sound design-wise? Man, I couldn’t be happier, or freaked out, I’m hesitantly torn to choose! For one thing, whenever you advance the dialogue, there’s this rattling thump that’s either someone’s heartbeat or something pacing around in the attic. Spoiler alert, it’s neither! And all throughout this study break, the air is filled with restlessness from the synth-rumbling largely drawn from Silent Hill’s menu interface tones. And so, you can’t help but be convinced of the implication that there is a dark nasty secret, when harmonized with the sus choice of wording~


Looking back, this could be a lighthearted (though it’s anything but) in appearance version of SHUT IN that’s even set within the same universe, seeing that both tread on similar themes of inadequacy, hopelessness, and yadda yadda. You heard it here first, bundle them two games now!!!

Back on track ehehe, there were semblances as well to Silent Hill 4 for, well, the most obvious reasons! Overall, I really loved the simplistic direction it took with its ever-so-relevant today plot, although I’ve seen similar events unfolding oh a million times now! However, it disguising itself as something far more nefarious and complex, deserves nothing less than an A+ or First-Class Honors~


A few honorable mentions here as to what makes it scary! Firstly, the title itself, which seems self-explanatory, right? But when you think it over- it’s a weird thing to utter out loud, or let alone whisper. It is almost as if the MC is going out of her way to make herself nothing is in the ceiling… The question then swiftly becomes, what on earth is hidden up there!? Unlike the MC who displays disinterest on the topic, your eyes are glued above you and everything you find becomes linked to that wretched ceiling!

Secondly, the various red (I think, again, colors are washed out) herrings such as ominously placed sealed cardboard boxes as if deliberately tucked away. Why? Beats me! But you bet that I was on their case, thinking way outside-the-box and keeping an eye on their whereabouts! The fact about the MC studying anatomy gave me countless chills for some indiscernible reason…

Finally, there is a disturbing subplot that’s never fully delved into, but the game provides all the tools, and stages for you to lose your marbles. I’m relieved it didn’t go to any extremes, not physically at least! I mean, it isn’t a self-proclaimed psychological adventure for nothing. It leaves no page unturned whatsoever. What’s the book title, you ask? Not telling~
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2948919996



The only considerable gripe I had, which spoiled the experience by just one large chunk, would be the rigidity when it comes to interacting with the various points of interest… Being told over and over that “I shouldn’t do this now” makes for a very triggering scenario, evidently. Even though I am more and more sure by each passing second that it’s 100% executed with intent to show the “I’m done” demeanor that the overworked MC had.

Not to mention, the screen being littered, even invaded by a plethora of markers only sullied the breathtaking art further and thereby ruining perfectly poetic shots! I would have preferred that some objects only become accessible after some time has passed or once a checkpoint has been reached. This would achieve the same effect the developers were going for- the MC being neglectful of her surroundings because of the piling workload and excessive hitting of books~


This con isn’t really one, in fact it’s a misnomer to be even be included here, but alas I have to call it something! The premise is sound and solid, but the writing not so much… at least during select parts anyway. Whether it’s being dressed down by its unnatural English or overcompensating by giving you a play-by-play of the events in the story mode (here’s looking at you “Explore” mode”). As a result, it made the storytelling lean towards amateurish and come off not as hard-hitting as it darn well could have been~


x Nothing major really but the kitchen interactions were weird. Cup of joe kept disappearing on me…


~ I think it should have the ability to remove the interface and icons, much like a visual novel would allow you!


https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2948921262

Last Words?
Momentary P&C that is sweet in temperament, but could be long as well as bitter… just depends on where you’re looking from! Cheesy payoff awaits, offset by fine hazy visuals and ghostly audio design~

https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2943090214

Here's The Thing:
You’re Oliver Hamilton, O.T.P.D., called in to investigate a cold case using the latest simulation software! Why can’t you visit the actual crime scene? Will it be just as dangerous here?? Only one way to find out- do what you do best~



The gameplay may be your run-of-the-mill horror walking sim with a baller reveal in the last few minutes, so if it helps, think Angels Cove and The Hotel. However, it boasts a presentation that’s leaps and bounds ahead of its competitors; if not budgetarily, then creatively speaking!

What you will do throughout is simple- detect for clues, graze your chin to piece together seemingly unconnected clues, and keep that bladder in check! Fear and curiosity, as you’ll find, go hand-in-hand so brace yourself because the greatest obstacle that could derail your investigation is your own cowardly self… that and rapidly shifting environments! Despite being in a simulation, you will have to scour for gas in order to refuel your lighter, most likely to keep you in character and make you a better detective!

Your sleuthing should come to an end in about 2 hours at the most, with but a sole unalterable verdict awaiting you. It’s also very possibly a one-off experience so that timer won’t change, unless some sneaky achievements got past you. In which case, haha; but maybe doing so could nab you some leads you previously missed~


Graphically, there are no complaints whatsoever and if I find one, I’ll file it so fast! The abandoned hospital is as you’d expect, giving out heebie-jeebies not just from it being in a state of disuse but rather there’s a sense of presence when there should be rightly none. Then it hits you that the “why it became this way…” is still unanswered since it’s an open investigation and all.

It sets out as a mainly concrete space, so you first seek explanations with forensics and science, that is until the once-dead place comes alive, as if slowly being shocked into coherence! That hospital might as well be a full-on mental asylum, if you catch my drift. Strangely enough, the “lighting” department which in other horror titles would usually be a big no-no, what with it often being too dusky; here, it’s precisely due to it, that really had it shine! I swear, the darkness over time got so engulfing that I was almost grateful I couldn’t see much of anything…

Sound plays a significant role in determining where you should head to and how you should be feeling. With pockets of silence, loud sudden booms, off screen noises, your own rattled wheezing, and other sources of unknown origins interspersed all around the active crime scene. It just suits the visuals very well there is no loop hole around that conclusion~


It really is genius of the team to come up with a story that you can’t quite comment on without giving it all away- therefore I will finger two games that File Destined mirrors in style namely Layers of Fear & Heavy Rain. The former for the “anything goes” approach where the player- an initially blank canvas gets covered whole with every color imaginable once it’s done.

The latter more so for the rigorous enough evidence analysis much like when you’d assume the role of Norman Jayden. So, there you have it, if you are up for the idea of those two mentions butting heads and putting up a pretty darn good fight; you will be most pleased by the result~


Game did for me what Insidious (2008) and Conjuring (2013) succeeded despite not directly tapping into similar source material! The sleek production value positively sold the haunting atmosphere, made all the more effective by the polish. My body grew frigid, the hair on my back stood on end; it wasn’t a pretty sight, and I wasn’t talking about myself. Who can forget the game’s malfeasance of coming up with a safe word, then having a hell of a field day out of depriving you of it and reminding you at every turn with grubby old literal representations!?

A thing that dug away at me was the extent of Oliver’s unpreparedness and rashness in tackling this latest cold case. He went in blind, yet asserted his trigger-happy demeanor of haphazardly deciding which evidence is “insignificant” without even looking back. Something to ponder on~
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2943094065


The first thing I just must point out is the game’s trailers pulling a fast one on you- showing very little of what you’ll be doing; instead, it just teases the scares and obviously attention-grabbing set pieces! Cut to the actual nitty gritty? It mainly revolves around scouring for gas to constantly refill that pesky cheapo lighter… Before you say- “but other walking simulators do that too, you double-standards D-bag”, this is problematic because of the pacing this game opts for!

Slow-burn, albeit intense in the right spots, and so the chilling atmosphere gets dampened and paused when you have to always look for lighter fluid; or risk searching in the dark and missing scares (didn’t happen to me, but a very real possibility). Just a peculiar choice is all, for I would much rather have had the lighter be messed around with- for instance, flickering intermittently, trouble starting up, or maybe even dropping it during certain sections…!

Also, no controller remapping available, this is a problem because the default control scheme sparks anger! The “scroll down” to activate the lighter works half the time, and having only one dedicated key to toggle the lighter on and off are just some things that pop to mind~


Before typing this- I thought to myself, am I mad about the twist just cause it’s been done to death many times before? Yes, but only partially… I’m more annoyed because I truly believed and hoped it was heading in a different route. It isn’t fair to say the big bomb was abrupt, no, for the hints were always on the scene. But there’s no denying the events felt like one giant cop out!

Certain bits of the sound design didn’t quite register as horror- I’m referring to the weary few utterances of “it’s locked” or “oh my god this place”... Also, way too many whisperings going on that I just tuned them out altogether. While we’re at it, the mix of comedy and drama didn’t always collaborate~


x Objects overlapping with other objects.
x Sound files not playing at the right time.
x Transition triggers don’t work sometime…


~ Proofreading is not their strong suit. From misspellings to trying sentences!
~ Subtitles have more mistakes than my math exam papers.
~ You get an achievement for doing literally anything… Distracting!
~ Props get reused more times than horror cliches.


https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2943093140

Last Words?
Without a doubt one of the high-end walking simulators fetchable at a decent fee! While I took issue with the huge twist, overall execution was too lovable and elicited sickeningly genuine reactions~

Shoutout to

Indie Gems,

for GEMME-ing a key! Follow them here now for more well, y’know~

https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2939062236

Here's The Thing:
A lone wolf by choice, you’re “forever alone” Takashi, sure let’s go with that… In short, I play as myself, but enough about me. Another satisfying night of liking cute anime girl profiles before the unthinkable happens! Your girlfriend, the one you didn’t know you had, arrives and tonight’s going to be the night~



If you were none the wiser, you would have mistaken this walking simulator for a Chilla’s Art title, say… The Closing Shift. What with its innate and eerie Japanese-ness, and the fact it centers around comparable threats and messages! That is until you notice the visual novel (VN) ribbon neatly tied around it, which is how the mostly animated storytelling progresses.

The former materializing during the free-roaming that has you all exposed, and the deranged chases making your fight-or-flight go on the fritz! In true VN fashion, there are multiple obviously bad choices that will cost you premature deaths and yet you can’t help but go down those routes anyway! Almost as if a spirit was suddenly summoned and landed in your body…

The journey will be a short one culminating in 8 endings altogether; of which 2 are secret in nature, 4 will be untimely wrong ends, and eventually 2 canon outcomes depending on your curiosity! However, I found the chemistry or rather lack thereof initially between the two lifelike leads, and not to forget the well-orchestrated plot to be what kept me invested and interacted with my heartstrings despite being static elements~


So, as it turns out, I may be biased towards anything remotely anime in appearance… but I’ll keep it in check! Visually, it sports realistic environments but with flairs of curvaceous anime babes in the mix to truly bring out that feeling of fantasy invading the real world. The in-game universe featured is dark and isolating, which is gotten across in pretty much every chapter! From being birthed into a luring apartment room, to being swallowed by a jungle of empty urbanism, and then plunged head first in a depressing bar joint, dazzling lights aside.

Characteristically of anime, loads of funny boi-oing and other silly sounds punctuate the precious back-and-forths between Takashi and Misa, making up the opening act. But given time, that inconsequential façade gets drowned out. You would think, sound-wise, that it would mirror the lonely vibe Takashi lives and breathes, much like that feeling of plugging in noise-cancelling earphones…

But that isn’t to say there is a constantly punchy or overbearingly loud presence throughout, at least not at first! Instead, that mellow but haunting synth will be reasonably and increasingly replaced by dread-covered tracks that get more cranked up in volume and bpm! Again, that theme of being assaulted by unwanted moods~


The story is 20% Casper (1985), and the finding of friends in the unlikeliest of places; 45% Maniac (2012), what prolonged bouts of self-isolation can do; and 35% Her (2013),the difficulties of making connection and alternatives sources of it. With these being cited, you can sort of tell the kind of “sad sack” story the dev was going for, and it was like looking at my own reflection.

But it was actually taken a few notches above interesting by the further invoking of paranormal elements that were both entertaining, and really sold it so it’s not just wholly miserable in existence- it’s disturbingly plausible as well! All the while having a likeable everyday joe whose acceptance of loneliness to the brink of cynicism is worrying but empowering~


I liked that it didn’t simply shame or force lonely individuals into coming to the conclusion that being around others is the sole way to happiness and therefore a life worth living. Nor did it preach and shove the way of the hermit as being righteous! We all know that both come with their own perils…
What it resorted to was showing a series of tragic events sort of the “before and after” of what happens to different sects of recluses brought about by various walks of life. Loneliness was a motivator, consequence, and a state of being not easily understood.

The incorporation of ghosts was not random, neither was the decision to have them anchored to loners; serving poignant and uncanny external representations, seeing as both are easily forgotten and/or invisible~
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2939062992


The decision to implement a partial VN look and feel was not made lightly, yet all that I could think about was why didn’t it just go all the way!? For one thing, the most triggering aspect was the “text skip”, which in typical VNs would be what the shift key was for… Not here though! It’s all manual here which that means you have to repetitive-strain-injury through it tapping on the “E” key because holding it does nothing.

The unusual pacing of the text progression also means that a lot of the time, many text will be accidentally skipped past but you can’t backtrack or rollback right away- y’know as with most VNs! There was a “log” feature introduced in the beginning which was a good sign, but never to be seen again after chapter 1, which was bizarre to say the least. It’s almost as if you were a recently deceased soul wandering about lost and angry at the new world~


The art style is very much attention-hogging, as I’ve said already, but it’s every bit as disembodied as it is a sole standout… I can still picture vividly how more than 75% of the character models present looked unbelievably dissimilar to each other, even when they supposedly should be one and the same! Sometimes they were cut off at the waist, other times they lose pixels and focus… The scenes that had CG stills also appeared quite spotty with the resolution dipping more than a potato chip!

I’m fairly convinced that at least one of the characters was AI-generated, and there ain’t nothing wrong with that. That said, it did make the other models pale in comparison, quality and design-wise. I also would like to point out the potentially epileptic seizure-inducing flashes that happen when the models transition in poses and expressions; just as dangerous as they were distracting.

Lastly, while it’s true the story was the backbone and meat, the approach wasn’t quite agreeable with me. The content is fine, thought provoking, but the amount of crazy character developments and exposition in the span of just 1 hour; not in the slightest! It went all out in the department of “shocking revelations” that it didn’t manage to drive in the strong statements and awareness-raising points~


x All the fun bugs and mishaps have been reported. Boohoo!


~ I get it’s a VN and all, but there should still be settings as it is a Unity game!
~ Should have had free saves! A pain to go through slow text…


https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2939064420

Last Words?
VN walking simulator pair that makes for awfully great company and a pitifully real documentary about solitude. As with all duos, there will be mismatches & bickering; nothing that can’t be resolved~

Shoutout to

Indie Gems,

for GEMME-ing a key! Follow them for more well, y’know~

https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2935657810

Here's The Thing:
You are / were / will be… I mean, at least I think- nope! Not even going to try and summarize it… you’re just going to have to go in blind, and come out dazed as well as confused like I did! Like I still am? Like. I Always. Was?! Hmm, intriguing~


At the time of writing this, I’ve yet to finish it in its entirety! I have my reasons for doing so, some of it due to IRL time constraints, but mostly because I think this game was made to be enjoyed on one’s own pace and leisure~



This walking simulator with key emphases on exploration, admiration of the gob smacking scenery, and some puzzles baked in is comparable to the likes of Stanley Parable and 13 Steps because it’s intended to be played several times over to the point of infinity! Each “loop”, “run”, “reality” or whatever you want to term it reveals new branching pathways and other less subtle additions.

As you are knee deep in its gameplay, you are also expected to do much of the sleuthing in both active and passive forms. Every single world shift and backdrop change conveys something… however, as to whether that ends up becoming important, it won’t be answered on the spot! Be it deciphering a bunch of space old hieroglyphics or placing the era, if not even civilization of the architecture you encounter; you are in for a trainwreck of a storytelling!

I’ve lost track of exactly how many scene changes I’ve been through, all I know is that I have attained two of three possible outcomes… towards unveiling the whole truth or rather interpretations of it! I’m about 2 hours in now, but from the screenshots on the store page, I’ve only dug the surface of the still many paths to be stumbled into! That’s of course excluding the upcoming updates to the game- so the dev told me… to which I exclaimed ‘yay’ with reddened eyes. Point is, expect a quadrupling in hours~


I lucidly recall asking myself, because I last played it but mere hours ago, “how is it possible that my PC can run this fine”? It’s unreal… as were the various imaginative landscapes taken from what can only be described as photorealistic stills of other planets, originating from an entirely separate solar system! It regularly oscillates between situating you in mundane settings like office cubicles and mines, then to familiar albeit hyper-realistic depictions of sci-fi places.

Before finally transposing sightings of the sacred that beget fleeting questions of how they defy logic, that is until existential dread and veneration towards them get ahold of you! It’s insane how eye-catching everything even if they become increasingly wackier and more artificial. I don’t ever want to be done with this title, and most importantly I don’t want to leave…

If the visuals already mesmerize then the sound design would land you in a sensuous coma! The multiple composers string together a score that’s every bit as memorable and striking as the on-screen stimuli. From humble beginnings of sci-fi wonderment to deep and thoughtful yet forlorn recollections; skyrocketing to ecstatic moments of discoveries then crashing down to unsafe horror movie stings, and everything in between! The nuzzles of electronica air serenaded me back to my first listen of Darren Hayes’ incredibly experimental “This Delicate Thing We Made” album full of confused self-exploration and from where I first felt and embraced depression~


The in-your-face sci-fi-ness echoes the dreamy instability in mood much like the first time you watched Spy Kids 3-D. Also, the countless bleeding of ravenous colors was reminiscent of The Expanse! When it comes to actual plot elements, I could detect hints of the story it’s trying to convey, as well as take stabs at where it’s going- but honestly, this is one of those extraordinary titles where the material doesn’t really matter… more than the emotions it’s trying to have you feel!

One second grappling with unadulterated bliss from seeing remarkable wonders, and another bearing questions for which there are no set answers or logic. It gently buries in themes of loss, grief, and remorse throughout its shapeshifting disposition, all the while callously tosses about “inconsequential” documents that solve one unknown and introduces two more variables. For that, it truly is the equal to Paratopic~


While there were some jumpscares (boo) and scenes reserved for horror films, they weren’t what made the game stuck to my mind! Instead, what did was the overwhelming degree of stimulation directed at my senses. I could get lost at every artwork and track… It goes without saying- the mashing of the concrete and the abstract simultaneously fired up my neurons and sent them into overdrive! So, for each new shift in background, you zone out into a headspace all your own as you try to process how and what to feel.

What was the exact reason- or should I say reasons, behind everything? There’s the futuristic yet obvious approach to making sense of things, but then there’s the more nerve-wracking version that has you assume the worst; OR could it be someone cooked a sick revenge scheme?? All these right under your noses, meanwhile you’re relishing the breathtaking beauty before you~
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2935658729


Isn’t so much a con as it is preference, but this game beckons and scratches the itchiness of a rather specific audience! Which could be problematic for those straight players because the story is truly gay! Let me rephrase that- the title’s meandering and erratic telling of its narrative will put off those looking for cut-and-dried answers. In short, plot don’t go from point A to B, it splits off on a tangent from point A and goes for point Z; before circling back to B while hitting other letters and repeating.

I haven’t even touched on the content of said story, which is evasive and mysterious to say the least… This is meant more for the future updates but- I think it’d be best for the dev to rethink adding new paths solely for the sake of fleshing out and checking the “how to stay weird and be stranger” box. Let the paths reconverge so that a definitive answer can be reached!

Ok, now the criticism, it walks a tight rope of being a game but not quite behaving like a game… For instance, there not being any graphic options to tweak? I respect that for it helps optimization so that more people can support it on their devices. But then, having no subtitles when there’s so many voice filters and distortions? Now that, I do not follow~


x Aside from a couple of instances where object fragments impeded my movement? None!


~ No rebinding of keys!
~ No hint that “F” is a zoom feature…


https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2935660403

Last Words?
Navigating its ever-growing meta-realities is like being in a highly enveloping VR game with no end in sight! If there is a point to this impeccable “liminal spacing out” creation; don’t wanna know~

https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2928743254

Here's The Thing:
You are an ordinary rat, let’s call you “B-rat”, a lucky-enough rodent who manages to seek shelter from a full-on snowstorm. You are just about to count your blessings, but soon regrets the decision because as it turns out, there’s also a maniac on the loose! Let’s hope they’re a vegetarian or a pacifist~


Before I officially begin, I just want to disclose that I am so worn out from reviewing games, and back-to-back mind you, that are obvious “clones” of other prominent titles. Whether it be in terms of gameplay style, appearance, story, or even all three… But man, some of them do it so well! Like today’s review!! Okay, that’s all-



If you have encountered Little Nightmares (LN) prior to this, then you can skip the review entirely! Because it’s LN in the flesh… except it’s that of a rat’s. What does this amount to? Scurrying in a wholly 3D environment, hightailing it from a Debilitas-lookalike along with some other hostile critters, and getting around obstacle courses of not-so-effective traps like a lab rat- HEY!

Identical to LN, just no stealth whatsoever, there are collectibles as well in the form of delicious cheese sneakily tucked away by other less lucky rodent relatives or… predecessors? Nabbing them grants you an equally *cheesy* reward; achievements! Should you perish, you’ll either respawn pretty close to where you got offed, or maybe you take on the role of a different rat? They all look the same to me, I’m not a rat-cist…! Besides, the checkpoints are as frequent as bad dreams, so you’re in good hands!

With just a singular outcome, the whole rat race of an escape will last two hours at most! True to the LN spirit, there’s even an achievement for the crazily devoted players which requires finishing the game without any deaths! No other notable replay value aside from achievements, unless you count going in to admire that little pudgy face and its tiny series of steps~

TIPS:
1) The achievements hint as to where the cheeses can be found!


If it’s not obvious by my last sentence- I don’t know whether to embrace B-rat in my palms, tear its face off, or skin it alive… all out of love & cuteness! With the most adorable idle animation ever- it’s literally just a rat being and acting like a rat, but…mmm! Someone keep it away from me.

For real though, the graphics weren’t lacking in any way! The three main chapters, each with their own standout set pieces didn’t come off “level-esque” at all, in fact they added to the overall artificial sensation. The same vibe you would get coming from a controlled environment! A dank and long-abandoned basement, a “shop” floor with a bunch of kennels in disuse and yet no dogs, and a still tidy and perfectly working laboratory!?

The audio design fared better than I had hoped for especially with Silent Hill industrial sounds. Also, atmospheric filler tracks, tailor-made themes, and grating sound effects all very reminiscent of that damned franchise casually inserted like it’s no biggie! That is just messed up, consider me a fan~


Following in the footsteps of a certain- wait, what am I doing? You know we’re talking about LN still…! Yes, it employs an unhealthy amount of implicit storytelling whereby it conveys both past as well as present events (what the heck, future as well) by immersing you in its grime, parading its horrific environments, and not even a single word is uttered in the 1.5 hour adventure. I know we’re working with animals here and how it is a given that it’s impossible for them to even speak a vowel, but come on, that’s pretty impressive~
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2928742465


The horror doesn’t simply rely on and take advantage of the “little vulnerable being in a big bad world” setup. Correction, it did, but it opted for something way smaller; a defenseless rat! And by that logic, everything seen from its piercing round eyes will appear to be more magnified in size! Granted, the plot is animal rights centric, which is bound to have you shed a tear or two to the average viewer.

And even open entire floodgates of sympathy to those who may have a pet hamster or something similar. However, the real gut punch came from me (and on some level, people) not being able to relate to what the rat’s gone through! And would anyone truly care about the state in which a rat ends up? They’re disease-carrying vermin, and treated as pest!

Remember the implicit storytelling I mentioned? This is only conjecture, but if you inspect the protagonist B-rat carefully, like at any time during exploration. You’ll notice its appearance yield some clues that point out how it may actually be an escaped test subject from the very same abominable grounds you’re forced to secure an exit out of. It’s not like the rat can just adjust its whiskers and tell us what’s happened to it! And that breaks my heart so much… I will never look at a rat in the same way. Lastly, there’s probably a sequel incoming, y’know, due to the LN comparison~



You would think for a game that emulates LN in just about every way; it would be a no-brainer for it to go the extra mile in order to capture the same quality of camerawork & gameplay. But sadly, that’s not the case, for we are stuck with stuffy, almost “pinched out” close-up shots, and unhelpful angles that make depth perception an ordeal! It made sense for Six, because she was wearing a hood (and other strange face coverings). Here? Not so much! Not at all!!

It's slightly more tolerable when you play with a gamepad, what with the right analog stick dedicated to panning the camera. On keyboard though, it's just so silly, since it's never explicitly made clear anywhere that the arrow keys actually perform the very same function of shifting the camera! Not in the "controls", nor at any point in the game for that matter. So, anyway, one full playthrough later- I tried to make up for lost time, and long story short I ended up getting nauseous anyway…

Another thing, I feel I am obligated to expose is the jump strength. I’m telling you, regardless of how much pressure you exert, or how much you actually need to get over a small gap, B-rat will jump like a puppeteer is stringing it along at full force… Lastly, the darkness is an unadjustable nightmare, and the inconsistently out-of-focus backgrounds have you get your hopes up for nothing when you discover, time-and-time again, that you cannot go past a certain area!


x Various instances of the rat model walking on air, and the animations becoming janky.
x Clipping issues that bypasses the need to even get around obstacles. Just jump over!


~ More than a few not-very-obvious invisible walls…


https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2928741537

Last Words?
Morose & tragic TAIL that makes for a spot-on horror short, but I’ll settle for a game too. While it finds the cheese from being in the same vein as Little Nightmares, it winds up in its own hole~

Shoutout to

Indie Gems,

for GEMME-ing a key! Follow them here right now for more well, y’know~