Recent reviews by goref@g

better than crack

i played this all back in the day but decided to revisit since the winter sale had a bundle with this studio's work and let me tell you they're a steal. if you're a fan of well executed horror, awesome art, great sound design and clever puzzles- this one's for you.

gameplay- most click and point puzzle games i've played have either been too simple for my liking or too convoluted to go through with no guide. this game manages to make you really think out of the box while being easy to follow. the mechanics are very creative and really get your neurons going. i won't spoil anything but when they tell you your choices matter they mean it. every minute detail affects the outcome in some way which is something i'm a sucker for. multiple endings, with variations within said endings.

visuals- i am in love with the artstyle and the eerie feel it sends across- the scratchy lines over the pale paper like background works really well (especially with the neat touches like blood trailing from your cursor when you get hurt and staining the paper in drops) the artist's linework shows great skill and i suggest you check up on more of her work. as mentioned above, your choices affect the gameplay- the artstyle reflects this, environments getting messier and more stained the worse it gets. the character designs are quite simple and work well for their roles in the story.

sound design- a very strong aspect in the game. from the little misc sounds you get by clicking on random objects, to the wonderfully eerie music, to the perfectly timed scares that avoid feeling cheap- it enhances the game so much. i had to finish my play-through with no sound and the difference is insane.

story- without getting into too much spoilers- interesting premise, very good horror material- and while the unwinding story is simple it is so raw and gut-wrenching. it's something i think anyone can easily relate to, even if your exact circumstances aren't the same. you feel bad for everyone involved, no one deserves any of this (unless, well, you decide to take a more sinister role)
might make a video essay on this one even.
overall one of my favorite games, truly shows how a few people with a passion can make peak art.