Recent reviews by ciabaros

The game is inconsistent. Some aspects of the environment seem pretty well done, but then some environments that are supposed to be creepy start using glossy textures, so it all just look shiny.
Overall very goofy scares and threats, when things get heaty... and the random asset store paintings with some AI generated ones that completely don't fit with others... It just doesn't hold together in unity to deliver atmosphere, or story, or gameplay.

Here are some things that need improvement for your next project:
- Controls: running is very inconsistent, trying to run, sometimes it works, then it stops, and you have to re-press shift. Hard to even know when you're really running.
- Mouse icon shows up sometimes... sometimes it doesn't. Be consistent.
- Writing is pretty bad. That first note in the director's office reads like it was written by a 7yo.
- Scares are amateur, like their idea of scary is a cheap haunted house. Note on a tree that says "Suicide"... I think I'll have a heart attack from fear...

This is obviously an amateur project, which is cool. Overall, it's coherent, I've certainly played worse. Doesn't seem like just an asset flip, which is a good direction.

I would suggest taking a close look at some games like "Lempo" or "Through the Woods" for comparison and quality inspiration -- I feel these have a similar feel to what you're trying to achieve, and they are executed really well.

Basically a perfect atmospheric horror experience.
Highly recommended.

I'm shocked to find this was not this developer's first game.

The HOG mechanics are extremely amateur:

THE BAD:

1) The objects don't match the environment, everything seems somehow "sparse", and that's because it seems like objects are just strewn across a background without much concept of what could realistically be found in what part of that particular HOG backdrop. I know there's AI in this game, but the HOG scenes also seem automatically generated with little human/logic intervention.

2) You go in an area to do something new, you pass the puzzle and you're back where you started where you need to re-click on the area you were just at to continue.

3) Absolutely nonsensical and random bouncing across the maps. You do something at city hall, then for no reason at all, the next item you need is a in an unrelated are in a newly opened HOG scene, that was EXACTLY where a previous HOG scene was, just with other random objects scattered on the seemingly unrelated background.

THE GOOD:

1) Even though it might be AI generated, the music IS indeed relaxing and fairly well placed.

2) The story is generic, but not ridiculous like some other HOGs, so I'll give it that (even though I feel I might be complementing AI again)

3) The main scenes are nice and atmospheric (again, probably congratulations AI on a good job in that aspect).

Overall, I'm seeking a refund, because this game should not be asking a full human-made HOG price. If you're passionate about actually making these games, and you want to use AI, there's a way to do that much much better... until then, maybe consider releasing this kind of content for a safer pricetag, closer to $2.

I absolutely enjoyed this one.
It's part horror walking sim, part survival, part meta joke.
Totally fun and memorable.

One of the best reflective storytelling games ever made. Amazing voice acting, atmosphere, twist.

Tonguç Bodur's skill in crafting beautiful environments with really good optimization puts him in a great position explore many ideas and genres, which I've seen with the last few titles.

So far, this title seems to go into a mystery ~horror genre, but IMO the advancement and "friends/follow" mechanic gives it a bit of an "on rails" feel, which (along with the dark atmosphere) takes me away from the reflective, self-paced visual exploration of the environment that I personally look for (based on the more classic titles like Drizzlepath, Bottle, Loverwind, Dead Tree, etc.). Still, it's engaging and I'm looking forward to how it unfolds.

Overall, it's really well made, so absolute thumbs up for quality and execution, even if it's not 100% my cup of tea.

[ORIGINAL REVIEW & UPDATE]----------------------------------
(UPDATE: The below issue has been addressed. Realizing it's not always possible or reasonable to expect this from devs, I'm amazed that Tonguç implemented an update to address my concern.)

I cannot recommend this game with the conversation bubble sounds. They are like Chinese water torture... [FIXED]

Suggestion to dev: option to remove those sounds, or add a volume slider setting for them, or change the sound to something more subtle.. [IMPLEMENTED]

Garbage. It has no concept of stretching beyond like 1280x800 resolution.
Gameplay is not great either - overlaying dialogue characters over a HOG screen kills the experience,

what a piece of garbage.

You run out of bullets. You pull out your knife and there's no clear way to use it. Tried every button on the controller, nothing happens.

Even though it's short, there's something very special here, so I'm happy to support this work.

The high quality (and perfectly minimal) controls, mechanics, style, atmosphere, and writing found here can be the platform to continue this genre in the direction where the Penumbra series left off... in my opinion, that's a huge void that is waiting to be filled by exactly this kind of properly focused developer.

I can't wait to see where you guys take your talents and passion..