Posted here, because reviews have the same exhausting character limit as the rest of the site -
And I think breaking reviews into two separate chunks is probably worse form than long-form 'comments.'
Regardless, I'm not generally a Minecraft/clone player, often; some of the things I may notice may be a given, in these games.
That said, while trying to get a different one working, I stumbled on this and thought I'd try it 'for a laugh.'
Well, time passed and I wanted to share why I loved it.
No enemies exist here, there are no forced jumpscares, there is no combat.
You can choose to add in some survival elements, but they relate to the feeling of the author's intent...
Rather than existing because of increasingly convoluted worldbuilding, where one person suggested a monster or monsters -
And then others needed to introduce their anti-monster task force, and an increasing arms-race of elements that, frankly?
Just aren't for me. Instead...
There are corridors going nowhere; there are incredibly small alleyways that are a mistake to explore.
You can wonder around and find the 'right' path to another area, or it might not exist, or it might just take you somewhere else.
And there are recognisable places, but there also - far more importantly to me, many that feel personal to the author.
I often think of the Backrooms as the worst of collaborative fiction; something that has taken on so many ideas from so many authors, that...
In the end, it's become a soup, where even the elements that individually appeal feel burdened down by wikis and videos and pointless natter.
This feels, in the best way, like a dream simulator of the author that just happens to involve the Backrooms.
It reminds as much of LSD: The Dream Simulator and the various Yume Nikki fan-games as it does the above.
Comparing something to something else is the least useful praise anyone can give, though. So, here's why you might like it.
If you like wandering around and feeling lost, this may be for you.
And it may be for you if you aren't that interested in inventory management or puzzles, but are interested in urban exploration.
You might like it if you keep your own dream journal, and like reading those of others.
If you do like the Backrooms and how convoluted it is, you might also like this! Just go in understanding that it's not bound to every idea the thing has.
My only real regret is that the running speed feels anemic and there aren't too many sounds, but...
The protagonist does have a very limited, very repeated breathing sound that starts immediately on running.
Given that's my biggest complaint, I think that's a fine place to close on. I look forward to seeing what ideas the authors has in the future, too.
The breathing sound/slowdown is actually a fairly intentional mechanic, just like the flashlight :) There is unlimited use, but because there's a kind of "cooldown" to it, it discourages you from using it all the time. For the flashlight it's so you turn it off and feel a little more sense of fear about dark areas, and for sprinting it's so you pause to consider your surroundings. That's the plan at least o_o; Did that happen for you or did it just feel arbitrary?
Also, it's surprising and very neat to have the dev, themselves, responding.
Hopefully my reviews were useful and never felt too arbitrary, themselves!
Anyway, since I've played this one a fair bit more, let me do my best to answer.
Partially, because there are certain level designs where you want to be doing...
I don't know if I'd call it 'parkour,' but making use of the environment geometry to explore.
Whether it's jumping down concrete stairs after a running start -
Or sprinting near the poolside because you aren't sure when you're going to have to wade through water.
But I appreciate it a bit more, having played farther; if I had to change anything about it, it'd be alternating the breathing a bit.
Having a few different kinds of wheezing that space themselves out to indicate strain, more.
That said, some of the areas really do benefit from it, especially on backtracking.
For a game where nothing is explicitly out to get you, the sensation that something could is really strong, here.
And when you're using the flashlight and sprinting... Yeah, it absolutely forced me to do a double-take, and start thinking.
I think it achieves your goals most when you make it through an alley or corridor, and find yourself in a surprisingly open area!
Naturally, these are only my thoughts. ^^ A lot of people are going to have different takes on what works and what doesn't -
Sticking to your plans is the most important thing. But I hope it helped provide food for thought!
(I really love area 84 and 167, by the way. Just an incredible sense of weight, while also feeling cosy.
There's an old adaption of There Will Come Soft Rains it reminded me of, while also feeling entirely it's own thing.
I believe you also intended to capture some of Shoujo no Shuumatsu Ryokou in 167, well, I felt it -
Again, without it feeling derivative. Uh, what else... Thank you for not adding almond water...
From the bottom of my heart... :P )
Posted here, because reviews have the same exhausting character limit as the rest of the site - And I think breaking reviews into two separate chunks is probably worse form than long-form 'comments.'
Regardless, I'm not generally a Minecraft/clone player, often; some of the things I may notice may be a given, in these games.
That said, while trying to get a different one working, I stumbled on this and thought I'd try it 'for a laugh.'
Well, time passed and I wanted to share why I loved it.
No enemies exist here, there are no forced jumpscares, there is no combat.
You can choose to add in some survival elements, but they relate to the feeling of the author's intent...
Rather than existing because of increasingly convoluted worldbuilding, where one person suggested a monster or monsters -
And then others needed to introduce their anti-monster task force, and an increasing arms-race of elements that, frankly? Just aren't for me. Instead...
There are corridors going nowhere; there are incredibly small alleyways that are a mistake to explore.
You can wonder around and find the 'right' path to another area, or it might not exist, or it might just take you somewhere else.
And there are recognisable places, but there also - far more importantly to me, many that feel personal to the author.
I often think of the Backrooms as the worst of collaborative fiction; something that has taken on so many ideas from so many authors, that...
In the end, it's become a soup, where even the elements that individually appeal feel burdened down by wikis and videos and pointless natter.
This feels, in the best way, like a dream simulator of the author that just happens to involve the Backrooms.
It reminds as much of LSD: The Dream Simulator and the various Yume Nikki fan-games as it does the above.
Comparing something to something else is the least useful praise anyone can give, though. So, here's why you might like it.
If you like wandering around and feeling lost, this may be for you.
And it may be for you if you aren't that interested in inventory management or puzzles, but are interested in urban exploration.
You might like it if you keep your own dream journal, and like reading those of others.
If you do like the Backrooms and how convoluted it is, you might also like this! Just go in understanding that it's not bound to every idea the thing has.
My only real regret is that the running speed feels anemic and there aren't too many sounds, but... The protagonist does have a very limited, very repeated breathing sound that starts immediately on running.
Given that's my biggest complaint, I think that's a fine place to close on. I look forward to seeing what ideas the authors has in the future, too.
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoy it!
The breathing sound/slowdown is actually a fairly intentional mechanic, just like the flashlight :) There is unlimited use, but because there's a kind of "cooldown" to it, it discourages you from using it all the time. For the flashlight it's so you turn it off and feel a little more sense of fear about dark areas, and for sprinting it's so you pause to consider your surroundings. That's the plan at least o_o; Did that happen for you or did it just feel arbitrary?
Ooooh, I see!
Also, it's surprising and very neat to have the dev, themselves, responding.
Hopefully my reviews were useful and never felt too arbitrary, themselves! Anyway, since I've played this one a fair bit more, let me do my best to answer.
Partially, because there are certain level designs where you want to be doing... I don't know if I'd call it 'parkour,' but making use of the environment geometry to explore.
Whether it's jumping down concrete stairs after a running start -
Or sprinting near the poolside because you aren't sure when you're going to have to wade through water.
But I appreciate it a bit more, having played farther; if I had to change anything about it, it'd be alternating the breathing a bit.
Having a few different kinds of wheezing that space themselves out to indicate strain, more.
That said, some of the areas really do benefit from it, especially on backtracking.
For a game where nothing is explicitly out to get you, the sensation that something could is really strong, here. And when you're using the flashlight and sprinting... Yeah, it absolutely forced me to do a double-take, and start thinking.
I think it achieves your goals most when you make it through an alley or corridor, and find yourself in a surprisingly open area!
Naturally, these are only my thoughts. ^^ A lot of people are going to have different takes on what works and what doesn't - Sticking to your plans is the most important thing. But I hope it helped provide food for thought!
(I really love area 84 and 167, by the way. Just an incredible sense of weight, while also feeling cosy. There's an old adaption of There Will Come Soft Rains it reminded me of, while also feeling entirely it's own thing.
I believe you also intended to capture some of Shoujo no Shuumatsu Ryokou in 167, well, I felt it - Again, without it feeling derivative. Uh, what else... Thank you for not adding almond water...
From the bottom of my heart... :P )