Edit: I am going to keep most things in the original review because those were my genuine feelings while playing the game for the first time. However, the dev reached out to explain a few things. I won't spoil a thing out of respect for them and you who is playing this game. BUT, this story will have guts and plenty of intrigue and everything in this version has a purpose. That's all I will say. Based on what the dev told me I upped my rating to 4 stars because the story sounds too good to pass up if done well.
Now on with my original review
I expected this first look to be a lot longer considering it was greater than 1 GB download size(explained in dev notes), but it was pretty average. Given that, this is a very subjective review and will change in the future.
Others have said it before me, the initial plot device is wholly unoriginal. Immediately you are hit with the amnesia bat. Dude wakes up in his room and is like "Where am I!?". I audibly groaned. This plot device is almost a guarantee in a new game anymore. What's worse is I literally just got done with another amnesia game update right before booting this up. Anyways, what comes after that is worse. The... mom? aunt? comes in and is like "I found you in your room not breathing!" I'm sorry, what!? You didn't call an ambulance? At this point if the game isnt about a failed murder plot I will be more confused and upset about this massive plot hole. Also, if he wasn't breathing and this all took place weeks ago the MC should definitely be dead. Then you meet everyone else in the house including Megan Fox and that's pretty much all there is to it at this point.
The renders are... good, I think. Sometimes they look amazing and other times something looks haunting about them. Especially the MC. I'm going to put my favorite part up top here, I loved the house. I have never seen it before. I'm not sure if its an original, but every part of it seemed fresh and lovingly made. Now for the characters. The MC felt off to me for some reason. He doesn't look bad, but for some reason the first name that came to mind was Willem Dafoe. He looks his age and his skin isn't perfect which I admire. There is a shot or two that his hair part is very very parted. Bald stripe down his head. Megan Fox looks like Megan Fox. The Mom and younger sister look related but Fox does not. Then there is the obligitory massive busted friend that shows up. The models aren't perfect, but they aren't bad. I'd argue that sometimes they look too life-like for a game like this and that's what is off putting to me.
As for the writing; I couldn't find anything overtly wrong or cringy outside of the overused plot. At this point I'd welcome back the long forgotten son trope. The dialogue wasn't that great. It feels clunky. The dude has amnesia, he has already told one person, so why not tell them all? They are bound to find out. I loved the old cartoon implementation of the MC talking to the friend. The conversation was once sided, we can't hear the friend. That being said, it makes me feel less like I am the MC and more like I'm watching him. (Edit: I don't play these games with sound, but I guess the friends lines were spoken not written? Personally not a fan of that choice.)
The gameplay is pretty limited but I do have early issues. Along with it being another amnesia game, it's also, thus far, a sandbox on rails. You can click around the house, but you can't go in closed rooms unless you're meant to. My sisters and I never ever locked our doors, so what did this creep do that they lock their doors when they are inside? Also, choices are limited and a most of them I looked at and said "umm, neither?" because they were so clearly not what a normal person would do, even with amnesia. Either make a true sandbox or a true VN, don't try to do both unless it's like Being a DIK where they have dedicated sections that contribute to the plot.
This is way too much to say about a game with maybe 15 minutes of play time. Give it a shot if you aren't adverse to 0.1s, and if you are then add this to your watchlist.
Good luck dev.
Now on with my original review
I expected this first look to be a lot longer considering it was greater than 1 GB download size(explained in dev notes), but it was pretty average. Given that, this is a very subjective review and will change in the future.
Others have said it before me, the initial plot device is wholly unoriginal. Immediately you are hit with the amnesia bat. Dude wakes up in his room and is like "Where am I!?". I audibly groaned. This plot device is almost a guarantee in a new game anymore. What's worse is I literally just got done with another amnesia game update right before booting this up. Anyways, what comes after that is worse. The... mom? aunt? comes in and is like "I found you in your room not breathing!" I'm sorry, what!? You didn't call an ambulance? At this point if the game isnt about a failed murder plot I will be more confused and upset about this massive plot hole. Also, if he wasn't breathing and this all took place weeks ago the MC should definitely be dead. Then you meet everyone else in the house including Megan Fox and that's pretty much all there is to it at this point.
The renders are... good, I think. Sometimes they look amazing and other times something looks haunting about them. Especially the MC. I'm going to put my favorite part up top here, I loved the house. I have never seen it before. I'm not sure if its an original, but every part of it seemed fresh and lovingly made. Now for the characters. The MC felt off to me for some reason. He doesn't look bad, but for some reason the first name that came to mind was Willem Dafoe. He looks his age and his skin isn't perfect which I admire. There is a shot or two that his hair part is very very parted. Bald stripe down his head. Megan Fox looks like Megan Fox. The Mom and younger sister look related but Fox does not. Then there is the obligitory massive busted friend that shows up. The models aren't perfect, but they aren't bad. I'd argue that sometimes they look too life-like for a game like this and that's what is off putting to me.
As for the writing; I couldn't find anything overtly wrong or cringy outside of the overused plot. At this point I'd welcome back the long forgotten son trope. The dialogue wasn't that great. It feels clunky. The dude has amnesia, he has already told one person, so why not tell them all? They are bound to find out. I loved the old cartoon implementation of the MC talking to the friend. The conversation was once sided, we can't hear the friend. That being said, it makes me feel less like I am the MC and more like I'm watching him. (Edit: I don't play these games with sound, but I guess the friends lines were spoken not written? Personally not a fan of that choice.)
The gameplay is pretty limited but I do have early issues. Along with it being another amnesia game, it's also, thus far, a sandbox on rails. You can click around the house, but you can't go in closed rooms unless you're meant to. My sisters and I never ever locked our doors, so what did this creep do that they lock their doors when they are inside? Also, choices are limited and a most of them I looked at and said "umm, neither?" because they were so clearly not what a normal person would do, even with amnesia. Either make a true sandbox or a true VN, don't try to do both unless it's like Being a DIK where they have dedicated sections that contribute to the plot.
This is way too much to say about a game with maybe 15 minutes of play time. Give it a shot if you aren't adverse to 0.1s, and if you are then add this to your watchlist.
Good luck dev.