Quick question - is the man who wakes up in the attic the owner of the house, or just squatting there? A horror set on a Scottish bothy would be an excellent set-piece...Look forward to the full release
My only constructive critique is that the woman appears too frequently, dampening the impact of the jump scares. I would lessen her presence, and make her more of an ethereal spectre , where people talk about her and her legend does most of the legwork. Looking forward to the main release!
Cold Pines is an impressive first release from this dev. Instead of relying on jump scares, this brief indie experience builds a steady sense of being watched, as if something is always lurking just beyond sight, just outside your peripheral. Even the gas pumps managed to unsettle me, which says a lot.
The notes matter too, nothing is spelled out for you. It’s a strong start from a promising developer, and absolutely worth a look.
There's so much to love here - from the art style and soundtrack, to the unnerving sense that the Skin Stapler is just around the corner, ready to pounce. Very solid demo and the dev should be proud that they've been able to create a 'boogeyman' character far superior to what is currently out there in the Hollywood market.
My only critique would be that at the moment the QTE seem a little repetitive - I hold that in the final build there's a different variety of interactions for the player. The hotdog section may also go on for a tad too long. Great demo though!
A few jump scares that landed, some questionable requests from the customers and some eerie photos will make this one to remember. You've got a Wishlist on Steam for the full release from me - well done! (I also enjoyed Black Lamb ;)
Intrigued as to how this will escalate in the final build - with an element of creepiness thrown into the mix, this is definitely one to watch. My only critique is that a couple of the 'scares' seemed a little goofy (not a bad thing) and perhaps the difficulty level of trying to catch the criminal for the day could be notched up.
Think this type of game would benefit with a type of 'suspicion' system, where through dialogue the patients have the option to become suspicious of the main character, and can ultimately cause a game over or multiple endings/branching dialogue if they guess his intent. Also could use other mechanics like mini-games to counter their accusations, etc.
I felt this was just a prologue to something that could be much larger in scope and design - I was curious about the main character and why they would keep pets if they had recurring nightmares about being chased by large versions of them! You could also have the whole apartment block as one big escape scenario - with some puzzle elements and ways to barricade rooms from X-33.
Dev - If you decided to expand on this I'd keep the eerie, dread like tension throughout - you could be onto something special here...
Only critique that I can think of at the moment is that perhaps the speed of the dial in the screwdriver mini-game could be a little slower, or the cones widened - but a blast to play none the less!
I always enjoy taking the time to find out how the food is prepped, and conversing with the eclectic cast of characters who need to be served. I am wondering if there needs to be something added in the next instalment (more interaction with the NPCs perhaps? Being timed on preparing the food? Different outcomes dependant on choices being made?) but this was a fun trip and now I know how to make Bici Bici if ever asked in the future...
Drunk ex-cop that may or may not be suffering from some form of delusional impairment? Check.
Inanimate traffic cone partner, with black marker pen facial features? Check.
An alternate reality/dimension where Santa's reindeers have set up their own gooning picture house? Check.
Punching God in the face? Check.
I mean, there's a helluva lot of other things going on, but those are the bits that I can remember through my scrambled brain after playing this. WE NEED MORE MAURICE. WE NEED A SEQUEL.
I caught 2 of the post-it notes in the demo, assume the other numbers for the vending machine will be in the full version!
Hopefully Rosa makes an appearance too...
The little details crept up in ways that made me feel insecure of what was going on - a lot of games in this genre obviously make the player feel guilt, which manifests to what they're seeing - this plays a factor with WHAT'S ACTUALLY GOING ON but the gameplay mechanics, atmosphere and sound design made me think... as the player, am I THINKING this or is it actually happening? I tip my hat to you, as someone who's played a lot of these types of games it was refreshing to feel whether what was happening was real or not. Cannot wait to see what future projects you end up releasing.
Part 70's movie slow burn narrative, part John Carpenter creepiness factor, man this had me hooked from beginning until the end. I, for one am looking forward to the next project from Storbeed. I hope you are too.
I feel like there's also hidden lore/gameplay with the staircase that leads to nowhere, the grave and the ring of mushrooms. Or perhaps they're call-backs to other games from the dev? Either way, although short and succinct, this was a great way to get the yuletide festive horror in full swing.
The general censorship of this game baffles me from platforms such as Steam and Epic Games, but from a developer standpoint any kind of controversary can only help spread the word. And for an indie game that's only a good thing. Yes, there's metaphors akimbo with Horses. Yes, there's scenes that make the player feel uncomfortable and yes, there's moralistic 'decisions' that make the player feel like an unsuspecting Milgram experiment participant...but that's really the point.
Any game that makes the player think and ask themselves questions after the credits have rolled is always going to be championed in my books. Support this dev and play Horses for yourself before jumping on any bandwagons.
Now, where's my beautiful stud? Daddy's got to rub himself.
It will be interesting to see if Rachel's brother makes an appearance in the full game - and generally intrigued to find out more about Harold and Margaret. Will definitely be checking out the full release.
Only potential bug I saw in my playthrough was Margaret's face when we first see her - didn't know whether her face was meant to be blurred or not initially?
This started out quite promising - with the narrative that Dorian was escaping from a stalker-ex type. Although the tropes involved (going to the grocery store, unpacking in a new apartment, cleaning up etc) are now feeling a little stagnant with these types of games, I felt there was a missed opportunity with the ending. There should have been more backstory to Dorian's story - and the 'fragments' were a little obtuse. Ambiguity is great and leads the player to question things after the credits have rolled, but I feel there should have been more info regarding the man in the shite vest, for example.
This could potentially be a good prologue for something far deeper, because the story is there, lurking in the dark. Hopefully we'll see more of Dorian in future episodes...
Much like Any Port in a Storm, DastardlyFool’s latest entry is that rare strain of indie horror that lingers long after the game ends - haunting you not with jump scares, but with questions that won’t let go. Is it a meditation on postpartum depression? A grim reflection of our climate-anxious world? A David Lynch-esque descent into the surreal anxieties of parenthood? Or simply a fever dream wrapped in counting people out of a window?
Play it yourself and decide. I, for one, can’t wait to see what this developer conjures up next.
Now… where did I leave that can of chunky soup?
OI OI!
YOU WOT M8?YOU WANNA TAKE DA MICK WIT ME? I'LL SHANK YA, YA SLAAAAAAAG.
This had me cracking up in ways that REALLY shouldn't have done. Mad as a box of frogs, but compelling and enthralling all at the same time. And people who aren't propa bri'ish get to learn a few things about our culture. And how engur-land completely screwed over pretty much every other country in the world.
We need to see more of Many in the future. I want to know more about the fire. The fire that consumes her soul and leads her on the path to ascension. Livers included. Great mix of macabre uneasiness and rib-popping humour. Well done.
Keep a little dirt for the Dirt Man
This definitely had a 'Stephen King,' short story vibe to it. I mean, you can't say to someone that there's a door that can never be opened in the flat they're leasing, right? The compulsion to check out the door would be far TOO GREAT!The underlying eerie atmosphere was evident throughout, which for a short indie horror hit the nail on the head. Looking forward to your next project - donated $15 to the cause!
I was a little confused by the ending however, and felt that when the player gets into the 'vault' area, when things are about to get spicy, the game ends. I wasn't too sure what the reporting of the candidates added to the overall arc of the narrative, and felt like this may have been a wasted opportunity. It would have been great to have interviewed multiple candidates and then found out that Amaan was somehow linked to them - or that the player held their fates in his/her hands.
This feels like more of a prologue to something bigger, and would definitely like to see more in the future. Shout out to @OppaiPrincess, @CianBComposer and @SanadSounds for their work on this too!
Who knew that hell would be televised? I enjoyed the aesthetic of this and the voice acting was a bar above some of the indie games out there at the moment. This felt more like a prologue or first initial chapter for a longer game and hope you come back to extend upon this world.
Now where can I get myself some softly spoken angels to whisper sweet nothings in my ear and tell me that the kneeled men deserve the gun?
MARRRRTHA!
Beyondbooleans is certainly bringing the point and click horror adeventures back - especially with Carnival having been released on Steam - this dev is working their socks off!
Loved the atmosphere, and looking forward to seeing the Grey man return...
I particularly liked that each GHL has a particular style, will be interesting to see if you can flit between the worlds when you get back to the hub. If you're a fan of schlocky horror from the 80's then you'll definitely get a buzz from 'Sewer Smile.' I loved the John Carpenter reference and that each 'zone' has its own mechanisms and puzzles.
WHEN IS THE FULL GAME OUT??? SHUDDUP AND TAKE MY MONEY ALREADY!
Did I just have a fever dream? Or has my conscience finally caught up with me? One thing's for certain, Spotty is a very good boy. Yes, a very good boy indeed.
Quite light on the jumps and scares, but an enjoyable experience none the less. Wondering where this story will be going...
Twist at the end got me good too ;)
Nonplace reminded me of some Kafka-esque lovechild of David Lynch and Salvador Dali - do we know why we're in the nonplace? No. Will we get answers in the nonplace? Also, no. But what we do get is an unnerving feeling that we're not alone, and that we're constantly being watched.
Very intrigued as to where this is going, and would love to explore more of this world.Until then, you'll just need to watch this vertical slice. If you're hungry there's some macarons and hearts to eat.
He likes to draw emoji men
There was a tense build up to begin with, but felt like the ending was a little abrupt - did we get to see the smiling man in the apartment? If you decide to continue the storyline of this, it would be interesting to see Aunt Lizzie leaving the facility and checking in on Noah a few years later to find out if he's still doing the drawings...
