Du Mei Shin's Lady of the Pier not making it to an international release bcs of mocking Winnie is probably the biggest injustice in recent gaming history
Pep's Season of Spooks - Game 17
I've played many PT-like games over the years and most of them were bad. This is not one of them.
Funnily enough, Devotion has some parallels with the last game I played for this season, Martha Is Dead. Both are psychological horror tales in period settings that reflect their protagonist's mental deterioration. But personally I think that this is a much better experience overall. There's even one particular scene in this game that manages to be more disturbing than anything in Martha with zero gore.
Set in 1980's Taiwan, the game has you exploring an ever-changing apartment figuring out what happened to the protagonist's wife and child (spoiler alert: it ain't good). The atmosphere in the first hour or so is unbearably tense, and there are a few well-placed jumpscares peppered in. The story is told through voiceover and documents that you pick up, and with some simple puzzles the game's progression isn't too challenging. There are no doubt some people that will dismiss this as a "walking sim" (a term I don't really consider to be an insult) but the story, writing and voice acting are all strong enough to keep you interested.
There are a couple of small issues I have with Devotion. There is a sequence towards the end that felt way way too drawn out and desperately needed cutting down. There is also one "chase" sequence that felt out-of-place for this kind of game. I guess Red Candle Games felt they needed at least one scene with some sort of stakes? Otherwise you're never in any danger.
Given the game's tumultuous release history (it's only available from the developer's own website after Chinese harassment led to it's removal from Steam) it's a miracle I got to play this at all. But in the end I'm very glad I did. A dark tale of religious fanaticism, family breakdown and one very unfortunate little girl.
Scary Rating 6/10 - Overall Rating 8/10
I've played many PT-like games over the years and most of them were bad. This is not one of them.
Funnily enough, Devotion has some parallels with the last game I played for this season, Martha Is Dead. Both are psychological horror tales in period settings that reflect their protagonist's mental deterioration. But personally I think that this is a much better experience overall. There's even one particular scene in this game that manages to be more disturbing than anything in Martha with zero gore.
Set in 1980's Taiwan, the game has you exploring an ever-changing apartment figuring out what happened to the protagonist's wife and child (spoiler alert: it ain't good). The atmosphere in the first hour or so is unbearably tense, and there are a few well-placed jumpscares peppered in. The story is told through voiceover and documents that you pick up, and with some simple puzzles the game's progression isn't too challenging. There are no doubt some people that will dismiss this as a "walking sim" (a term I don't really consider to be an insult) but the story, writing and voice acting are all strong enough to keep you interested.
There are a couple of small issues I have with Devotion. There is a sequence towards the end that felt way way too drawn out and desperately needed cutting down. There is also one "chase" sequence that felt out-of-place for this kind of game. I guess Red Candle Games felt they needed at least one scene with some sort of stakes? Otherwise you're never in any danger.
Given the game's tumultuous release history (it's only available from the developer's own website after Chinese harassment led to it's removal from Steam) it's a miracle I got to play this at all. But in the end I'm very glad I did. A dark tale of religious fanaticism, family breakdown and one very unfortunate little girl.
Scary Rating 6/10 - Overall Rating 8/10
honestly i really loved looking at the architecture more than anything else. extremely cool apartment block.
Devotion is iterative horror, and i don't mean that necessarily as an insult; you can feel its influences strongly throughout (PT, silent hill, dark water, RE7) but it has a real character of its own. solid jumpscares, simple puzzles (altho i got stuck on one bit when you had to backtrack), good dreamy nightmarescapes. some real fun visual tricks and unexpected turns keep it interesting. cool game.
Devotion is iterative horror, and i don't mean that necessarily as an insult; you can feel its influences strongly throughout (PT, silent hill, dark water, RE7) but it has a real character of its own. solid jumpscares, simple puzzles (altho i got stuck on one bit when you had to backtrack), good dreamy nightmarescapes. some real fun visual tricks and unexpected turns keep it interesting. cool game.
Jokes on you, you cannot scare me if I look down all the time.
(Narrator voice: indeed, it scared the shit out of her).
Societal pressures, religious fanaticism, the nuclear family disintegrating due to obsession and frustration, etc... It has enough disturbing imagery to put an interesting horror show, and the ending is quite rough and hurst a bit.
(Narrator voice: indeed, it scared the shit out of her).
Societal pressures, religious fanaticism, the nuclear family disintegrating due to obsession and frustration, etc... It has enough disturbing imagery to put an interesting horror show, and the ending is quite rough and hurst a bit.
A concise and unsettling narrative about a Taiwanese family living in a small apartment complex. Atmospheric and affecting, building up to an emotional ending.
It’s an enormous shame what happened with Devotion, what with it nearly being wiped away by the CCP for the small Winnie the Pooh joke that evidently hurt their feelings. So many more people should be able to play this.
It’s an enormous shame what happened with Devotion, what with it nearly being wiped away by the CCP for the small Winnie the Pooh joke that evidently hurt their feelings. So many more people should be able to play this.
In a certain way, I can see this game as the Robert Eggers' version of A Brighter Summer Day, which still makes it only the second most haunting version of the story.
I can't believe how sad this game makes me feel, some may think a scarier story would be more memorable but I know the realism behind this Eastern tale of family and desperation will stick with me just as Detention did. Not for the horror of its imagery (although), but for the horror of its meaning.
I can't believe how sad this game makes me feel, some may think a scarier story would be more memorable but I know the realism behind this Eastern tale of family and desperation will stick with me just as Detention did. Not for the horror of its imagery (although), but for the horror of its meaning.
Visually creative game that runs the gambit of red doom and repetitive decaying to line-art suffering and some fleeting beauty. A short but simple game with a lot of heart. Even after the hype for this game (and me getting fidgety at having no way to play it for 2 years) I was surprised at how well done it was!
I hope the devs are doing okay.
I hope the devs are doing okay.
Was finally able to get this on Red Candle Games' website after some trouble getting my card to work on a Taiwanese website, but it was well worth it. Incredibly well done horror game with a very intimate story about family, societal pressures, and how cults take advantage of people.
Oh man, that ended up being quite impactful by the time it ended. Probably the best P.T. inspired survival horror game I’ve seen/played. So many effective scares, but probably too many cheap jumpscares for my liking though. Also has some great uses of symbolism to tell its story, which is really great by the way. I loved how well they handled Mei-shin. Her anxieties felt very real.
I’m not sure about the section that leads up to the ritual thingy. I felt like it slowed down the game and broke a lot of the tension. I did like the commentary on how exploitative cults can be though.
Puzzle design was pretty great too. It was quite simple to begin with, but the final puzzle section was fantastic.
I’m not sure about the section that leads up to the ritual thingy. I felt like it slowed down the game and broke a lot of the tension. I did like the commentary on how exploitative cults can be though.
Puzzle design was pretty great too. It was quite simple to begin with, but the final puzzle section was fantastic.
Before anything, the fact I'm able to play this alone makes me happy, I played Detention the year that this came out, and because of its circumstances, I never knew when I'd get the chance to give this one a go after all the hype surrounding it. Suffice to say, I'd say it lived up to it.
I think the game does an excellent job exposing a traditional family at its core, and how easy it is for everything to fall apart, whether its from the stress of illness, unfulfilled relationships and dreams, or the dangers of extreme religious devotion. It has a lot to say, and for how short it is, it does it all with such great visual depth. Think this one is a must play for any modern day horror fans, not only because its great, but because Red Candle are providing some of the most unique offerings that the genre has seen. And after the two years of it essentially being lost media for many, and all that had to happen for it to be available again, it deserves your time, and it will surely be time well devoted.
I think the game does an excellent job exposing a traditional family at its core, and how easy it is for everything to fall apart, whether its from the stress of illness, unfulfilled relationships and dreams, or the dangers of extreme religious devotion. It has a lot to say, and for how short it is, it does it all with such great visual depth. Think this one is a must play for any modern day horror fans, not only because its great, but because Red Candle are providing some of the most unique offerings that the genre has seen. And after the two years of it essentially being lost media for many, and all that had to happen for it to be available again, it deserves your time, and it will surely be time well devoted.
There are multiple reasons why this game shouldn’t have been enjoyable to me. While I respect detention I don’t love it, the only horror game series I really like is silent hill and I don’t really like first person horror either. This game defies all of that and is incredible in just about every way. The atmosphere and plot are stunningly executed and the game has striking visuals. I have a lot of respect for red candle and their defiance of imperial China. I hope the Taiwanese people know true peace and safety someday.
One of the absolute best examples of survival horror in gaming. Incredibly scary with an ending that hits you in the feels.
I really hope this game gets re-released at some point because it slaps! Super reminiscent of PT and some of the earlier Silent Hill games (2 in particular). And similar to Detention it has a really strong sense of time and place.
Bom, depois de um youtuber fazer um essay sobre os simbolismos presentes nesse jogo tive que jogar. E, nossa, não me arrependo, que jogo com estilo.
Devo confessar que sou péssimo com jogos de terror, mal consegui terminar Outlast e Resident Evil VII, mas esse de longe é mais assustador que os dois combinados. O gameplay é bem simples, é simplesmente uma exploração estilo Silent Hills (PT), com diversas variações do mesmo quarto.
Admito, também, que achei a estética de certas cenas fraca, mas não interferiu muito negativamente na minha experiência.
Ah, e sobre a controvérsia polícia que fez com que se banissem o jogo da Steam: nada a ver, absolutamente desnê.
Devo confessar que sou péssimo com jogos de terror, mal consegui terminar Outlast e Resident Evil VII, mas esse de longe é mais assustador que os dois combinados. O gameplay é bem simples, é simplesmente uma exploração estilo Silent Hills (PT), com diversas variações do mesmo quarto.
Admito, também, que achei a estética de certas cenas fraca, mas não interferiu muito negativamente na minha experiência.
Ah, e sobre a controvérsia polícia que fez com que se banissem o jogo da Steam: nada a ver, absolutamente desnê.
What a ride. My least favorite thing about games like this is when they're too cryptic or have really obtuse puzzles that ruin the mood. This game never has that though. As the game goes on you can catch on to the things going on around you, and it slowly allows you to piece together what it all means. The horror aspects are super cool, and there's only a few jumpscares, which every horror game deserves a few. Probably one of my top horror games now. Shame it didn't get a proper chance on the main storefronts.
There's no such thing as bad publicity, but whilst Devotion's 'political' controversy amidst a mocking Xi Jinping easter egg gave the game some reputation as a 'banned' classic, it did make it virtually unplayable for quite some time.
The game was removed from Steam and subsequent platforms such as GOG after failed attempts for a re-release. It is only recently that Red Candle Games have released it on their website DRM-free for a small price.
Moving on to the game itself, it's actually less concerned with Taiwanese politics as it is with religious fantacism as it tells a chilling story about a family's breakdown following their daughter's mysterious illness. Despite the big jump from the 2D-sidescrolling of Detention to something more PT-inspired, Devotion returns to the unsettling slow-burn visual storytelling Red Candle have mastered. The puzzle gameplay is quite simple but usually satisfies as you form a picture of whatever the hell is going on in this claustrophobic apartment setting.
A couple of cheap jumpscares and a silly chase sequence are amongst a few aspects which keep Devotion from being perfect, even less 'clean' a game than its predecessor. However, the ambitious experimentation with visuals and structure, plus Red Candle's knack for telling a gripping story, make this title an unforgettable trip to hell and back. It may look similar to other PT rip-offs, but is definitely a cut above many of the greats.
Yes, you should go on Red Candle's website and buy this damned thing.
The game was removed from Steam and subsequent platforms such as GOG after failed attempts for a re-release. It is only recently that Red Candle Games have released it on their website DRM-free for a small price.
Moving on to the game itself, it's actually less concerned with Taiwanese politics as it is with religious fantacism as it tells a chilling story about a family's breakdown following their daughter's mysterious illness. Despite the big jump from the 2D-sidescrolling of Detention to something more PT-inspired, Devotion returns to the unsettling slow-burn visual storytelling Red Candle have mastered. The puzzle gameplay is quite simple but usually satisfies as you form a picture of whatever the hell is going on in this claustrophobic apartment setting.
A couple of cheap jumpscares and a silly chase sequence are amongst a few aspects which keep Devotion from being perfect, even less 'clean' a game than its predecessor. However, the ambitious experimentation with visuals and structure, plus Red Candle's knack for telling a gripping story, make this title an unforgettable trip to hell and back. It may look similar to other PT rip-offs, but is definitely a cut above many of the greats.
Yes, you should go on Red Candle's website and buy this damned thing.
WIKTOBER LOG #0027 - DEVOTION
As soon as I heard the language I was scared. Turns out it got even scarier.
Yes it's a *annoying pc gamer voice* "walking simulator" - it's good, it has nice pacing and good visuals, and it's hard to keep a gamer engaged while stuck in like 3 rooms. It's effective in its simplicity. There isn't much more to it than being that, though.
I just saw a review on here calling it a survival horror and I'm gonna remove half a star just for that (just kidding (maybe))
As soon as I heard the language I was scared. Turns out it got even scarier.
Yes it's a *annoying pc gamer voice* "walking simulator" - it's good, it has nice pacing and good visuals, and it's hard to keep a gamer engaged while stuck in like 3 rooms. It's effective in its simplicity. There isn't much more to it than being that, though.
I just saw a review on here calling it a survival horror and I'm gonna remove half a star just for that (just kidding (maybe))
this was the first game in a while that utterly ruined me. i think growing up buddhist in an asian household really adds a lot of layers to the story, as there's a lot of subtext that gets ignored when you look at it without that information. i recommend looking at the comments of some youtube playthroughs of the game, as many taiwanese people have talked about the cultural and religious references that most people don't pick up. the premise of the game is actually very realistic even with the unrealistic aspects, and it's scary to think that what happens in devotion can happen to anyone! if you pray at an altar on the side of the road or at a sketchy private-owned altar you literally can curse yourself and your family. be careful where you pray folks...
a moving story effectively told. I feel like this leans a little harder on jump scares than it needs to when the most emotionally striking parts of the game were the least horrific ones, but that may be necessary if the goal is to be a "horror game" rather than a "walking simulator" (which I imagine opens the door to a significant number of additional players)
An amazing experience.
As their other game, it's much more than it implies from the get go, and so it's difficult to talk about it without spoiling. What I have to say is, don't let the few jumpscares present in it get to you, the story within it it's so much more than just scary asian ghosts.
Perhaps a little less well crafted as Detention, this is nonetheless one of the best horror experiences I have played in years
As their other game, it's much more than it implies from the get go, and so it's difficult to talk about it without spoiling. What I have to say is, don't let the few jumpscares present in it get to you, the story within it it's so much more than just scary asian ghosts.
Perhaps a little less well crafted as Detention, this is nonetheless one of the best horror experiences I have played in years
an incredibly intimate horror game about recollecting the pieces of a history and tragedy. does fascinating things with space, multiple moments that had me pause and just admire what it had just done. really reminiscent of Silent Hill 2 and What Remains of Edith Finch—just wish more people could play it.
Alongside Red Candle Game's debut title, Detention, Devotion is probably my favorite horror game of the 2010s.
It is such a shame that this game will mostly be known for the controversy surrounding it, rather than for how well crafted of a horror experience it actually is.
I am firmly in the camp that we no longer need Silent Hill as a franchise any more, because there are so many new games out now that explore similar themes in more unique ways and through more novel lenses that any future Silent Hill game will only be held back by it's franchise's own baggage.
I think one of the few developers that has taken cues from the Silent Hill games while doing something fresh instead of just solely aping SH's gameplay, visual aesthetic or vibes is Red Candle Games. The two games they have released so far are two genuinely fantastic pieces of media, and are some of the few video games that feel truly "mature" in a way most aren't. Less in terms of graphic violence or any explicit content presented, but more so in the level of understanding and tact Red Candle Games employs when broaching the subject matters they wish to address in their games.
Despite being blacklisted off of major storefronts like Steam and GOG, Devotion is available to purchase on Red Candle's own website for under $20. If you have even a slight interest in this game or Detention, I implore you to play them!
It is such a shame that this game will mostly be known for the controversy surrounding it, rather than for how well crafted of a horror experience it actually is.
I am firmly in the camp that we no longer need Silent Hill as a franchise any more, because there are so many new games out now that explore similar themes in more unique ways and through more novel lenses that any future Silent Hill game will only be held back by it's franchise's own baggage.
I think one of the few developers that has taken cues from the Silent Hill games while doing something fresh instead of just solely aping SH's gameplay, visual aesthetic or vibes is Red Candle Games. The two games they have released so far are two genuinely fantastic pieces of media, and are some of the few video games that feel truly "mature" in a way most aren't. Less in terms of graphic violence or any explicit content presented, but more so in the level of understanding and tact Red Candle Games employs when broaching the subject matters they wish to address in their games.
Despite being blacklisted off of major storefronts like Steam and GOG, Devotion is available to purchase on Red Candle's own website for under $20. If you have even a slight interest in this game or Detention, I implore you to play them!
Made me ugly cry at the end at how immensely sad it is.
I like Detention and think that game tells a more nuanced story, but ugh Devotion ripped my heart out. Stories about family and faith told well hit such a raw nerve for me.
And if we're just talking atmosphere, this game is transportive in its 80s Taiwanese apartment setting and showbiz backdrop dripping with traditional gender expectations. It's not particularly innovative in the supernatural horror game genre with its mechanics (it takes a lot from PT and Detention), but they're effective in establishing a specific sense of place and time, which the game plays with masterfully.
The things you do in the game really hammer home how familial connections are forged by small but significant shows of affection tied to mundane objects we fill with sentiment and how religious fervor gets in the way of all that.
I like Detention and think that game tells a more nuanced story, but ugh Devotion ripped my heart out. Stories about family and faith told well hit such a raw nerve for me.
And if we're just talking atmosphere, this game is transportive in its 80s Taiwanese apartment setting and showbiz backdrop dripping with traditional gender expectations. It's not particularly innovative in the supernatural horror game genre with its mechanics (it takes a lot from PT and Detention), but they're effective in establishing a specific sense of place and time, which the game plays with masterfully.
The things you do in the game really hammer home how familial connections are forged by small but significant shows of affection tied to mundane objects we fill with sentiment and how religious fervor gets in the way of all that.
Really interesting and diferent game.
It tells the story of a father who has an ill daughter and the sacrifices he does for her, mainly related with religious taiwanese traditions.
The location is just a house where we see the evolution it had during the 80s as well as the family story. That location has a great design, every little detail makes it feel really true and believable, I miss this aspect in many videogames.
The other virtue it has and the one that compensates a more conventional gameplay is that the way of telling things feel very artistic / cinematic. I'm a big fan of movies from Taiwan (my username comes from Rebels of the Neon God) and even if it couldn't be compared with arthouse movies a game like Devotion is not the usual way of telling things, of creating moods and ambients not only related with the screenplay as it often happens; it would be good to have more games following this path.
About the horror aspect, Devotion is more related with a dark / sadness feeling that permeates everything.
It tells the story of a father who has an ill daughter and the sacrifices he does for her, mainly related with religious taiwanese traditions.
The location is just a house where we see the evolution it had during the 80s as well as the family story. That location has a great design, every little detail makes it feel really true and believable, I miss this aspect in many videogames.
The other virtue it has and the one that compensates a more conventional gameplay is that the way of telling things feel very artistic / cinematic. I'm a big fan of movies from Taiwan (my username comes from Rebels of the Neon God) and even if it couldn't be compared with arthouse movies a game like Devotion is not the usual way of telling things, of creating moods and ambients not only related with the screenplay as it often happens; it would be good to have more games following this path.
About the horror aspect, Devotion is more related with a dark / sadness feeling that permeates everything.
I think that Devotion is a brilliant game. A horror title that is scary without feeling like a cheap carnival ride, thought provoking without sounding like a lecture, and upsetting without being regrettable. While I feel that games like this don't land as well if you aren't behind the controls, the basic effect would still be pretty powerful if you simply watch a playthrough. It is frustrating that an experience of this quality is so unknown among horror fans, and my hope is that my playthrough and this blog entry will convince at least one other person to seek it out.
Full essay here: https://www.guilded.gg/backlog/blog/Chris-Vs-Blog/Fatherly-Phantasmagoria
Full essay here: https://www.guilded.gg/backlog/blog/Chris-Vs-Blog/Fatherly-Phantasmagoria
checked this game out after hearing about the delisting shitshow and also the fact that the devs made detention (another game I enjoyed)
And man. This one got me all sorts of fucked up. I cried like a fucking baby at the ending. I still think about Li Fang and Mei Shin's last words to Du Feng Yu...
Fuuuuuuuuuck man
And man. This one got me all sorts of fucked up. I cried like a fucking baby at the ending. I still think about Li Fang and Mei Shin's last words to Du Feng Yu...
Fuuuuuuuuuck man
arriba taiwan
I don’t say “this is the best game of its genre since Silent Hill 2” lightly. Devotion shook me to my core.
Horrifying in what it pulls from reality, with the droning queasiness of an Aronofsky movie (except, you know, good), it is a story of how cultural, career & gender expectations push an ex-celebrity Taiwanese family to sickeningly resonant extremes. If you’re Asian, this game will fuck you up. If you’re not Asian, it will probably fuck you up anyway.
Come for the Xi Jinpooh memes, stay for the devastating ending. If PT had to die for Devotion to exist, I’d say it’s worth it.
Horrifying in what it pulls from reality, with the droning queasiness of an Aronofsky movie (except, you know, good), it is a story of how cultural, career & gender expectations push an ex-celebrity Taiwanese family to sickeningly resonant extremes. If you’re Asian, this game will fuck you up. If you’re not Asian, it will probably fuck you up anyway.
Come for the Xi Jinpooh memes, stay for the devastating ending. If PT had to die for Devotion to exist, I’d say it’s worth it.
It's ironic that this game was initially only widely available for a single week in 2019 before its return last year because of its portrayal of the dangers of magical thinking as a coping mechanism and problem-solving tool speak potently to the pandemic era, as familiar as we now are with reports of people refusing to believe in COVID even as the disease brings them to their death bed. This type of denialism is now of the chief political problems of our age, and Devotion acutely depicts that particular horror with all of the creepy noises and dim hallways you expect from the genre.
This isn't to say that Devotion lacks for cultural specificity or a personal touch. The Du family apartment is a standout video game setting, with so much information conveyed about their lives conveyed simply through the placement of objects and how things change throughout different places in the timeline, and that's just the stuff that's translatable. It's readily apparent that there's ton of detail here that will only scan for the Tawainese audiences, and although that doesn't include me I still think it's really cool, especially since the team did a great job translating the core details. The temporary removal of this game from
purchase was both tragedy and farce, which makes Red Candle Games a voice and studio well worth supporting. I am very grateful that they are still able to make and sell games.
This isn't to say that Devotion lacks for cultural specificity or a personal touch. The Du family apartment is a standout video game setting, with so much information conveyed about their lives conveyed simply through the placement of objects and how things change throughout different places in the timeline, and that's just the stuff that's translatable. It's readily apparent that there's ton of detail here that will only scan for the Tawainese audiences, and although that doesn't include me I still think it's really cool, especially since the team did a great job translating the core details. The temporary removal of this game from
purchase was both tragedy and farce, which makes Red Candle Games a voice and studio well worth supporting. I am very grateful that they are still able to make and sell games.
La destrucción de una familia como producto de las normas sociales, el control de la religión y una ignorancia absoluta de la importancia de la salud mental.
Me duele todo, nadie se merece esto, pero es un reflejo muy acertado de cosas muy reales.
Me duele todo, nadie se merece esto, pero es un reflejo muy acertado de cosas muy reales.