This review contains spoilers
Until Dawn: Werewolf Edition
I disliked the pacing in that game and I dislike it here too but at least Until Dawn was newer at the time. Having to yet again spend most of the game with fake build-up/scares with no stakes, the actual do-or-die situations happen right towards the end, and finally the actual end is rushed as fuck, irritating you after spending so much time on the build-up.
Over-the-shoulder cam from Dark Pictures Anthology makes exploring a pain at times when the walking was already the most boring part. I appreciate the cheap jumpscares being massively toned back but without a solid atmosphere to replace them it just adds to the monotony. Dark areas with strong wind sounds just aren't enough to tide you over the collective hours just spent walking.
The QTEs had similar treatment to the scares, far less complexity and quantity. The focus was clearly on the narrative aspect but then it makes you wonder why they're here in the first place. It was hardly fantastic gameplay before but Until Dawn feels downright experimental in comparison when characters would just instantly die left and right with one easy to fail QTE, making you feel on edge even if you screamed bullshit when it happened.
I appreciate the twists and how many times it manages to manages to throw you off, even with the plot reveals being very similar to Until Dawn. It still isn't enough to stop this feeling like a sanded-down version of what came before, smoothing the rough edges but also what made the formula exciting.
Buggy as fuck on PS4, many times a new scene would start and have the first line repeat while cutting itself off. Highlight was when they'd swear e.g. "FUCK Y-FUCK YOU, ASSHOLE." Probably the legitimately funniest part of the whole playthrough outside of PEANUT BUTTER FUCKING BUTTERPOPS! Would have loved more of that over people just getting cartoonishly angry at each other for a change.
I disliked the pacing in that game and I dislike it here too but at least Until Dawn was newer at the time. Having to yet again spend most of the game with fake build-up/scares with no stakes, the actual do-or-die situations happen right towards the end, and finally the actual end is rushed as fuck, irritating you after spending so much time on the build-up.
Over-the-shoulder cam from Dark Pictures Anthology makes exploring a pain at times when the walking was already the most boring part. I appreciate the cheap jumpscares being massively toned back but without a solid atmosphere to replace them it just adds to the monotony. Dark areas with strong wind sounds just aren't enough to tide you over the collective hours just spent walking.
The QTEs had similar treatment to the scares, far less complexity and quantity. The focus was clearly on the narrative aspect but then it makes you wonder why they're here in the first place. It was hardly fantastic gameplay before but Until Dawn feels downright experimental in comparison when characters would just instantly die left and right with one easy to fail QTE, making you feel on edge even if you screamed bullshit when it happened.
I appreciate the twists and how many times it manages to manages to throw you off, even with the plot reveals being very similar to Until Dawn. It still isn't enough to stop this feeling like a sanded-down version of what came before, smoothing the rough edges but also what made the formula exciting.
Buggy as fuck on PS4, many times a new scene would start and have the first line repeat while cutting itself off. Highlight was when they'd swear e.g. "FUCK Y-FUCK YOU, ASSHOLE." Probably the legitimately funniest part of the whole playthrough outside of PEANUT BUTTER FUCKING BUTTERPOPS! Would have loved more of that over people just getting cartoonishly angry at each other for a change.