kaidaniinchou
Checked this out because of all the controversy it stirred up online and I wanted to see for myself what it was actually like. I honestly enjoyed a lot about it. The art style is nice and I very much appreciate the rpg maker horror game vibes (especially as someone who grew up on Corpse Party, Ib, Mad Father, etc.). The music is also really excellent. The writing feels a little "3 edgy 5 me" at times, but that's definitely the intention, so it didn't bother me much.
The elephant in the room with this game is obviously the incest element. While it is present, it just succeeded in highlighting how unhealthy/disturbing their relationship is for me, and I didn't feel like it was "romanticizing" it. The discomfort their relationship gave me didn't feel out of place for a horror game imo (and honestly it kind of reminded me of Norman Bates' relationship with his mother -- toxic and potentially incestuous familial relations are definitely not a new trope in horror lol).
I will say I enjoyed episode 1 a lot more than episode 2. The original premise involving the quarantine was more gripping to me than most of what happens in episode 2.
The elephant in the room with this game is obviously the incest element. While it is present, it just succeeded in highlighting how unhealthy/disturbing their relationship is for me, and I didn't feel like it was "romanticizing" it. The discomfort their relationship gave me didn't feel out of place for a horror game imo (and honestly it kind of reminded me of Norman Bates' relationship with his mother -- toxic and potentially incestuous familial relations are definitely not a new trope in horror lol).
I will say I enjoyed episode 1 a lot more than episode 2. The original premise involving the quarantine was more gripping to me than most of what happens in episode 2.
2015
I don't have the words to describe how much I loved playing this game. Aesthetically, musically, thematically, and gameplay-wise, this game felt like it was literally made for me. I am so happy I picked it up. Didn't think it would surpass Elden Ring for me, but it did, 10-fold.
2023
Enjoyable but desperately needed more time in the oven. There's a lot here that has potential, but it feels incomplete.
Exploring Hogwarts was genuinely a joy and the castle is beautifully detailed and atmospheric. That experience alone was worth playing it, for me. Combat was simple but generally smooth and enjoyable, which I was pleasantly surprised about. I wasn't sure how they'd make Harry Potter-style magic work smoothly in a video game, but they did it quite well. It was very easy for me even on harder difficulties, but I understand that this game was aimed at a very wide audience (including people who have never played a video game in their lives), so I'm not counting that as a negative. The room of requirement was also very fun to customize.
Everything else feels lacking in some way. The main story was pretty bland, and I was far more invested in the questline associated with Sebastian and Ominis. I genuinely think that story should have been expanded and been the main one. It was easily the best written and I liked the characters a lot.
I also think this game needed more "RPG elements" or "school simulator"-type features. At the very least, bringing our classmates as companions for quests would have made the game feel a lot more "alive" (and cut dialogue found in the files of the game suggest that was originally planned to be a feature). According to some sources online, other cut features apparently included a morality system of some sort, and friendship levels with other students. It feels like the devs were rushed to complete the game by a certain date and couldn't bring their complete vision to life, which makes me sad.
The game was extremely successful, though, and my hope is that the practically inevitable sequel is given as much time as it needs to be a great game. Hogwarts Legacy as it currently stands is a fun game for people with Harry Potter nostalgia, but it lacks replay value and needs a bit more meat on its bones.
(Also, I recommend playing the PlayStation version purely for the PS-exclusive quest. It is fantastic and I hope other platforms get it eventually, too.)
Exploring Hogwarts was genuinely a joy and the castle is beautifully detailed and atmospheric. That experience alone was worth playing it, for me. Combat was simple but generally smooth and enjoyable, which I was pleasantly surprised about. I wasn't sure how they'd make Harry Potter-style magic work smoothly in a video game, but they did it quite well. It was very easy for me even on harder difficulties, but I understand that this game was aimed at a very wide audience (including people who have never played a video game in their lives), so I'm not counting that as a negative. The room of requirement was also very fun to customize.
Everything else feels lacking in some way. The main story was pretty bland, and I was far more invested in the questline associated with Sebastian and Ominis. I genuinely think that story should have been expanded and been the main one. It was easily the best written and I liked the characters a lot.
I also think this game needed more "RPG elements" or "school simulator"-type features. At the very least, bringing our classmates as companions for quests would have made the game feel a lot more "alive" (and cut dialogue found in the files of the game suggest that was originally planned to be a feature). According to some sources online, other cut features apparently included a morality system of some sort, and friendship levels with other students. It feels like the devs were rushed to complete the game by a certain date and couldn't bring their complete vision to life, which makes me sad.
The game was extremely successful, though, and my hope is that the practically inevitable sequel is given as much time as it needs to be a great game. Hogwarts Legacy as it currently stands is a fun game for people with Harry Potter nostalgia, but it lacks replay value and needs a bit more meat on its bones.
(Also, I recommend playing the PlayStation version purely for the PS-exclusive quest. It is fantastic and I hope other platforms get it eventually, too.)
2014
This review contains spoilers
This is genuinely my favorite game of all time. Perhaps my opinion is clouded by deep-seated nostalgia -- I played the PSP version for the first time over ten years ago as a middle schooler. Something about Corpse Party caused it to cement itself in my brain and heart so thoroughly that nothing has been able to pry it out since. I don't think it's a perfect game, but it's MY game.
I think certain elements of this game are genuinely masterfully done. First and foremost is the soundtrack and overall sound design. The music is both catchy (e.g. Chapter 5's first theme) and effectively unnerving when it needs to be. The sound effects are sharp and memorable (locked doors jamming, floorboards creaking, the item pick-up jingle, the sound that plays when you're given a choice, etc.). The voice acting is also great, featuring well-known actors like Hiro Shimono, Yuichi Nakamura, Ikue Ootani, Miyuki Sawashiro, etc., many of whom deliver some genuinely heart-wrenching screams.
The visuals are solid as well, though I personally favor the appearance of the PSP version well over the PS4 version. The game is gory but restricts most of it to surprisingly detailed pixel art rather than full CGs, leaving the full extent of its visceral horror primarily to the player's imagination. In my opinion, this is much more effective than any fully-rendered violence would be. As a long-time fan, I also adore (most of) the characters. The story is solid, if a bit confusing at times, and I think it works very well as a standalone ghost story.
Regrettably, though, there are several elements that detract from the experience. Several middling or downright awful sequels (namely Blood Drive) have stained the game's integrity. An obsessive focus on the urine-related troubles of Yuka, a 14-year-old girl who acts like a 6-year-old and harbors an incestuous crush on her older brother raises even more questions about the creator's "tendencies" than the extreme violence does and sours any chapters she's heavily featured in. Characters are weirdly sexualized at times and the CG art sometimes feels like its designed to accomodate as many "panty shots" as humanly possible.
I definitely don't expect the average person to love this game the way I do. If you're willing to put up with/overlook the questionable aspects, though, Corpse Party does deliver a solid horror experience -- it's not a cult classic for no reason. Give it a shot if you're into weird, kinda niche horror stuff.
I think certain elements of this game are genuinely masterfully done. First and foremost is the soundtrack and overall sound design. The music is both catchy (e.g. Chapter 5's first theme) and effectively unnerving when it needs to be. The sound effects are sharp and memorable (locked doors jamming, floorboards creaking, the item pick-up jingle, the sound that plays when you're given a choice, etc.). The voice acting is also great, featuring well-known actors like Hiro Shimono, Yuichi Nakamura, Ikue Ootani, Miyuki Sawashiro, etc., many of whom deliver some genuinely heart-wrenching screams.
The visuals are solid as well, though I personally favor the appearance of the PSP version well over the PS4 version. The game is gory but restricts most of it to surprisingly detailed pixel art rather than full CGs, leaving the full extent of its visceral horror primarily to the player's imagination. In my opinion, this is much more effective than any fully-rendered violence would be. As a long-time fan, I also adore (most of) the characters. The story is solid, if a bit confusing at times, and I think it works very well as a standalone ghost story.
Regrettably, though, there are several elements that detract from the experience. Several middling or downright awful sequels (namely Blood Drive) have stained the game's integrity. An obsessive focus on the urine-related troubles of Yuka, a 14-year-old girl who acts like a 6-year-old and harbors an incestuous crush on her older brother raises even more questions about the creator's "tendencies" than the extreme violence does and sours any chapters she's heavily featured in. Characters are weirdly sexualized at times and the CG art sometimes feels like its designed to accomodate as many "panty shots" as humanly possible.
I definitely don't expect the average person to love this game the way I do. If you're willing to put up with/overlook the questionable aspects, though, Corpse Party does deliver a solid horror experience -- it's not a cult classic for no reason. Give it a shot if you're into weird, kinda niche horror stuff.