I thought this was a regular adventure game. I was wrong and I should have done my research beforehand. No, this is a balancing simulator where you have to keep a handful of variables in mind at all times. Each turn will lower some and raise others, your task is to find equilibrium. Long story short; the gameplay is frustrating, the potential for having to redo long stretches several times is overwhelming and the difficulty is absolutely brutal. Almost immediately found myself quitting the game with the intent of never coming back. But I haven't un-installed it. And I keep plugging away at it. Why is that? I assure you, it's not because of the gameplay. I'm also not a retro-junkie so while I find the graphics appealing they're certainly not enough to keep me coming back. The story is fairly interesting, and the morbidly dark context is laudable.. but I don't play games that frustrate me (at least not any more). So what is it about this one? Honestly can't tell you, but I can tell you that you'll either love or hate this game. Sort of doubt there's any in-between. But there's a good chance you'll keep playing it no matter what. That's why I'm giving it an in-between rating.
I don't like pixelated games. The whole retro-concept doesn't appeal to me since I'll just play old games if I want to relive those days. Except it fits perfectly in this title. All things Lovecraftian are either indescribable or unknowable. Having a pixelated outline that provokes your imagination into filling in the blanks is brilliant. They've managed to squeeze a genuinely creepy atmosphere into a solid narrative. It has all the things I look for in an adventure game. Yes, I've already played this season and I felt like I didn't pay enough the last time around. So here, have some more money, you deserve it. I hope you continue this series until the old ones rule the earth.
