The music is otherworldly, the game looks amazing, at the time I played there were no major bugs encountered, the puzzles are interesting, combat is entertaining and basically another puzzle. There are too many puzzles.
You play this game for the story and the characters, not the puzzles.
My thoughts have kept getting drawn back to this game over the past week since I completed it. I didn't expect it to make such an impression. I would recommend playing this game in a single sitting on a lazy afternoon towards evening. The voice acting and soundtrack are very compelling so think about using good headphones. I don't think it has much variation across multiple playthroughs but considering how it deals with living with consequences that is not something I feel it should really offer. It's not a long game by any measure but like a powerful short story, it stays with you. The ending subverts your expectations but I found it to be more true to the themes and characters.
This is the short story equivalent of a game and as such I can understand people not wanting to pay novella prices for it. On sale it is well worth both the time and money. That being said I paid full price for it and loved it. Those who complan that it lacks puzzles are mistaken as the entire house should be treated as a single puzzle unwrapping several layered stories as you progress. The core story, the one whose progress is tracked by the game, attracts the most derision although I personally enjoyed it. However there are several deeper stories involving the extended family which are only revealed through a careful exploration of the environment. These threads are by far more intersting and as with most short stories are only found by reading between the lines. You will mostly likely finish it in a single sitting but find yourself thinking about for several days afterwards.
If System Shock were a 2D isometric point and click adventure or if Sanitarium had a SciFi theme. Graphics, sound, and story are all very immersive. Fans of SciFi horror movies like Event Horizon will be right at home. The price point seems fair, you will definately get value for your money, but I'm speaking from the point of view of a kickstarter backer so I feel somewhat distant from the amount I paid in the beginning.
Went into this game long after the hype and hate machines had run down. An injured hand is forcing me to work through my point and click backlog. This game has been staring at me for ages and only now have I gotten around to it. I remember initially not liking the art style but it grew on me. Loving both worlds and how they interlink. The voice acting was superb and the writing really solid. It is very short, I finished it in a single play through but I don't feel cheated. Can't wait for Act 2.
