Conarium is a chilling Lovecraftian game that follows the gripping story of four scientists and their endeavour to challenge what we normally consider to be the "absolute" limits of nature. Inspired by H.P. Lovecraft's novella At the Mountains of Madness, but largely set after the original story....
Conarium is a chilling Lovecraftian game that follows the gripping story of four scientists and their endeavour to challenge what we normally consider to be the "absolute" limits of nature. Inspired by H.P. Lovecraft's novella At the Mountains of Madness, but largely set after the original story.
You, as Frank Gilman, open your eyes inside a room filled with strange, pulsating noises. Patterns of lights executing a Danse Macabre on the walls is presented by a queer device on the table. Having recalled nothing other than that you’re in Upuaut, an Antarctic base located near the South Pole, you find the place deserted and have a distinct feeling of something being terribly wrong. Somehow knowing that your memories cannot guide you enforces a strange feeling of vulnerability, a familiar yet alien sensation of being a part of a peculiar whole... Soon you will discover that having used the device during the expedition, you have died but then returned subtly changed, speaking of strange memories and of strange places. You have lost something important or gained something sinister...
Explore the Antarctic base, as well as dreams and visions. Study clues and unlock secrets, whilst avoiding macabre beings at all cost.
Powered by Unreal Engine 4, Conarium aims to bring cutting-edge visuals for a more immersive storytelling and gaming experience.
A deep and suspenseful homage to H P Lovecraft with many secrets and Easter eggs.
Ominous but wonderful graphics created using the Unreal 4 engine.
The game is functional, but it's not really fun, the whole experience felt more like a movie than a game, except sometimes I'd get stuck for a few minutes because I missed a key on a shelf in the corner of a dimly lit room. It's about 4 hours long, it might be worth it if it's on sale and you have nothing better to do.
If you read the other reviews, they're quite positive, but seem to come from lovecraft fans. I never read a lovecraft book, but bought the game anyway to give it a try. This review reflects this point of view.
I finished the game, it's short. The graphics, setting and atmosphere are nice and all, but the story doesn't make a lot of sense. When the game ends, all is left unanswered, perhaps because I didn't read lovecraft stories. In this game, there's very little to do and not a lot to explore. The few puzzles are not very good.
Not having read the original stories, I missed all the references, and the game per se, without them, is quite shallow. So, I can't say I enjoyed the game a lot.
(don't misunderstand me: I'm not judging lovecraft stories, they're known to be at the very least quite influential and often praised)
TL;DR: If you're not a lovecraft fan: there are a way better walking simulators, you can skip this one.
even though I am big Lovecraftian fan, this game unfortauntely falls short. No true horror, boring in the second half. Too many mixes of lovecraft stories makes it a mediocre experience at best
No combat. I think death is only a threat in one section, but that's a minor setback. Really great fun, if you're looking for a story game. I loved it. The story was compelling and has a fair amount of environmental storytelling, which is much more enjoyable than stilted narrative.