I respect this more than just giving it a bad score and moving on. I think we all have games that didn't click with us for one reason or anotther no matter how much we wanted it to. Its unfortunate but sometimes things that seem to check every box on paper doesnt pan out in reality. But there is also no sense in forcing yourself to play something just because it is raved about in certain circles on the internet, or because people expect you to love it too. You reflected on this thoughtfully and reasonably and explained it all well. If anyone is dissatisfed with that, then that is on them.
Honestly, this was exactly my experience when I tried to play this game almost 20 years ago. And why I never tried playing it again after that. And really, much respect to you for making such an honest video like this!
The guide was necessary, the challenge was accomplishing said task. Even knowing what to do the game was quite difficult, but I enjoyed it immensely. And completely understand the frustration when trying to complete something and finding yourself constantly pause and go till you find the answer.
Well, that was a really unexpected video!!!! A truly honest review.... you didn't enjoy it, it has an amazing atmosphere and ambience, but become tedius and excedenly hard, it dosen't justify to play it for you. I haven't played, but always have it on the list of "awesome games that I can't recomend or enjoy playing", along with Pathologic. Also, just because your niche is Horror Games dosen't mean you have to enjoy all of them. Don't apologize for something that isn't even your fault, you still make this really good analisis in a game that you didn't even enjoyed!!!
I never managed to finish this as the jank and frustrating difficulty simply became too much, but I personally don't think you'll find a scarier game. I respect it greatly for completely terrifying me back in the day.
It's a shame you couldn't finish it. I understand it's really hard and a guide game but it's genuinely one of the most rewarding experiences/greatest horror games I've ever played. The story and characters are peak.
I don't know if I've ever agreed with a video more. Too many have put this game over without highlighting its shortcomings that, in my opinion, destroy all of its positives. So it's refreshing to hear someone do so. I put a handful of games in the "missed potential" category and Forbidden Siren has always been the best example for me. I think it has killer atmosphere and some truly interesting ideas. But the worst thing a horror game can do is destroy its own atmosphere. There's a fine line to walk when trying to incorporate difficulty and obtuseness. This game does not do it well. I also do not believe trial and error works well in a horror game and this is, again, a perfect example of that. By the time I personally abandoned the game, there was nothing left to appreciate. That is truly sad because it had so much potential.
Great take and well-presented, as always. I have yet to really try this one. While I am glad I have a physical copy it's one I remember from even back when released I bounced off it hard and part of me is not expecting a fun time when I try again. update: i originally asked and wondered your take on Blood Curse, I forgot you already reviewed it LOL. Whoops, sorry.
I remember when first playing it, it came off strange, but after a bit it fell in for me. Unusual, but remember researching how it was created and ingenuity behind things. Really liked this.
Honestly, it’s commendable that you can admit that this game is sometimes ridiculously hard and an uphill battle to push through to any level of success or enjoyment. While it is an amazing game and rightfully so considering its history and development team, etc. it’s still a moon-logic drenched, no hands holding, janky mess of a horror game. Beautiful but messy nonetheless. So many channels have been praising this game of late and it’s nice to see someone own the fact that they just didn’t have it in them to endure the punishment. Respect.
I've been dying to play this game so I bought it during a sale when I got my console recently. As much as I wanted to complete it, I never got to finish the game. Just a single mistake can completely screw you over and make you repeat a 10-15 minute level from the scratch. I think the last level I was on is the school one where you first get to control the teacher. I love the game's atmosphere and concept but the jankiness of it all makes it repulsive to play. I would love to experience the sequels though, and I'm currently trying to watch out for physical copy of Blood Curse
I played siren on ps3 and it went straight to my hate list xD Ambitious and probably would work great if made today, but it was the klunckiest thing I've ever seen.
No need to apologize, it's an obtuse and confusing and flawed game, and not at all to its own benefit most of the time. It's a fascinating thing, but no way is it some misunderstood secret genius masterpiece. I enjoy Forbidden Siren 2 and Blood Curse more, but they're all a bit "weird" and flawed in their own ways. I'm still happy they exist and would like to see something going for a similar grainy aesthetic, but less.. uh, let's say of a chore to actually play.
Siren 2 is not worth it on hard imo. Siren 2's hard mode is a lot more unfair in difficulty than Siren 1. Siren 1 for me was rough, but it felt fair. I tried to push myself through hard mode on siren 2, got pretty far, but got too overwhelming that I had to tone it down to normal.
I really wanted to like this game but the lack of exploration really turned me away. I guess with the awesome graphics it had, I had unrealistic expectations of the game.
As someone who remembers this game with great nostalgia, honestly, this is the perfect take on it. It almost feels like “the one that got away” because they’re truly has never been anything like it in terms of atmosphere, sound design when it comes to music and enemy models but the absolute frustration and anxiety coming from eventually, not the atmosphere, but worrying if you were going to die and lose progress again, does get absolutely tiresome. I remember specifically on the third level when you play as Tamon guiding Yoriko I got so frustrated trying to do the objective the “proper” way I actually spent MORE time figuring out the sniper by observing him and figuring out how to safely run across the bridge with the perfect timing to avoid getting shot and completely bypassed the level (speedrun ayyyyy lol), but when you have to resort to progressing like that, it absolutely saps all the fun out of it because I know there are encounters, tension and atmosphere that I missed that I have only experienced through watching let’s plays, but at the same time, 13 year-old me was just so sick of being stuck on the same level for hours. I theorize in the success of Silent Hill being first of its kind, in terms of storytelling and atmosphere, Toyama probably felt the pressure to pass the unique precedent that SH set, and while in terms of atmosphere, he hit that mark beautifully, when it came to storytelling and the resulting mechanics it was far over complicated/overthought and that sadly resulted in what could’ve been a horror masterpiece becoming pretty to look at, but painful to touch.
Day 25... we don't really have a review.
Support me on patreon: www.patreon.com/horrorreview
Join the discord: discord.gg/mzWSfU7kbH
I respect this more than just giving it a bad score and moving on. I think we all have games that didn't click with us for one reason or anotther no matter how much we wanted it to. Its unfortunate but sometimes things that seem to check every box on paper doesnt pan out in reality. But there is also no sense in forcing yourself to play something just because it is raved about in certain circles on the internet, or because people expect you to love it too. You reflected on this thoughtfully and reasonably and explained it all well. If anyone is dissatisfed with that, then that is on them.
Honestly, this was exactly my experience when I tried to play this game almost 20 years ago. And why I never tried playing it again after that. And really, much respect to you for making such an honest video like this!
The guide was necessary, the challenge was accomplishing said task. Even knowing what to do the game was quite difficult, but I enjoyed it immensely. And completely understand the frustration when trying to complete something and finding yourself constantly pause and go till you find the answer.
Well, that was a really unexpected video!!!! A truly honest review.... you didn't enjoy it, it has an amazing atmosphere and ambience, but become tedius and excedenly hard, it dosen't justify to play it for you. I haven't played, but always have it on the list of "awesome games that I can't recomend or enjoy playing", along with Pathologic.
Also, just because your niche is Horror Games dosen't mean you have to enjoy all of them. Don't apologize for something that isn't even your fault, you still make this really good analisis in a game that you didn't even enjoyed!!!
I never managed to finish this as the jank and frustrating difficulty simply became too much, but I personally don't think you'll find a scarier game. I respect it greatly for completely terrifying me back in the day.
It's a shame you couldn't finish it. I understand it's really hard and a guide game but it's genuinely one of the most rewarding experiences/greatest horror games I've ever played. The story and characters are peak.
I don't know if I've ever agreed with a video more. Too many have put this game over without highlighting its shortcomings that, in my opinion, destroy all of its positives. So it's refreshing to hear someone do so.
I put a handful of games in the "missed potential" category and Forbidden Siren has always been the best example for me. I think it has killer atmosphere and some truly interesting ideas. But the worst thing a horror game can do is destroy its own atmosphere. There's a fine line to walk when trying to incorporate difficulty and obtuseness. This game does not do it well.
I also do not believe trial and error works well in a horror game and this is, again, a perfect example of that.
By the time I personally abandoned the game, there was nothing left to appreciate. That is truly sad because it had so much potential.
Great take and well-presented, as always. I have yet to really try this one. While I am glad I have a physical copy it's one I remember from even back when released I bounced off it hard and part of me is not expecting a fun time when I try again. update: i originally asked and wondered your take on Blood Curse, I forgot you already reviewed it LOL. Whoops, sorry.
I finished blood curse, but it’s atmosphere isn’t quite as good as this games sadly, but it is much, much easier to play.
I remember when first playing it, it came off strange, but after a bit it fell in for me. Unusual, but remember researching how it was created and ingenuity behind things. Really liked this.
Honestly, it’s commendable that you can admit that this game is sometimes ridiculously hard and an uphill battle to push through to any level of success or enjoyment. While it is an amazing game and rightfully so considering its history and development team, etc. it’s still a moon-logic drenched, no hands holding, janky mess of a horror game. Beautiful but messy nonetheless. So many channels have been praising this game of late and it’s nice to see someone own the fact that they just didn’t have it in them to endure the punishment. Respect.
❤❤❤
what would you do if a commenter put a spell on you.... and once you read it it's a curse....
I’ve definitely read cursed comments before.
I've been dying to play this game so I bought it during a sale when I got my console recently. As much as I wanted to complete it, I never got to finish the game. Just a single mistake can completely screw you over and make you repeat a 10-15 minute level from the scratch.
I think the last level I was on is the school one where you first get to control the teacher.
I love the game's atmosphere and concept but the jankiness of it all makes it repulsive to play. I would love to experience the sequels though, and I'm currently trying to watch out for physical copy of Blood Curse
ngl I would have just given up as well
One of the best and most frightening horror games I have ever played.
I played siren on ps3 and it went straight to my hate list xD Ambitious and probably would work great if made today, but it was the klunckiest thing I've ever seen.
No need to apologize, it's an obtuse and confusing and flawed game, and not at all to its own benefit most of the time. It's a fascinating thing, but no way is it some misunderstood secret genius masterpiece. I enjoy Forbidden Siren 2 and Blood Curse more, but they're all a bit "weird" and flawed in their own ways. I'm still happy they exist and would like to see something going for a similar grainy aesthetic, but less.. uh, let's say of a chore to actually play.
Siren 2 is not worth it on hard imo. Siren 2's hard mode is a lot more unfair in difficulty than Siren 1. Siren 1 for me was rough, but it felt fair. I tried to push myself through hard mode on siren 2, got pretty far, but got too overwhelming that I had to tone it down to normal.
I really wanted to like this game but the lack of exploration really turned me away. I guess with the awesome graphics it had, I had unrealistic expectations of the game.
Try again/give up xDDD
Why must you tempt me so!
The words "give up" tempted me every single time they popped up on the screen.
As someone who remembers this game with great nostalgia, honestly, this is the perfect take on it. It almost feels like “the one that got away” because they’re truly has never been anything like it in terms of atmosphere, sound design when it comes to music and enemy models but the absolute frustration and anxiety coming from eventually, not the atmosphere, but worrying if you were going to die and lose progress again, does get absolutely tiresome.
I remember specifically on the third level when you play as Tamon guiding Yoriko I got so frustrated trying to do the objective the “proper” way I actually spent MORE time figuring out the sniper by observing him and figuring out how to safely run across the bridge with the perfect timing to avoid getting shot and completely bypassed the level (speedrun ayyyyy lol), but when you have to resort to progressing like that, it absolutely saps all the fun out of it because I know there are encounters, tension and atmosphere that I missed that I have only experienced through watching let’s plays, but at the same time, 13 year-old me was just so sick of being stuck on the same level for hours.
I theorize in the success of Silent Hill being first of its kind, in terms of storytelling and atmosphere, Toyama probably felt the pressure to pass the unique precedent that SH set, and while in terms of atmosphere, he hit that mark beautifully, when it came to storytelling and the resulting mechanics it was far over complicated/overthought and that sadly resulted in what could’ve been a horror masterpiece becoming pretty to look at, but painful to touch.