The White Chamber

Feb 01, 2010 22:45

I recently finished playing this little game (freeware, by the way), and while it was rather interesting to play through, I can't quite say I recommend it.

The graphics are top notch, for a freeware game, even though... Well, I don't really MIND the anime style, but the look is just slightly off.
The story is slighly cliché. But then again, name a game-story that isn't. You wake up on a space station with no idea where you are or what's happening, only to find out that everyone is gone.

You piece the story together, bit by bit, by finding tapes recorded by a scientist assigned to the station. On those he talks about "the artifact" that they were working on when strange murders suddenly started happening.

Every now and then, reality will go all wonky on you and you'll find yourself in a nightmare world full of blood and gruesome things, but overall the mood is pretty lacking so it's not really as scary as it should be.
The music is... Actually, I don't think I would have noticed much difference if I had muted it. It's doesn't really make nor break the mood.
And the voice acting is a nice touch for a freeware game, even though it's lacking a bit in emotion.
I mean, when you find a severed head, that suddenly opens it's eyes to reveal empty sockets you'd expect a bit of a "HOLY SHIT!" reaction, which is sadly not there.

The story is nice though, and the few animated parts especially the previously mentioned head (except for the red glow at the end which just looked bad) are really nice quality.

It's point and click and the puzzles are generally logical, so it's not really a timesink. (I downloaded it earlier today, already finished it and I've seen most of the endings too.)
The only ones I had trouble with were the explosives and, because I was temporarily retarded, the freezer. (All other doors open automatically. You open the freezer door manually. Derp-a-herp, pants go on head now.)

I think my favorite parts were the very first room, and the big reveal in the end. (Explore the entire space station before leaving and look at everything when you do.)
Especially the very first room.
It's worth checking out the game just to see it, because it's a REALLY nice introduction that jumpstarts the feeling of mystery/horror.
It's just too bad the rest of the game doesn't keep up.

Overall..
Play through it once, then leave it. But it IS worth playing once.
It fails to build up a proper horror atmosphere and there is little replay value. Two main endings. One alternate and a few deaths. One is hard (i.e. boring) enough to get to warrant it's own game over image. But yeah, other than to find the different Bad Ends there's not much replay value.
But the few parts that are done right are really done Right.

games

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