PARANOIHELL

The graphics ain't that much to look at but the game-play and atmosphere is just really really solid and despite the simple look (which is done on purpose to create a contrast between the less detailed stuff and the hyper detailed uncanny stuff) There is some surprisingly competent survival horror game design on display here which kind of defies its indie status in how well it is done. Just everything, the disposable weapon system, the trap system, the shop and perks system, the level design of the whole city, its all so ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ tight and well done it's super impressive. It has all the bells and whistles you would expect from a more traditional survival horror experience like a bunch of alternate endings, a harder difficulty that changes the map design and unlockables and secrets. This may look indie but it plays like a real deal AAA survival horror game from the PS2 era during the golden age of those kinds of games. It is a little bit short but basically demands multiple playthrough's and is specifically designed with that in mind since even down to the way the city is designed is specifically made in that multiple runthroughs so you can optimize your run while looking for secrets and alternate routes to different endings kind of way, its the kind of horror game where you really can practice and get better at it and I like that.

super early review i've only played 1.8hrs on the easier mode and i like it a lot so far. it's like a 2d open world and you have to look for keys and bolt cutters to get around and unlock new areas. the only thing i find kinda annoying is there is no map system so it's hard to keep track of where you've been and where things are.... i've just been walking around until i stumble upon a new door/path lol. another thing that's silly to me is the walking speed is sooooo slow you will be sprinting at all times. anyway though i really like the whole overall design and everything. i'm not usually good at games but the easy mode is definitely easy because i haven't died even once yet. usually i die a lot in games xD will probably leave a better review if i ever finish the game. i think this is a good game for a really good price. xx

Paranoihell is a classic style survival horror game where you gradually unlock more and more areas of the map as you find items and keys. The game takes place in the same world and has a near identical gameplay style to Search Party. Although I'm not sure which one was made first since they both came out in 2019 originally. I'm guessing Search Party is the older one because a character lacks introduction in this game. This game has a lot of weird nightmarish elements to its world with eyes and mouths growing out of the walls and the ground here and there with weird ghostly figures floating above, if you played Search Party you'll immediately recognise the style and themes, but here it permeates the game almost from start till finish The two main points that sets it apart from Search Party are the lack of a permanent stalker enemy, and also the different style of level design. In Search Party it was mostly set inside one cramped building like in Resident Evil 1 or Alone in the Dark, while in Paranoihell it's a fairly open city block or two akin to the map in Silent Hill. The game was really fun and I never got overly lost despite the open level design. Playing it all in a single sitting probably helped with that since every new item I could always connect back to something I'd seen or been told before.

I'm not a fan of survial horror because I tend to reload and retry until I've minimized the waste of health and resources, and I did so here as well. It didn't help that you walking speed is really slow (and you've got to keep the botton for sluggish sprint pressed all the time). There are afaik four endings, I found two of them and couldn't be bothered with searching for the other ones because exploration is rather annoying here (you've got to crawl the gauntled basically). Anyway, I liked the vibes, the haunting visuals, the sound design and the story which leaves it to you to come up with an interpretation. And it's managable on normal difficulty. I think you can eat one hit from most enemies and still have enough meds to reach the end.

I really enjoyed lum's other game Search Party, which Puppet Combo published. PARANOIHELL is another great game from lum, and there's some interesting overlap and intersectionality between the two games within the same universe. I played on the easiest setting and discovered all of the multiple endings, and it's so worth it. You play as Erica the bartender who is trying to get home after her shift, and basically the whole town is hostile and ♥♥♥♥♥♥ up. Lots of jarring animations and a Clock Tower/early Resident Evil feel to the gameplay. Very gripping and unpredictable! I really recommend it.

i really like the story and aesthetic of this game. a must play if you like surreal and strange games

An awesome 2D survival horror game. Were you try to walk home.

like how it ties in with search party enjoyed both games i recommend well done!