Sagebrush

"what she had to offer was free for anyone who wanted it bad enough" this game just shows that desperate people can make themselves believe anything. good game, great message. «те, що вона пропонувала, було безкоштовним для кожного, хто цього дуже хотів». ця гра просто показує, що відчайдушні люди можуть змусити себе повірити в що завгодно. гарна гра, чудове послання.

This easily has a spot on my list of must-play games. While it's not necessarily a horror game, it made me so uneasy and tense for the entire playthrough. The story is captivating, and the ending does a better job of wrapping things up than most games in the genre. This game is perfect for a chill but spooky fall evening.

[h1]Sous le Soleil du Nouveau-Mexique[/h1] Les expériences vidéoludiques traitant des cultes religieux ne sont pas légion, alors forcément, en fouillant les tréfonds de Steam, l'esthétique low-poly de Sagebrush, mêlée à son décor du Nouveau-Mexique et son parfum de secte américaine, a immédiatement piqué ma curiosité. Le résultat s’est révélé à la hauteur de mes attentes, des attentes volontairement mesurées au vu de l’unique personne derrière cette œuvre. Durant un peu plus de deux heures, Sagebrush ne démérite jamais. Loin de la médiatisation entourant les productions de David Szymanski (Iron Lung, The Moon Sliver), ce jeu demeure étonnamment méconnu malgré des qualités évidentes. Après un court monologue énigmatique, on débarque en voiture dans un ranch nommé Perfect Heaven, avec pour objectif de lever le voile sur le culte du Flock et sa mystérieuse disparition. Si l’on adhère à son esthétique brute, une 3D minimaliste mais charmante, magnifiée par une direction artistique qui évolue au fil de la journée, Sagebrush sait maintenir une tension constante jusqu’à son dénouement. La conclusion, d’ailleurs, se révèle sobre et intelligemment liée à notre venue dans ce désert isolé. La principale force du jeu réside dans cette illusion d’un petit monde ouvert, où l’on croit mener l’enquête à son rythme, dans la direction de son choix. En réalité, un ordre précis guide la progression, mais la découverte naturelle des indices procure un sentiment de satisfaction réel, au moins pour une première partie. Sagebrush ne bascule jamais dans l’horreur pure, mais parvient à instiller ce frisson particulier : celui d’avancer seul, entouré de champs de maïs silencieux, avec en tête l’ombre d’un culte aux pratiques inquiétantes. Mesuré dans son ambition, le projet parvient en seulement deux heures à proposer une introduction, un développement et une conclusion abouties, avec en filigrane un propos pertinent sur l’endoctrinement même si l’analyse demeure un peu en surface. On regrettera au passage quelques soucis de traduction en français et des environnements parfois trop sombres pour être pleinement appréciés. Au final, si le concept n’est pas inédit, Sagebrush s’en empare avec une honnêteté rafraîchissante. Là où d’autres projets de cette envergure me laissent souvent sur ma faim, j’ai ici eu le sentiment d’une œuvre pleinement achevée. Pour une soirée, c’est une expérience que je ne peux que recommander.

Cults have always been a topic of interest for me due to their incredibly terrifying yet fully human nature. Sagebrush is a PS1-style walking sim that explores this topic. It is not nuanced or particularly deep thematically, but it conveys its atmosphere incredibly well. The core gameplay involves walking (a lot, duh), mild interaction with readable items, and using keys to access new areas. The narration is delivered through voiceover, with tape recorders scattered throughout the cult compound. The mechanics are very simple, but they feel in place, as Sagebrush is more of an interactive experience rather than something you actively play. The sauce of the game lies fully in its presentation: the low-poly graphics, the use of lighting (albeit a bit problematic during nighttime fetch quests), and the eerie sound design. The atmosphere of the game is daunting; it presses you to the floor and does not let go. There are weaker parts of the world, such as the mines section, but the main part of the cult habitat is extremely repulsive. I think that sometimes the horror of a topic is much more effectively conveyed through how something feels rather than through detail or nuance, and I liked this small experience a lot. It feels a bit less strong compared to when I first tried it during the pandemic, but it nevertheless hit me where it aimed. Sagebrush is not a deep or particularly insightful exploration of its themes, but rather a depressing and horrific dive into atmosphere, framed by very appropriate PS1-like graphics. Good for what it’s worth.

this game was amazing. i finished it in about and hour and a half, so unique and beautiful. i only felt scared maybe once or twice but the atmosphere is insane and so is the soundtrack. if youre looking for a fun quick horror game thats a one of a kind experience you should 100% play this game. 10/10

The cult aspect is pretty cool. Would I call this horror? No. It's got story, just not the described category and very slow paced. Not enjoyable for me but I could see others liking this game.

I've been sitting on this one for awhile! As a certified Weird Girl(tm) I am of course fascinated by cults, so when I heard about a walking sim where you explore an abandoned cult compound I was there in a heartbeat. As some other people are pointing out, the story isn't particularly deep but the use of atmosphere is extremely strong. It's eerie, saddening, and definitely based in reality. It may have took me a bit longer to play than most people because I simply do not have a grasp on cardinal directions and I did indeed get turned around more than once. The ending was a bit too drawn out for my liking, but overall I think this is a really stellar short experience!

If you're a fan of video games as a medium for storytelling, then I can't recommend it enough. It came recommended to me as a game similar to Gone Home and The Painscreek Killings, and while there are definite similarities in style, I think it has enough unique qualities to stand on its own two feet as well. The atmosphere is incredibly chilling, and the art-style mixed with dramatic lighting effects and incredibly subtle music make every action feel impactful, to the point where I jumped every time I would enter a room and the doors would close behind me a few seconds later. There's always this feeling of something behind you, something chasing you even when there actually isn't, and that lends itself so well to the overarching story and narrative. I love this game, and I love how it felt to play it as someone who, while not an apocalyptic one, does have experience with leaving a cult and all that can come with that.

A creepy look into the inner workings of a cult. A nice way to kick off spooky season if your looking for a quick unsettling time.

This was brutal but an amazing experience and its a bloody journey worth taking despite its art style. It really hits close to home.