The Frozen Garden

I actually kinda liked the game, it's a shame it was not developed further as I feel the story had more to offer, only about 45 minutes in total. There were a few nice psychological moments, and I think the narrative had the potential to be good, but it was very low on context, and by context, I don't mean it was vague, I mean there was very little to work with in general, like very dry and limited text lines. So if you decide to make a longer game with a bit more weight to it, I think you could have scratched the lower half of the Silent Hill games. With that said, I enjoyed the weird ending, even though it came a bit too soon, before you could really nail the actual events leading up to it. The controls and some of the fixed cameras are a little rough, but for an indie game I have seen a lot worse actually, if you placed them with a bit more care, I think you could have much better results. There is no combat or any difficult puzzles, just running away from a few monsters and doing some limited backtracking. The first monster was a bit annoying like you had to bait out his teleports and his constant presence kind of changed the mood of the game, I wish you used him more sparingly. The second monster was actually really cool, if that is the original design I really like it, something about the way it appears and moves. The visual design was a bit of a mixed experience, but I do like the movement in some of the scenes, the moving house was a really nice touch, as well as the day/night cycle. I kinda wish you focused a bit more on the detail, you know many horror game tend to fall into that trap, not placing enough detail into the environment so they feel a bit cheap, as well as having very dry descriptions on interactions, you should elaborate a bit more so we get a better sense of a real character. [h1] Pros: [/h1] (+) I think there were a few nice horror elements, I thought the second monster was very interesting and I only wish the game was a bit longer, at least 2 hours, have a few more locations to run away from him, get a bit more context going. There were some parts of the game that looked nice, like the blood realm, but again, very short game, and I wish you made more locations. [h1] Feedback: [/h1] The main thing is that the game was just not long enough, if you designed a few more locations for that blood realm, and have a few more encounters with a second monster like a nemesis vibe, I think you could have made something special. I would say try to focus on providing a bit more character when you inspect things, the game had some okay visual storytelling, but the actual text was very dry, the house could use more personality and detail, as well as just more unlocked rooms. Dealing with teleports was a bit annoying, the constant presence of the first dude ruined the immersion, I think you could have made a better experience using him more sparingly. [b] Overall Thoughts: 5/10 [/b] There is always a bit of a void for a good psychological game, I think you were on the right path to making one, I got some good vibes when I got to blood realm, but man, the game needed to be longer, I wanted more locations and a bit more care with how you are using the monsters. And if you can do that, I think the game could be really nice. Honestly, I hope you don't give up on it, treat it as a prologue, add more content to it, at least go to 2 hours, add a few rooms with more memories to make the ending more rewarding. I also wish you played around with a second monster more, have another location where he tries to gank you. So yea, not a bad effort, but I need a little more out of the experience. [code]Niche, obscure and underrated games: http://store.steampowered.com/curator/31294838-Hidden-Gem-Discovery/ [/code]

Keeping in mind this was an independent project with what appears to be very few developers, it was fairly decent. I can really only with a good conscience recommend this to serious horror junkies, predominately those who've already played the ever-loving ♥♥♥♥ out of every Silent Hill title (Yes, even Downpour and Homecoming). [i]The Frozen Garden[/i] offers an intriguing yet somewhat lacking and convoluted plot. While it piques interest, it could have been more immersive with deeper lore and world-building. The game excels in creating a fantastic old-school horror atmosphere in its environments, providing ample opportunities for character development and expanding the game's backstory. Unfortunately, a substantial portion of the game seems open to interpretation, which might leave players with unanswered questions and longing for more narrative depth. On the bright side, the game features disturbing creatures with technically limited but satisfying death animations. The puzzles, although relatively simple, offer a gratifying experience. Not a bad 45 minute experience. Although along with no Steam achievements, the $4.99 USD price tag may be a little steep for this title.

Just play Silent Hill if you want a good experience

I played this game for few minutes, it's good I think but it's kinda hard to play it on my steam deck without the right configuration (buttons). I couldn't run (shift) also the sensibility it is high (camera) would be great if it can be configurable and I think we need a turn back button too. Well I loved the music 10/10. I have more feed back, I can share it if you like.

Jogo com muito a vibe de Silent Hill e com uma trilha sonora muito boa. Me deu uma sensação de vazio, estar sozinho naquele lugar. Pena ser curto.

very cool game. Great atmosphere, and there's a point near the last third that delivers something viscerally unnerving. Definitely recommend for anyone that enjoys Silent Hill.

Old fashioned survival horror with a unique visual approach to the retro formula. Great choice if you're looking for a Silent Hilly experience that can be completed in about an hour. FULL PLAYTHROUGH: https://youtu.be/1KMrC6CEMmU

Un petit jeu plutôt court. Il peut être terminé en moins d'une heure. Ce qui n'est pas à considérer comme un problème vu le prix. L'aspect atmosphérique est réussi, tout comme l'aspect narratif. On comprend sans mal les thématiques et la petite histoire que nous raconte le développeur. L'aspect sonore est aussi de qualité. Des musiques très sympathiques et un sound design qui, même s'il n'est pas toujours au top, est travaillé et efficace. De bonne idées esthétiques, évidemment inspirées par Silent Hill. Le défaut majeur du jeu est à mon sens ses ennemis. Le jeu n'ayant pas vraiment de gameplay pour les affronter, il est obligatoire de les fuir. J'ai cru remarquer que la lampe torche jouait sur leur capacité à nous suivre, mais la mécanique peut s’avérer frustrante et maladroite. Les animations de mort peuvent aussi paraître brouillonnes. Je conseille néanmoins. Une bonne intention et un petit jeu sympa avec quelques réelles bonnes idées qui vous occupera une soirée. (Pour les français, il sera nécessaire de passer en Qwerty. Rien de bien grave, c'est faisable en trois cliques sur Windows.) __________ A rather short game. It can be finished in less than an hour. Which is not to be considered a problem given the price. The atmospheric aspect is good, as is the narrative aspect. We easily understand the themes and the little story told by the developer. The sound aspect is also of good quality. Very nice music and, even if it is not always at the top, the sound design worked and is effective. Good aesthetic ideas, obviously inspired by Silent Hill. The major issue of the game is in my opinion its enemies. The game does not really have a gameplay to face them, it is necessary to run away. I thought I noticed that the flashlight played on their ability to follow us, but the mechanics can be frustrating and clunky. Death animations can also look messy. However, I recommend. A good intention and a nice little game with some really good ideas that will entertain you for an evening.

Short but not bad

Solid game, short and sweet. I've read some criticism about the length, which is total nonsense. The game is 4 euros, is developed by a solo Dev, and it runs smoothly. The gameplay is fun and it has some very nice ideas. It is a buy for horror lovers.