There's Something In The Ice

Странная концовка, но ладно...

Good short game.

Short indie horror, let's say "inspired by" The Thing. It's not the worst thing ever but the stupidity of the protagonist is actually quite alarming. Some interesting ideas sprinkled here but I didn't feel like this was worth the hour in the end.

There’s Something In The Ice is a first-person horror experience developed and published by JustTomcuk that places players in the frozen isolation of an Antarctic research facility where something has gone terribly wrong. Built around atmosphere and narrative tension rather than combat or resource management, the game leans heavily into psychological dread and environmental storytelling. Its premise is simple but effective: a scientific expedition has uncovered something buried beneath the ice, and as a storm traps the remaining crew inside their station, the true nature of that discovery begins to surface. The setting plays a central role in shaping the experience. The Antarctic research base, known as Zarya, is both shelter and prison. Harsh snowstorms, biting winds, and endless darkness create a sense of claustrophobic vulnerability despite the open landscape outside. The contrast between blinding white exteriors and dim, flickering interior corridors enhances the feeling of isolation. Environmental design emphasizes confinement and unease, with narrow hallways, abandoned workspaces, and shadow-heavy rooms contributing to an atmosphere of lingering threat. The environment itself often feels like a character—cold, unwelcoming, and quietly hostile. Gameplay is largely exploration-driven. Players move through the facility in first person, triggering dialogue sequences and scripted events that gradually reveal the narrative. There is little emphasis on mechanical complexity; there are no elaborate puzzles, combat systems, or inventory micromanagement. Instead, the focus is on immersion. The tension arises from what might be encountered around the next corner rather than from direct confrontation. The pacing favors slow buildup, encouraging players to absorb environmental details and piece together clues about what transpired before their arrival. Narrative delivery relies heavily on in-game conversations and contextual interactions rather than collectible notes or lengthy text logs. Dialogue between characters serves as the primary storytelling vehicle, gradually revealing fragments of the expedition’s fate and the implications of the discovery beneath the ice. The horror is not immediately explicit but instead unfolds through suggestion and atmosphere. The inspiration drawn from classic isolation-based science fiction horror is evident, particularly in its emphasis on paranoia and the unknown. Visually, the game benefits from modern lighting technology that enhances mood rather than spectacle. Realistic light diffusion, deep shadows, and subtle environmental effects create tension without relying on excessive visual noise. Snow-covered exteriors feel stark and vast, while interior spaces are dim and oppressive. The careful use of lighting reinforces the game’s slow-burn horror approach, often allowing fear to build through suggestion rather than overt jump scares. However, the minimalist design approach also defines its limitations. The experience is relatively linear, and player agency is restricted primarily to movement and observation. Those seeking branching narrative paths or interactive complexity may find the game’s structure constrained. Additionally, as with many small indie projects, certain quality-of-life features and technical refinements may feel modest compared to larger studio productions. Despite these constraints, There’s Something In The Ice succeeds in delivering a focused horror experience. Its strength lies not in mechanical innovation but in atmosphere and pacing. The sense of dread stems from uncertainty and isolation rather than direct action. For players who appreciate slow-building tension and environmental storytelling within confined, atmospheric settings, the game offers a compelling, if compact, journey into frozen horror. Ultimately, There’s Something In The Ice stands as a moody indie horror title that prioritizes immersion over complexity. It captures the chilling essence of being trapped in an unforgiving environment while confronting an unknown presence lurking just beyond the light. While it may not appeal to players looking for deep gameplay systems or extended campaigns, it delivers a concentrated and atmospheric experience that resonates with fans of narrative-driven psychological horror. Rating: 7/10

I am planning on playing through all of his games (or most of them anyway). I played two of them. I chose for two of them on purpose the ones with "mostly positive" to see how bad it can get. Well, I didn't like this one and if you plan on playing all of them, this is probably one to skip. I preferred the one about aliens and the "Abandoned Souls" much more. This is janky, with forced dialogues (why put voice acting? text is enough). If you put voices, why not put the protagonist as well? It's weird to read your own voice but hear the voice of NPC. Forced monsters: much better to just keep the mystery and feel followed or observerd...seeing the monster totally ruins it (bad animation, bad chasing sequence etc.) Jumpscares: in this one you hear a jumpscare but don't even know what's about. Meh...skip this one.

Атмосферный симулятор ходьбы.

Довольно нетипичный для данного разработчика хоррор. Обычно в его играх нас просто спавнит с минимальной историей и сюжетом и мы ходим пугаемся. Здесь же, есть полноценный сюжет и действия происходят весьма логично и последовательно, а так же даже присутствует реальная угроза в виде монстра. Скримеры: присутствуют. Монстры, способные убить: присутствуют. Страшная ли игра? - Не особо, ни один из скримеров даже близко не смог меня напугать, они все ожидаемые и относительно "плавные". Тем не менее история в игре интересная и играть было тоже интересно. Время прохождения: примерно 45 минут. Вывод: хоть и игра и не особо страшная, а лично меня и вовсе не смогла ни разу напугать, но из за хорошей и интересной истории, где действительно было интересно наблюдать за происходящим и видеть изменение окружающего мира, я игру рекомендую к покупке.

After playing Abandoned Souls which is from this same dev, and having a great time with it, I was expecting the same from this game, but in the end, it ended up being a disappointing experience. The atmosphere of the game is good, it nails the "the thing" vibes it's trying to go for, but for me it ended up being a bad experience due to the following: - First of all some dumb decisions the character has to make just for the sake of extending game time: You check the exit and see it's frozen -> Few minutes later you decide to escape...oh yeah it's frozen, like the character forgot what he saw 3 minutes ago -> Go back and get the shovel to finally exit. - My second issue seems to be a pattern with this dev if this and Abandoned Souls are anything to go by, and that being if you want all the achievements, one of them is locked behind doing an obvious dumb thing that will get you killed. (more dragging to extend gameplay? ) - Finally the chasses have no tension as you don't have a health bar, but also you are slow enough for the monster to constantly hit you and shake your camera so much that those gameplay segments instead of being the most tense, are the most frustrating.

A relatively incoherent, boring experience

Awesome game to play! check out my gameplay walkthrough https://youtu.be/x5e8jJWdOpw?si=1jLU3QG963neCMBd