Through the Woods

First I just want to say this game is absolutely gorgeous; it's no wonder it won awards for sound design. The environments are very immersive. I had a lot of fun exploring. However, it didn't take long until I found myself frustrated by the appearance of NPCs that made it nearly impossible for me to move forward. I desperately wanted to continue on but the tedious mechanics of some encounters just made me feel like it wasn't worth it and I eventually gave up. The setting was so entrancing that I had wanted to explore leisurely, letting my own imagination create fear and anxiety, instead I was faced with having to race through areas without a second glance. Another reviewer compared this to Ethan Carter and there are definite similarities in mood, but once you get far enough the game becomes like the mines of Ethan Carter at a much higher difficulty level and with a higher penalty, very frustrating.

Ok..the first 15 mins of the game is good (probably the rest too), the graphics are gorgeous, but the voice-acting totally blows. I am a Norwegian and this is embarrassing. Im sorry to say that I can't play it any more. It's actual Norwegians speaking english, and not that good. Even in norwegian the voice-acting is terrible. The actors sounds like someone is forcing them to do the voice-over, with no devotion to the characters at all. With proper voice-over this could really have been something. The game itself looks beautiful and I really enjoy games with this kind of perspective (3rd person / over the shoulder-horror-style). It has Norse mythology, and our Norwegian folktales. It really could have been something.

Pros : + Great Atmosphere + Compelling Story & good pacing + Doesn't overstay it's welcome (~4 hrs) + Some brilliant "WTF" moments + Monsters are modelled and animated well + A bunch of subtle creepy moments (my favorite part) Cons : - Lacks the level of visual polish you'd expect - Main character Voiceover (not as bad as other reviews led me to believe, but felt a little hack) (English) - Uneven presentation (some parts feel really great, others seem hastily thought out) - Human character models feel stiff and lifeless All in all I enjoyed my playthrough. Sometimes this feels like a mod of another game, sometimes like a brilliant indie title. I recommend it for anyone that enjoys story driven experiences & can complete it in a sitting or two.

I am a fan of Old Norse mythology. This is something of a Walking Simulator, however the pace is much faster than your regular Dear Ester ripoff and it is much more about immersion, rather than fear factor (Amnesia). There is no combat. But that is a good thing. From what I have heard about this game, I did not have my hopes up. However, there is a moment where you meet two siblings that are actively mocking you and trying to catch you, where I was not regretting my purchase. It was excellent. This is not exactly Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice. But it is scratches the same itch. I do not regret my purchase and would love to see more from these developers.