Screw all the negative reviews. Atmospherically this is the BEST Lovecraft game I have EVER played! Several very H.R. Giger-esque areas as well. People who dislike it misunderstood what this was supposed to be.

Game Play:
So yes, it is a walking sim with minor chase/combat sequences. That said people ragging on the combat fail to realize it isn't supposed to be great. Lovecraftian cosmic horror isn't supposed to be Halo, in all of his literature it's supposed to feel horrific and hopeless going against the strange and horrific beings from beyond. So it not being fair for you to fend for yourself in some areas & having to get out by the skin of your teeth is built into the formula of some sections. You get a tool later on that helps you "defend" against them while you escape, but it is hardly meant as an offensive weapon, more a path clearing / slow down tool while you gtfo of there. If you were trying to play for combat you played the game wrong.

Atmosphere & Visuals:
For one dev this is beyond uncanny. There were 1-2 spots where textures left a bit to be desired (boats on the shore in some areas).... but that hardly mattered with how many things were done right, from the occult talismans & coins specially crafted in true Lovecraft fashion to all the strange monoliths & altars.... later on like introducing Giger elements as you are in more cosmic areas. It is WONDERFUL. 10000/10

Sound:
The atmosphere & soundtrack fit amazingly & when facing the creatures the "squelch & wriggle" sounds had the perfect amount of disgusting and tense. Loved this games sound. The voiceover work was good. I'm not a sound engineer but I'd prefer some effects that were more in line with "Dear Esther" to have the voice sound more "in-game" but it wasnt far off & was an easy adjustment to get used to.

Story:
Many people here are pissed about the ???? ending for the dude looking for his daughter. Sorry bro, but that wasn't the story, that was a plot device to allow you to explore & gather the real story through the things left around the world unfold the lore & whats going on through the narrator. If you didnt explore & rushed through the game then it's no wonder you didnt enjoy yourself. Why are you playing atmospheric walking sims anyway? That is how they all work.

Tone:
Is it scary? .... no. Eerie, gross, awesome, yes. This game was never going for "scary" it's going for the melancholic feeling of curiosity, being lost, & impending hopelessness, and on that it nails it. The tone of trying to piece together what is going on while learning about the area youre in and what has happened there lead you to feel an ever growing sense of dread & futility. This game perfectly accomplished what it set out to do, other people just missed the message because they were too focused on looking for their preconceived expectations vs experiencing the game.

I'm now going to follow this dev & buy anything Lovecraftian they put out.

To the DEV: PLEASE KEEP GOING. THIS WAS AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU FOR A GAME TRUE LOVECRAFT FANS NEEDED!!!