Awesome game and i do recommend it, however it should come with a flashing light warning for epileptic sufferers, the light anomaly is a very intense bright flashing

I’m On Observation Duty 4 is a unique horror game that challenges players to stay vigilant while observing a series of unsettling surveillance cameras. Combining elements of strategy and fear, it creates a tense atmosphere where your primary goal is to spot anomalies and prevent supernatural occurrences from escalating. Here’s a look at what critics and players have to say about this intriguing title.


https://store.steampowered.com/app/1730360/Im_on_Observation_Duty_4/

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Atmospheric Tension
The game excels in creating a palpable sense of dread.

Originally posted by another Steam User:

“The eerie atmosphere and unsettling events that unfold through the security cameras make you feel like you’re truly being watched.”

Each surveillance room offers a new layer of suspense, keeping you on edge as you monitor various locations for any signs of paranormal activity.


Unlike traditional horror games, I’m On Observation Duty 4 centers on a unique gameplay mechanic where players must scrutinize footage for anomalies.

Originally posted by another Steam User:

“The core gameplay of spotting discrepancies and reporting them is surprisingly engaging, providing a fresh twist on the horror genre.”

This aspect of the game requires both attention to detail and quick thinking, making it a true test of observational skills.


The game features multiple maps and environments, each with its own set of challenges and anomalies to detect.

Originally posted by another Steam User:

“The variety in locations, from creepy houses to unsettling office buildings, keeps the gameplay fresh and interesting.”

Each new setting offers different types of anomalies and hidden threats, preventing the experience from becoming repetitive.


Another strong point is the game's difficulty balance.

Originally posted by another Steam User:

“The challenge of spotting anomalies while dealing with the creeping dread creates a compelling and engaging experience.”

The game manages to strike a balance where it is challenging without being unfair, making it satisfying to master.

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Despite its intriguing concept, some players find the gameplay becoming monotonous over time.

Originally posted by another Steam User:

“The core mechanics can start to feel repetitive after a while, as the gameplay loop doesn’t change much between different maps.”

While initially engaging, the process of scanning footage for anomalies may lose its appeal as you progress.


While the game excels in atmosphere and tension, it lacks a deeper narrative or backstory.

Originally posted by another Steam User:

“The game focuses heavily on gameplay mechanics but doesn’t provide much in terms of story or character development.”

For players seeking a rich narrative experience, the game may fall short, as it primarily revolves around the observational challenge.


Some players have found the game’s learning curve to be steep, particularly when trying to identify subtle anomalies.

Originally posted by another Steam User:

“It can be frustrating to miss small details or struggle with identifying anomalies, especially early on.”

The game demands a high level of focus and patience, which might not appeal to everyone.


A common critique is the game's limited replayability.

Originally posted by another Steam User:

“Once you’ve mastered the anomaly detection, there’s little incentive to revisit the same maps unless you’re looking for a new challenge.”

While the initial experience is gripping, the game may not offer much incentive for long-term engagement.

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I’m On Observation Duty 4 is a distinctive horror experience that leverages tension and vigilance to create a chilling atmosphere. Its unique gameplay, which revolves around monitoring surveillance footage for anomalies, offers a fresh take on the genre. However, the game’s repetitive nature, limited narrative depth, and replay value may limit its appeal for some players.

Pros:
• Eerie atmosphere and tension.
• Unique gameplay focusing on observation and anomaly detection.
• Varied environments that keep the gameplay interesting.
• Engaging difficulty balance.

Cons:
• Potentially repetitive gameplay loop.
• Limited narrative and character development.
• Steep learning curve and difficulty.
• Limited replay value.

If you enjoy games that test your observational skills and thrive on atmospheric tension, I’m On Observation Duty 4 could be an intriguing choice. Just be prepared for a gameplay experience that may become repetitive and lacks a deeper narrative.

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As a huge fan of horror, honestly this series was not at all like I expected. (But in a good way) at first I wasn't too keen because it wasn't as spooky as I thought.

I actually grew to love this series, especially 4, I feel like it is great mental exercise, and quite fun at that; also very rewarding when you finish a level. Sometimes before playing other games I warm up with a game of Observation Duty 4, It's hard to explain but it makes me feel focused and get my timing and coordination warmed up in a way that not really any other game can.

On a totally unrelated note I am leaving a positive review for one extra reason. I've had my old parents play every game, from modern FPSes, to racing games, rogue-like games, even the most simple games like Pong, or totally narrative driven games, even card game video games - no matter how hard I tried they never found anything enjoyable that they wanted to play again.

This is literally the first and only game series I can actually sit down with them, we can all play together, and they genuinely find it fun and challenging. Especially since they think it is good for their memory and staying mentally sharp as they age. Sometimes we all play together, or sometimes they see if they can beat a level just the two of them.

It's so much fun to watch them so focused, and work together, playing a game. When literally, all my father wanted to play was Chess, and It was like torture for him to have him play any video game at all.

So honestly, I can't thank Notovia enough for that, I finally have something we can all play and enjoy, which I was starting to think was impossible; so glad I found the series.

Huge Man

Average I'm on Observation Duty 1-4 enjoyer
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A great return to form for a niche series that's been losing it's charm with each new release. While I still don't think this reaches the unsettling and atmospheric heights of the first game, it's by far the closest the developer has gotten.

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SIGHTS AND SOUNDS -

Going back to the black and white aesthetic from the first game was a smart choice, as it coats this game in a nice found-footage esq atmosphere that hasn't been in the series since the first game. This has also made the game much harder as a result as well, having less visual info to go off of to find anomalies. Luckily this gets balanced out by all the environments being far less densely packed than previous games.

As for sounds, I do think this game could benefit from having ambience of some kind, all the games could even. It shouldn't be there all the time, but a little bit could go a long way into creating a far tenser experience. Asides from that the game sounds mostly fine. It's sometimes far better to be more reserved in sound design than being too excessive.

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HOW IT PLAYS -

In-case you aren't familiar, this is spot the difference but with an unsettling horror twist to it. You look around cams to spot objects that move, disappear, get added, but occasionally something more dangerous gets added, like a man who shouldn't be there, or worse.

Luckily this game did away with a lot of superfluous anomalies from previous games, like the growing and shrinking ones which were always a bit boring and annoying. However here is where I'm going to list probably my biggest negative with this game. It's not really that scary or unsettling unfortunately.

While it could just be me having poor luck, almost every intruder I've experienced has been far more comical than they have scary. There's a fine line between unsettling and comedic, and I feel this game has unfortunately dipped too much in the comedic side with so many intruders being unrealistically disfigured or contorted. There's a few great ones, like the man under the sauna[i.imgur.com], but so many are too ridiculous to be taken seriously[i.imgur.com].

The game is still tense and scary from time to time, but I feel far less on edge than I would playing the first game as the threats in that one felt just grounded enough to be creepy instead of funny.

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WHAT COULD BE IMPROVED -

More anomalies that imply a threat or that something is wrong would do a lot in making the very boring anomalies a lot more tense. This game already does do a lot of those types of things actually, tools being missing, doors being opened, lights being turned off, etc, but I feel they could all be elevated further to be more tense somehow. Maybe what this gameplay needs is a shift in premise, like you're monitoring/defending your own home instead of it being your job.
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I personally prefered the previous games' UI for reporting, being small, compact, and more limited feeling. (In a good way. I had to search for what I wanted to report in previous versions.)
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More "dynamic" events could be really cool and tense. More intruders that move between cameras, or have to be found multiple times, or try to fight against you reporting them. Basically expanding the gameplay beyond just seeing and reporting.

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SUMMARY -

Overall I think this is pretty damn good for what it is. It's nice to see the developer listening to the criticism their fans had and applying it directly to a new game. While I did list above that I think the original game is still scarier, this is a gigantic step in the right direction that led to a fun, enjoyable game that I can easily recommend others to try out.

As a small side-summary: These games are great fun to play with friends while screensharing, with everyone trying to spot the small changes before getting shocked at the sudden naked man on screen. It's a ton of fun!

Was that second bottle in the kitchen always there?
[TOO MANY ANOMALIES ACTIVE]

I was looking for something that could turn my depression into paranoid schizophrenia; this game now makes me question the safety of my walls. Super fun and exciting!

I glad sex neked man back

This game is such an experience. I play it with my sister and it has become all we can think about.
"Do you feel like looking at stuff really hard?" I ask her just after lunch.
"Yes, I could look at some stuff" She replies amiably.
We love it. We hate it. My head hurts and my eyeballs have developed their own distortion. "WHO'S IN MY HOUSE???" I yell as each bell rings. I do not want visitors.