First time writing a review here, hooray! ^^ I do feel like noting that I had watched a gameplay prior to buying the game, but it didn't hinder my experience at all. I still loved it to bits!

I didn't expect this game to become a comfort game, let alone one of those that stay lingering in your head long after you play it. I was determined to find all the secrets, and just having a good time, even when the PC keyboard controls felt a bit clunky at times. I can see why this game is better with a controller, but I still had a good time nonetheless!

PROS:

• Faithful visuals and aesthetic, gravitating not just towards the old PS1 era, but having its own sense of identity. I was actually pleased to to see that it wasn't the usual PS1 low-poly, but rather something more unique! The sound design is also on point - the soundtrack and ambience really sell the atmospheric horror, and the sense of looming dread.
  
  
• A haunting yet fascinating story, that will get you scratching your head from the beginning. I know some people got confused with details they missed, but once you piece together all the little bits, it just feels really satisfying. It's one of those slow-burning horror games that get more intriguing the further you go, so to speak. It also felt different from similar stories I'd seen, which is a plus!
  
  
• Satisfying puzzles that ranged from simple yet clever brain teasers to environmental jigsaws. It's hard to mention a moment when I got actually stumped myself, but that's my experience as a puzzle person. Not saying the puzzles were easy haha, I like things that get me to think, and those did a great job at that!
  
  
• The replayability factor seems on point here - you can explore the game on your own without enemies, or have the usual survival horror experience, OR even, play the game again on the usual difficulty old RE titles would be, which is the hard mode. And yes, this does mean the main game difficulty is beginner-friendly for newer fans of the genre, like me!
  
  
• Extras can be unlocked once you beat the game in normal and hard difficulty, and those can spice up the gameplay nicely, giving you more reason to revisit Crow Country's horror fest. I'm still gonna experiment with those more, but I can say those are a welcome addition!

CONS:

• Like I briefly mentioned in the beginning, the PC controls can be a bit clunky, and for those who aren't willing to deal with that, I recommend playing your game with a controller. I did get used to them, but even then, I bet it wasn't as tight as playing with a Dualshock, Xbox controller or Joycon.
  
  
• I wish there were better optimization options to play the game - I didn't play it with the best GPU, so I wish there was a way to turn off the noise filter, or better adjust the settings for lower-end PCs. I know the game is still being ported and having a few updates here and there, so it's something I'll look forward to.
  
  
• If you don't like gore or body horror, probably just stick to exploration mode, or watch a gameplay beforehand to see if you can handle the normal mode visuals. Even with the simpler graphics, I felt queasy in some specific moments lol, so it's a nice warning to give!

VERDICT:

It's a short but sweet game, in my opinion - the runtime isn't super long, but there's plenty of things to see and explore, regardless if you're a veteran or a new player to survival horror. It wasn't bad at all for my first time, and can say I had a blast! And even if I'm not the biggest fan of games in bloodier territory, it was still great. There's a LOT to enjoy in this package ^^

My personal rating: 9/10

Definitely recommending to my friends n' whatnot! It's even more impressive to me that SFB Games did this, I remember them from the Tangle Tower days... congrats for the awesome game!

the only thing wrong with this game is that it's too short, otherwise it's a must play

One of the best indie game's I've played. This is old school survival horror at it's best for both hardcore fans and new fans alike. Survival horror is forever.