Why are steam reviews for this game mixed?

[Uncle Jon]

I think I watched reviews for this game when it came out and I don't think I remember much but I think people said the game was good? But I see in some steam reviews that some do not like this game and that it is a "walking simulator" and its mostly mindlessly walking in empty corridors? What are some things that are bad in this game?

[Xhoas]

Because the story and the horror is not good as previous Frictional Games titles, so it's more mediocre than bad. Except maybe for the endings, for me the really suck.

[Spudbar]

Originally posted by Shoas:

Because the story and the horror is not good as previous Frictional Games titles, so it's more mediocre than bad.

Feel the same way. It's not "bad", but it's not very good. People had high expectations for Frictional in general, but this being another entry to the Amnesia series set that even higher.

Originally posted by Darunia:

What are some things that are bad in this game?

Tasi (main character) talks throughout the game. Not a bad thing outright, though some people prefer a silent protag, because it's easier to be immersed in horror with a 'blank slate' character (like Daniel from TDD). I don't mind too much, but they handled her dialogue very poorly.
Tasi talks to herself quite a lot, but her dialogue didn't make me invested in her character. I didn't find it very interesting or insightful, and more often found it distracting. She even talks during the first 'real' monster encounter, which was both hilarious and insulting. I was maybe five feet away from the monster, and she just starts loudly whispering, unprompted. All to give me a hint about the monster being able to smell, because apparently Frictional thinks their players are too stupid to figure out why this thing keeps sniffing and getting closer to them.

I'm not even sure this is my #1, but it's a very big reason I didn't enjoy the game. Horror works because we get immersed in the world, that way when the big scary monster shows up, we feel like we're in danger, even though we really aren't. But as Rebirth went on, I cared less and less about Tasi, her well being and her goals, so I just felt disconnected while playing. It almost doesn't matter how good the game is after that. What's an immersive horror sim without the immersion or horror?

Otherwise, the "fear" mechanic is obnoxious, and combined with lackluster inventory/fuel management, I didn't feel much reason to explore and even felt punished at times for trying to appreciate the environment. Enemy designs aren't very inspired, the story is forgettable, and overall the game is just kind of disappointing.

[Balthazar]

Freeloaders bought the game at discounted price nowdays thats why recent reviews are mixed. They probably even played it before on youtube and now think its a weak game , cause well it isnt horror anymore... Dont get me wrong , its not on dark descent's level , that game is the pinnacle of horror games followed shortly by outlast. This game is just good, by no way mixed , just positive.

[Poetatoe]

Because different people have different opinions.
If people want this to be exactly like a previous title, then they should probably go play that and never try anything new again.

[Umbralich]

Judging by many negative reviews, people's main problems seem to be 1. female protagonist, 2. pregnancy, and 3. it's not the Dark Descent. Which are all quite odd reasons to say the game is bad. TDD is still my favorite because it was my first survival horror game and also because of nostalgia, but nevertheless I still think Rebirth is - for the most part - scarier than TDD.

Also, if you've played FG's games before, them being walking simulators shouldn't be a surprise at this point. Market is full of games where you get to shoot and punch stuff, so it's just good at least someone is making more pacifistic horror games to play for those who don't like constant killing. If some peeps think nothing beats TDD, then maybe they should just stick playing TDD instead of complaining games that aren't TDD being bad?

If you're interested in a game, and its trailers and gameplay videos look good, I'd say just go for it. If you don't like it, you can always get it refunded. Don't read negative (at least not too much) reviews. I've read negative reviews of my favorite games just out of curiosity and some people manage to make absolute gems sound like trash. If I had listened to them before trying those games myself, I would've missed countless unforgettable gaming experiences.

[Kevin Loondren]

The monsters were looking generic, Story wasn't so good nor making sense, gameplay was boring asf, Protagonist annoying asf, Game isn't scary and feels rushed here and there plus had tons of forced boring unskippable cutscenes and that's happening through out the ENTIRE game, Graphics aren't even close to what u'd expect from a 2020 game, You can't even die (instead u get a long ass boring cutscene that u can't even skip) and the game has tons of bugs (which they do be fixing some but it still has many).

[Potato Salad]

I personally loved the story and the gameplay. If you're sitting on the fence, I recommend you get it and stick with the game and you will like it.

[Lowlight]

I was a huge fan of TDD and even AMFP, but I fell off this quick. I'm gonna give it another try, but there were a lot of things about the game's tone, storytelling, and mechanics that felt like a huge low rent step back from the first game. TDD came out over a decade ago and it was hoped that future titles would issue in a wave of innovation. Instead, things have gone the opposite direction and subsequent games have had worse mechanics and storytelling. It has been hinted that this entry was actually farmed out to a "B" team, which would not surprise me.

[Mikawelll]

Because it's not good than SOMA. By far.

[Stoibs]

I refunded at launch due to the technical limitations.

It's [insert year here] and we're still coming out with games hardcapped at 60fps?
Sorry no, it causes visible stutter and jittery, unignorable visual annoyance when we're used to double that and more in our gaming these days.

Plus yeah what others have said rings true about the game itself. I'm still of the opinion that Penumbra is frictional's best game/series to date, with Soma coming in at it's heels with a 10/10 story (while lacking severely in the gameplay department..)
Rebirth just doesn't reach that same bar for neither story or gameplay for me.

Got it again this month in the current humble bundle along with 11 other games for 6USD so I might give it a second chance, but yeah while I didn't leave a review one way or the other it's certainly not something I would have went out of my way to recommend over Frictional's previous better releases.

[medion_no]

Because it a mixed game. Hit and miss. Really.

[John Outlast]

Because it's not a good game. Already damning enough, but coming off of SOMA the wasted potential stings much worse.

[THE VERY REVEREND MISTER BONK]

Outsourced writing team who didn't get what Amnesia is all about essentially.

Previous titles ALLOWED the expierincer to organically become involved in the story - Rebirth is TELLING the player that they must like it because it's art and through an insane amout of cutscenes and exhposition - blah blah blah "Salim", blah blah blah "Baby", blah blah blah "it's dark", blah blah blah "Baby" again.......and on it goes.

Way too many NPC characters also that we are being TOLD to like and TOLD to be emotional about. Well - I don't.

The alien planet looked good though, I liked that, but a whole lot of nothing happening for most of it.

[Draxuss]

It's actually pretty good imo..............

[THE VERY REVEREND MISTER BONK]

Originally posted by Alardem:

Because it's not a good game. Already damning enough, but coming off of SOMA the wasted potential stings much worse.

That's because of the desceptve marketing tactics. We were told for years this was a followup "horror" sequel - what we actually got was a bizzare Halmark Channel romantic fiction story with aliens.