Chilla's Art was formed by a duo of bros and they specialize in creating Japanese horror games! From what I can tell, they make aesthetically and visually low-budget, short experiences of dread- often for less than $5 each. The Convenience Store is my very first one from them and I am undeniably excited, flabbergasted even! This may well be the start of a new obsession~ Now then, let's go shopping...



The Gist:
College girl makes ends meet by working in a convenience store past midnight. It's a typical shift but not before long a tape will change everything... Serving the usual creepy and rude patrons seems to be the least of her worries.

! Thank you, please come again!


(a) Part-Time Horror
It's essentially a 1st-person convenience store simulator with horror ingredients thrown in! Taking place over the span of a few nights where you work, follow the instructions left by the manager and things get weird... Then repeat!! Expect to empty out them expired products, restock shelves and general shopkeeper duties! Should the rare customer stop by, be sure to serve them with a smile! If not, just keep an eye on the security system and review the footage for y'know~ Point and click to pick up items, converse with people and engage with interaction markers to progress the plot.


(b) The Eponymous Curse
The story was not at all what I expected- from the synopsis I immediately thought thriller!! I did say I was new to Chilla's Art...! Okay, now the obligatory plot reveal so eject the VHS tape if you're not interested! But mmm, I didn't think I'd be playing a Ring-inspired horror title except it takes place in a convenience store (ghosts have to shop somewhere, right!?). Anyhoo, normal night, the store's automated door starts acting up and you then receive a tape addressed to you while working your shifts.

The disturbances amp up and more tapes arrive. It seems like either a curse was afoot or someone had too much time on their hands! I feel like saying anything else would just reveal the beauty and suspense behind the game!


(c) It Follows
This game's atmosphere is more disturbing than the actual scares. Let's talk about what makes it so effective~ Firstly, the idea of a woman walking alone, at night no less and then working solo at a store. You do this several times in fact- nothing much happens but my god, I felt SOMETHING/SOMEONE following me and it's so dark! Then there's the rumor of spirits by your co-worker based off of the bridge that you cross to get to work... so yeah that run between the house to the workplace graduates into a breakneck pace where you don't even need to look to get there!

The use of darkness is foreboding and you can't tell what could creep up on you. Take the tapes- with each recording showing a presence closing into your house. Again, you don't know if it's a stalker. The Convenience Store then literally becomes a beacon of light and you can't help but feel safer every time you do get there. This kept me on edge before the actual antagonists even show up...



(i) Too Good for This Joint
The way the game is structured is very linear. Each night can literally be sped along by doing all the tasks assigned without even punching in and your co-worker just gawks at you (telling you to punch in). Granted, the game won't let the night end until you do but having him there throughout the scare sequences was very reassuring nonetheless. It would have been better to make it so nothing can be done until you punch in.

(ii) Killing Me Softly. SAVE ME!
The pacing is slowed down on purpose, which I surmise was to prolong the runtime... I think at some point, I could feel myself age. Character walking speeds, regardless of worker, customer, age or gender were all remarkably and similarly tedious. Oh and there was even an actual old lady with a walker.

This is made unforgivable by the fact that there is no way to save the game and so if something comes up, you'll have to restart from the very beginning... I got ending no. 1 and I was stuck with having to read an epilogue of what happened next- in the form of a credits roll.

(iii) No More, Please...
I loved the homage in the story but I cannot comprehend why tapes were used. It's all hair-raising yeah, but the logic will hook them eyebrows as well. Have I also mentioned that there are two endings? With the game being made for a single playthrough- you're better off just beating it once and then watch a let's play for the other...

No mistake, it can be done since you already know all the solutions. But going through all those same happenings and snail pace walking, I just can't (unless ya really want that achievement). Seriously I would've preferred to reload a save point had there been one.

(iv) All About The Wages
Last but not least, there is a general lacking of polish overall. Sorry, but the old lady just phasing past the auto glass doors is something I can't unsee... From the interaction markers phasing through objects to the movement that's not very smooth and each step is rather heavy.

Sometimes there are bugs where doors cannot be closed, until you try going in and out multiple times or invisible walls that obstruct you ahead of schedule because they're meant for a specific scare buildup. It's almost as if it was made in a hurry and I cannot shake that feeling.



To conclude, The Convenience Store takes a simple premise and setting but makes good use of every second! Much like having a real job, there are downsides and the game captures that monotoneity and having to make do "because $$$" in spades. Except this one has more occupational hazards like a curse and the stranger danger that you probably didn't ask for.

It has its fair share of aggravating problems like why there's no way of saving. AT. ALL. Plus, the occasional breaks in movement and programming may remove you from the immersion. Though it may keep you occupied for only an hour pr so at most- it's enough to stay and burn itself into the back of your mind, not to mention if you're working alone somewhere similar too!



YUP, I'm buying all their games~ Their latest is 'Hanako'.

[code]Curator page here--> [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/37670120/]DaRevieweD #40[/url] <-- [i]New review every Sunday[/i][/code] [b]Chilla's Art[/b] was formed by a duo of bros and they specialize in creating Japanese horror games! From what I can tell, they make aesthetically and visually low-budget, short experiences of dread- often for less than $5 each. The Convenience Store is my very first one from them and I am undeniably excited, flabbergasted even! This may well be the start of a new obsession~ Now then, let's go shopping... [h1]"Graveyard Shift...!!?"[/h1] [u]The Gist:[/u] College girl makes ends meet by working in a convenience store past midnight. It's a typical shift but not before long a tape will change everything... Serving the usual creepy and rude patrons seems to be the least of her worries. [spoiler] ! Thank you, please come again! [/spoiler] [h1][+] PROS;[/h1] [b](a) Part-Time Horror[/b] It's essentially a 1st-person convenience store simulator with horror ingredients thrown in! Taking place over the span of a few nights where you work, follow the instructions left by the manager and things get weird... Then repeat!! Expect to empty out them expired products, restock shelves and general shopkeeper duties! Should the rare customer stop by, be sure to serve them with a smile! If not, just keep an eye on the security system and review the footage for y'know~ Point and click to pick up items, converse with people and engage with interaction markers to progress the plot. [b](b) The Eponymous Curse[/b] The story was not at all what I expected- from the synopsis I immediately thought thriller!! I did say I was new to Chilla's Art...! Okay, now the obligatory plot reveal so eject the VHS tape if you're not interested! But mmm, I didn't think I'd be playing a Ring-inspired horror title except it takes place in a convenience store (ghosts have to shop somewhere, right!?). Anyhoo, normal night, the store's automated door starts acting up and you then receive a tape addressed to you while working your shifts. The disturbances amp up and more tapes arrive. It seems like either a curse was afoot or someone had too much time on their hands! I feel like saying anything else would just reveal the beauty and suspense behind the game! [b](c) It Follows[/b] This game's atmosphere is more disturbing than the actual scares. Let's talk about what makes it so effective~ Firstly, the idea of a woman walking alone, at night no less and then working solo at a store. You do this several times in fact- nothing much happens but my god, I felt SOMETHING/SOMEONE following me and it's so dark! Then there's the rumor of spirits by your co-worker based off of the bridge that you cross to get to work... so yeah that run between the house to the workplace graduates into a breakneck pace where you don't even need to look to get there! The use of darkness is foreboding and you can't tell what could creep up on you. Take the tapes- with each recording showing a presence [spoiler]closing into[/spoiler] your house. Again, you don't know if it's a stalker. The Convenience Store then literally becomes a beacon of light and you can't help but feel safer every time you do get there. This kept me on edge before the actual antagonists even show up... [h1][-] CONS;[/h1] [b](i) Too Good for This Joint[/b] The way the game is structured is very linear. Each night can literally be sped along by doing all the tasks assigned without even punching in and your co-worker just gawks at you (telling you to punch in). Granted, the game won't let the night end until you do but having him there throughout the scare sequences was very reassuring nonetheless. It would have been better to make it so nothing can be done until you punch in. [b](ii) Killing Me Softly. SAVE ME![/b] The pacing is slowed down on purpose, which I surmise was to prolong the runtime... I think at some point, I could feel myself age. Character walking speeds, regardless of worker, customer, age or gender were all remarkably and similarly tedious. Oh and there was even an actual old lady with a walker. This is made unforgivable by the fact that there is no way to save the game and so if something comes up, you'll have to restart from the very beginning... I got ending no. 1 and I was stuck with having to read an epilogue of what happened next- in the form of a credits roll. [b](iii) No More, Please...[/b] I loved the homage in the story but I cannot comprehend why tapes were used. It's all hair-raising yeah, but the logic will hook them eyebrows as well. Have I also mentioned that there are two endings? With the game being made for a single playthrough- you're better off just beating it once and then watch a let's play for the other... No mistake, it can be done since you already know all the solutions. But going through all those same happenings and snail pace walking, I just can't (unless ya really want that achievement). Seriously I would've preferred to reload a save point had there been one. [b](iv) All About The Wages[/b] Last but not least, there is a general lacking of polish overall. Sorry, but the old lady just phasing past the auto glass doors is something I can't unsee... From the interaction markers phasing through objects to the movement that's not very smooth and each step is rather heavy. Sometimes there are bugs where doors cannot be closed, until you try going in and out multiple times or invisible walls that obstruct you ahead of schedule because they're meant for a specific scare buildup. It's almost as if it was made in a hurry and I cannot shake that feeling. [h1]"Career Affirmation"[/h1] To conclude, The Convenience Store takes a simple premise and setting but makes good use of every second! Much like having a real job, there are downsides and the game captures that monotoneity and having to make do "because $$$" in spades. Except this one has more occupational hazards like a curse and the stranger danger that you probably didn't ask for. It has its fair share of aggravating problems like why there's no way of saving. AT. ALL. Plus, the occasional breaks in movement and programming may remove you from the immersion. Though it may keep you occupied for only an hour pr so at most- it's enough to stay and burn itself into the back of your mind, not to mention if you're working alone somewhere similar too! [h1]8/10[/h1] [b]YUP, I'm buying all their games~ Their latest is 'Hanako'.[/b]