Take a look at the picture that accompanies this article. Those graphics I’m sure you’d say are less then, uh, optimal. As a matter of fact, I don’t even think that’s a PlayStation 1 level of graphics detail, it’s more like Commodore 64 level of graphics. If you don’t know what a C64 is, just imagine a really old computer you hooked up to your television. Don’t know what a television is? Can’t help you there.
Concluse is a free horror game I found on Steam. It is advertised as a horror game with a PlayStation 1 feel. I’m not sure which PlayStation 1 they were thinking about but on initial viewing one can’t help but notice how primitive the graphics are. Honestly I didn’t have much hope for this game and figured it would be one of those one and done games I can wrap up in an hour and move on. My mindset was just quickly finish the game so you can write an article about it for the blog site.
Then I came across some save game feature. 20 minutes later another save game ‘icon’ shows. Then another 30 minutes later another save game polygon thing shows up. I’m a little over an hour into the game and every time I think I’m about to finish this game that save game polygon makes it presence known like a sun cresting the horizon.
Yeah, the whole game, well as least as much as I have played so far, feature those same rich graphics you see accompanying this article (sarcasm). But the thing is, this game is actually fun. Don’t let the look of this game make you think it’s a budget game with more than likely a budget ending. I mean it is a budget game probably featuring a budget ending, but goshdarnit, I haven’t got there yet.
You have to search around an environment which starts you off in a somewhat claustrophobic subway station. After a thorough examination of the subway environs and picking up some needed items, You find the way out of the subway station and figure not bad, the game is over. Not even close.
There was something about the game that propelled me to play the game and ignore the graphics., By the third save game spot the map had opened up quite a bit and a few rounds of retracing our steps was in order to find items we missed first time around. This is about the time these games start to get tedious, hard, and fun all at the same time.
And this is where I will leave the article. I will follow up in a comment in the next few days.
Concluse is available on Steam and you can get it by clicking here.
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Man, I finally got through the hospital section and with all the back and forth I was doing I think I have everything I need. You really need to remember previous spots in this game and have a small eye for detail because a couple of the puzzles are not so intuitive, but not super hard, as I figured them out, eventually. Anyways, the hospital area is decent sized as compared to the subway area. I’d say there’s like 8 times more area to explore.
And when I did finish the hospital section and finally get the key for an area I was locked out of, the game opened up MORE. Every time I think this game is about to end there’s more to it. I’m now in the sewers area. There’s always a sewer area isn’t there? Anyways, I’m probably going to do some back tracking a save spot now before I tackle this new section of the map.
This mediocre looking turned out to really fun, and I’m still playing. Will update in the comments again if I get to another area or if I finally complete the game.
Ron
PS. I did get a Steam achievement for finding an ending, but it was a death ending, so there’s still more yet to play.
Oh man, this game is HUGE. I still haven’t completed this game. When I finally completed the challenging sewer level, there were more save game polygons. I’m actually glad. I thought this game was a one and done because it’s still very fun and challenging to play. Additionally, from taking a quick peek at a walkthrough, I’m only at the halfway point of the game. Concluse could easily have been a pay for title in the 15-20 dollar price range, if not more. The games unique look doesn’t detract from the game either. Maybe in the beginning but as you go through the game and find keys and solve puzzles, you forget about how the game looks and your focus becomes one of moving on to the next level or area. This game has been a blast over the past week and I have a few more days to go before I complete it I imagine. I’m usually playing 2-3 games at any moment so I spend and an hour or 2 on each daily. Well, Concluse is a great game and if your into exploratory games with interesting stories from a first person vantage point, check Concluse out.
Ron
dangit, i just went through a difficult set of puzzles and game progression and when i finally came around to the save game checkpoint, is it a save game checkpoint? oh no, it’s a load game checkpoint. is this some kind of gltich? nope. is this some kind of puizzle? yup. will the consuqeunces be serious if i don’t get the puzzle? yup. shit…