Recent reviews by OMPUCO

Aside from some comically janky elements (including a very funny full-featured CDJ 2000 inexplicably embedded into every research station's computer console), I'm afraid to say I really didn’t have fun with this game.

It felt like a Bloober Team title in all the ways I don’t appreciate, though in all the ways people online love to eat up with no further critique, & the most I can say it has going for it was that it had interesting 3D reproductions of some of the most well known stories, albeit not ones I would consider commendable. That’s it.

If you’re familiar with the stories, the most you’ll get from it is a “hey i remember this one” without much thoughtful expansion on the previously established body of work, at best.
If you weren’t familiar with them, it doesn’t exactly sell you on those stories as effective introductions, it comes off as more of an anthology of stories without a through line (not inherently bad, but this title doesn't take advantage of a flash fiction anthology format to its advantage in ways other titles have, especially for something with stories taking place within the same/related universe).

Occasionally they would attempt to add to an established story while refusing to verse themselves in even lightly esoteric subject matters like the original authors of stories had taken their time to, introducing unscientific elements that break the illusion of both academic speak & knowledgeable characters that were compelling to listen to.

It wasn’t compelling as a game or interactive medium trying to tell the anthologies of stories it seemed to want to, and it wasn’t something I could consider even a technical achievement, with rookie rendering mistakes all over the place and numerous options that did nothing.

SCP deserves so much better than this.

It has been a long time since I last played a title with this much notoriety that disrespected my time as a player as much as this one. Painfully trite puzzle design, strong reliance on trial & error mechanics, & general lack of technical, design, & narrative skill on show, especially compared to the amount of focus given by the developers on merchandising, hype, and social presence, make this production a very strong example on what not to do.

The drama surrounding development & criticism & their constant interactions with trolls instead of focusing on critique reinforce this. I can at least respect how laser-focused they are to produce a marketable product first & foremost, but I wish they would be more honest about that instead of trying to claim to be representative of independent horror games as a whole, & I wish they could see a reality where that didn't come at the cost of artistic integrity & literally any hint of engaging game design & technical skill.

I truly wish I could take my time back, but at least I've gotten a glimpse at what the current popular trends are, and it is bleak to put it lightly.

Extremely engaging puzzles, oozing with tech art prowess & style.

b

Very wonderful & meditative experience, I enjoy coming back to this every few months.