Daymare: 1994 Sandcastle Reviews
Daymare 1994: Sandcastle is a decent second title in the series which makes some improvements but still struggles to come together as an complete experience.
A prequel which unfortunately takes a clear step backwards, in spite of some interesting ideas.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Daymare 1994: Sandcastle is a fun title that improves on almost all the issues from the original. It provides an excellent atmosphere and fun combat situations where you can use cryo abilities. It's not a perfect game, though, with some bad voice acting, really dark lighting, and being unable to dodge attacks leaves you open to strikes. Invader Studios will hopefully build on these qualities for the promised third instalment in the series.
Invader Studios has packaged a survival horror experience with a good atmosphere and decent pace, adding small but interesting new features and significantly improving the technical compartment. A sequel that represents a good step forward but still has a long way to go to walk side by side with the best exponents of the genre.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Daymare 1994 is one of those missed opportunities, if we can call it that way. Don't get me wrong, it's a great Survival Horror, which is right on the step below the big ones like Resident Evil or Dead Space. Other new ones, like The Chant, would almost occupy a similar place, in a gap where there is always room to have a good time. Although the attack mechanics of the enemies are not the most appropriate, because at times they can be frustrating, the development team manages to make us believe that it is our fault, for the ineffective management of our freezer gauntlet.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Ultimately, with Daymare 1994 Invader Studios has taken a step forward, treasuring the experience accumulated during the development of the progenitor of the series.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Daymare 1994: Sandcastle acts better as a period piece for the early 90s than it does a horror game.
Daymare: 1994 Sandcastle is a game that could have been a lot better if it were less afraid to step out of the mould it emerged from to fully realise its own identity. Pushing its unique ideas further and leaving behind what had already been done would have been of great benefit. Instead, the game feels half-baked, a decent-at-best title that is by no means bad but will likely leave players yearning for something better.
Daymare: 1994 Sandcastle wears its Resident Evil inspiration on its sleeve, but technical and design issues mean that it will firmly remain in its inspirator's shadow.
Daymare 1994: Sandcastle is a better game than Daymare: 1998, but fails to become one of the iconic survival horrors of the modern era.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Daymare: 1994 Sandcastle seems to be at the level of the first installment, although at times it suggests that it is falling behind. Unlike Daymare 1998, we are faced with a proposal that got caught up in its attempt to pay homage and its desire to do something original. Despite this, it can be a passable old-school horror game experience.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Overall, I really enjoyed the game despite its flaws. My love for survival horror games played a role in my positive experience playing Daymare: 1994. The developer’s passion and dedication to creating a game that pays homage to classic survival horror games is a testament to their efforts to capture the essence of the genre I enjoy. Hopefully, the developer takes these insights into consideration to further refine and improve the game through updates and patches. If you are a fan of this genre, I recommend checking this game out.
As a fan of Daymare: 1998, I had high expectations for Daymare: 1994 Sandcastle, which were tempered after the demo release. Unfortunately, the final version confirmed these doubts, with a poorly designed combat system and frustrating difficulty. Though there were improvements in the script and technical execution, the design choices prevent it from being the significant advancement expected. Hopefully, future installments will bring better joy, as the team has talent and clear ideas.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Daymare: 1994 Sandcastle represents a definite step forward for Invader Studios. The new survival horror from the “made in Italy” team convinces and entertains. Between unexplained electromagnetic events, bizarre experiments and government conspiracies, the narrative plot develops quite well, with apt twists and turns that manage to keep the story fresh and interesting. In terms of gameplay - however - the leap forward is there and it all shows. The aiming and reloading system has been simplified - which makes for a more solid and immediate experience - while the addition of new gadgets such as the HADES scanner and the Frost Grip, seemed to us more apt than ever, as these are gimmicks not to be used just once but to be firmly relied upon over the course of the game. The enemies are also well done, although they lack some variety that could have given even more depth to the production. In short, if you are a fan of Resident Evil but in general of “old school” survival horror, Daymare: 1994 Sandcastle is a must buy.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Daymare: 1994 Sandcastle marked a significant evolutionary leap for Invader Studios. The survival horror title created by the Italian studio is capable of entertaining thanks to a direct and simplified gameplay. It's a shame for some small flaws regarding enemies and gunplay, but the path taken by the local team is undoubtedly the right one.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Daymare: 1994 Sandcastle is definitely a good indie title that tries to approach the industry's triple-As, but fails to hold its own in many respects. The game has great insights such as the Frost Grip or the level design, it falls down, however, on character movement and shooting. We largely recommend the title to those who liked the previous installment Daymare: 1998. On the other hand, we feel like recommending the title to fans of the survival horror genre only through the help of discounts.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Daymare: 1994 Sandcastle is a decent yet deeply flawed survival horror that suffers greatly suffers to its clunky controls, inconsistent AI, and uninspired puzzles. The game has some improvements over its predecessor, but it still suffers from some technical issues and design flaws that prevent it from reaching its full potential. The game is worth playing for its story, atmosphere, and nostalgia factor, but it may not appeal to everyone.
Daymare: 1994 Sandcastle is a good survival horror. The game has its faults, whether it's the poor variety of weapons and enemies or its uneven graphics. Nevertheless, the many positive points, such as the puzzles, story and combat mechanics, outweigh the negatives. The game is very difficult even for veterans of the genre (unless you play in story mode) and is not for everyone. However, fans of Resident Evil or Dead Space can look forward to this new title in the Daymare saga.
Review in French | Read full review
Daymare: 1994 Sandcastle has its problems, but it fulfills its main objective, which is to be a good survival horror game. The setting, limited inventory, secrets, and good old backtracking during the game guarantee the approval of those who like the genre, even with the frustrating combat mechanics that need more polish.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
the result is weak, boring, and without much interest.
Review in Greek | Read full review