It Reaches
Critic Reviews for It Reaches
It Reaches is a decent first foray into the world of horror games for this team, but after seeing indie offerings like Madison or Luto, this falls quite short in terms of both technical aspects and gameplay.
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There is a lot to like here, especially in terms of atmosphere, presentation, and the core loop of exploration mixed with combat and light survival mechanics. The body cam perspective alone gives it a distinct feel that helps it stand out in a crowded horror space. The upgrade system adds some welcome depth, and the enemy design and environmental variety keep things engaging throughout. At the same time, the game struggles with consistency in its mechanics, underuses some of its ideas, and ultimately falls apart in its conclusion. The ending feels abrupt to the point where it undercuts the journey that led there, and that leaves a lasting negative impression on an otherwise solid experience. Even with its flaws, there is enough here to make it worth playing if you are into horror games, especially ones that focus on atmosphere and tension. It is not fully realized, but it is still a memorable and effective horror experience in several important moments.
The game is just rather meh, the story wasn’t really doing it for me, and the combat was okay. But most of the problems stem from the oddly long and repetitive segments. It also felt out of place with having Thompson deal with his own personal trauma, while everything was going on. I personally didn’t see anything that connected him to what he was experiencing in the hospital. More so when the player has seen what he is grieving. Sadly, without giving spoilers, It Reaches just comes across as odd in a few areas. And with the amount of motion blur and stuttering I have already mentioned. I am giving it the Thumb Culture Bronze Award. If the various issues are resolved, then maybe it’s a silver.
