Escape from Umbra Reviews
Escape to Umbra is a frustrating experience not because it is completely unplayable, but because it is aggressively mediocre. It possesses a solid conceptual foundation and a few mechanical ideas that could have shone brightly under the right creative direction. Instead, those ideas are smothered by dated graphics, uninspired puzzle design, and a punishing instant-death mechanic that drains the fun out of exploration. A horror game needs to feel alive, dangerous, and unpredictable. By spelling out the dangers in a found book and literally guiding the player by the hand with feline navigation, Escape to Umbra feels rigid, automated, and lazy. It earns a middle-of-the-road score simply because it functions, but it leaves absolutely no lasting impression. It is a budget-tier throwback that forgets to bring the passion of the eras it mimics
The game offers some fun puzzle with more of a spooky vibe, rather than an overall horror. As most of the jump scares come from failing tasks. Escape From Umbra is extremely easy when it comes to avoiding minions or even umbra herself. And if you managed to use the lanterns every time you passed one, then you don’t have to worry about loosing progress. I’d give the game a solid Thumb Culture Silver Award. If you want a nice little game to stimulate your brain then Escape From Umbra isn’t a bad shout.
When it comes to audio for horror games, it can be quite hit or miss. I don’t find there’s much grey area here, and, in my opinion, Escape from Umbra missed the mark with its audio. A lot of the time, it felt overbearing and would take me out of the game, making me feel less immersed.
Yet another walking simulator dressed as survival horror that leans heavily on sounds and a sense of impending doom to overcome sometimes spotty design