Perception Reviews
Perception’s premise is better than its delivery. Playing as a blind character opens up many opportunities for horrifying gameplay, but Perception falls short when it comes to implementing a threatening monster.
There is little that The Deep End have done wrong with Perception; this is a game that cannot be missed, as it breathes fresh life into the adventure-horror/ mystery solving genre. I often say videogames can be a form of literature, and I strongly believe Perception is exactly that.
With only four chapters, Perception is a short game that doesn't justify its launch price.
Perception has very little going for it. It is well acted and has about three voice actors who do triple or even quadruple duty in some cases, and they all sound very believable. The sound design is strong and is the creepiest part of the entire game. There are many plot points that are hard to follow, since so much of the plot has to be found from notes picked up, or audio diaries. One plot point that is not made clear is that the story implies that Cassie might be psychic, but there really is not enough information to corroborate this completely, which is pretty much how every piece of story feels like. Every step of the way it just feels like there is something missing. Perception is a noble effort in its concept, but in practice this is one people should just close their eyes at.
The unique blindness mechanic just isn't quite enough to overcome a bland execution and lackluster story.
Despite its originality, Perception is only worth a look for those who can see past its shortcomings in pursuit of a fairly compelling narrative.
Although it has a very original and interesting idea, Perception ends up making a mistake for being a very easy horror game. The only enemy in the game serves more as an aid in some moments, and Cassie's sixth sense makes the exploration in the game and the fear disappear. Perception makes the players close their eyes to it.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Perception was an opportunity. It was a real, genuine opportunity to do something remarkable with the horror genre, and join a couple of other experimental 'walking simulators' such as Layers of Fear, Everybody's Gone To The Rapture, and the recently-released The Town Of Light, in proving that the horror genre in video games can be cerebral, rather than visceral, but this one largely misses the mark.
Perception could have been the surprise of the year only if it had support its gameplay mechanics and story with more variety and robust atmosphere.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
The game is equal parts scary and interesting, as I said before, is not an experience I'm likely to forget about anytime soon.
While Perception isn't consistently great, it does do certain things very well and is worth a play by anyone looking for an interesting experience. By taking away one of the most important senses most people have, Perception gives players the feeling of being thrust into the unknown and absolute darkness.
Perception is a prime example of a wasted innovative ideas. Developers of Perception did almost everything wrong and the final product is a broken and shallow game.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Perception is an interesting psychological thriller that I definitely recommend you check out on Nintendo Switch. The unique gameplay premise of the game by which you must use sound to be able to find your way around the location mixes things up, placing you in the shoes of a blind woman who won't let her disability get in the way. Abandoned houses are creepy by nature, but exploring an abandoned house as a blind woman who literally can't see what lurks in the dark is a thrilling experience. Playing in the dark is the best way to enjoy this 3 to 4-hour release, especially if you're playing in portable mode with your headphones on!
Perception is a release with a very interesting premise and a solid story that I'm sure you'll enjoy. Being blind and using echolocation to find your way around the creepy mansion feels great and the fact that danger could be lurking around the corner will keep you on high alert. Being able to turn the game into a full-on walking simulator with no danger or into a permadeath scare-fest is a nice touch, and it allows players of all skill levels to enjoy Perception on Nintendo Swtich.
If you're in it for the action or actual horror you'll very likely walk away disappointed. But if you like a slow burn of suspense, periodic things that will make you jump, and some stories that will reveal themselves to you slowly and through a variety of means as you wander an ever-changing house, it will offer several hours of enjoyment. I've never played a game quite like it, and there's something to be said for a title working earnestly to challenge gamers with something new, even if it may not have hit all of the marks it was likely aiming for.
As stated before, Perception has some great things going for it. There’s no doubt in my mind that The Deep End Games put so much passion into this project. It just falls flat due to the fact that it isn’t that good of a horror game.
Ultimately a worthwhile recommendation for horror fans thanks to its original concept, likable protagonist, and some genuinely chilling frights.
Perception isn't great, failing to clear every benchmark that it set out for itself by a healthy margin.
Perception starts with good ideas, but fails to build a really original game around them. The atmosphere is good during the first minutes, but It feels like a guided walking simulator without real scares.
Review in Italian | Read full review
While stuffed full of promise, Perception fails to execute what could have been an unique and brilliant horror adventure concept.