Song of Horror Complete Reviews
Overall, I was disappointed in Song of Horror and while it may seem to try and get players to play through multiple times using different characters there just isn’t enough reason to trudge through the game again.
We take a look at and review Song of Horror, the 5-episode game from Protocol Games just released its final episode, making the complete edition available.
In episodic video games, which are becoming more and more popular, the first episode is essential and is the biggest chance for the developers to convince players to continue playing their future episodes. Unfortunately for Song of Horror, this first and very important step goes horribly wrong as it suffers from tons of issues in almost every department. Right now, there is absolutely no reason for anyone who played it to go on and purchase the second episode, unless the developers really up their game.
Review in Persian | Read full review
There's monsters, too, but these encounters are somehow annoying and tedious at the same time. You don't really battle with the denizens of evil so much as complete mini-games, such as depressing the triggers in time with your breathing, to avoid being murdered by ghosts. The problem is, once you've done this once, it never really changes and it's never particularly challenging, so any time a baddie turns up it's just irritating.
Song of Horror manages to provide atmospheric horror, but its lack of quality characters, unapologetically slow gameplay and heartbreaking save corruption bug make it a game that just isn't worth the time.
As strange and unprofessional as it sounds, I’m going to tell you that Song of Horror is only getting a sub-par score because the developers allowed such a dangerous bug to both exist and hang around as long as it already has. The game itself is an incredible homage to classic horror games with just the right amount of modern-day infusion to allow things to run smoothly (when they are running, that is). Bug-free, Song of Horror is scary for all of the right reasons and is absolutely worth checking out. However, in its current state, I’m not so sure that it’s scaring players in the way that it intends to. At least the PC version supposedly works just fine!
Harken back to the late 1990's and early 2000's and the survival horror genre was enjoying a golden age in video games. Song of Horror emulates the greats of that time but, unlike those franchises which have since evolved with modern game development, Song of Horror seems stuck in the past. For nostalgia's sake, it's worth checking out for fans of that era, but otherwise it's a hit-or-miss experience that falls well short of contemporary horror games.
Song of Horror's scariest aspect is its permadeath feature - not because it's spooky, but because slogging through levels is an absolute chore. Worse yet, Song of Horror punishes the player for exploring its admittedly beautiful environment. Neat technical features and meticulously crafted lore do somewhat make up for its faults. But ultimately, none but the most hardcore horror fans will give this game the time of day (or night).
Song of Horror is a cool and scary game defined by very old-school elements and a lot of untapped potential. If you can swallow crude animations and the need to repeat many of the stages, you will be fine. If not, even the pretty surroundings and an interesting story may not be enough. Still, it could be much worse.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Song of Horror feels like a complex mixture of all the cliches in horror media we can face. Those elements were put too much in the game that it fails to build its own uniqueness. And the system which could be special characteristic didn't work well that it becomes just an ordinary horror game.
Review in Korean | Read full review
Song of Horror isn't the most graphically-impressive horror game I've played in recent years, but it does deliver where it matters most: intense, unrelenting terror. I'm a big fan of classic third-person horror titles so this game definitely spoke to me and made me pine for more retro titles in the same vein. If you like Resident Evil or Silent Hill don't hesitate to check out this Lovecraftian nightmare.
Song of Horror was a lot better than I could have ever expected. This is an inventive horror game that brings in scares through permadeath mechanics and unique story-driven moments. It’s a love letter to horror across multiple mediums that is incredibly inventive. Even though it doesn’t quite hit its full potential due to its visual and audio issues, this is a game that every horror fan should try out.
Song of Horror tries its best to be a swan song of survival horror and acts as a return to form. However, frustrating puzzles and random deaths cause unexpected hang-ups on the experience. Yes, I remember when saving was limited to Ink Ribbons, but at least there was a choice in that feature. Still, there’s a lot to enjoy about this episodic nightmare.
Song of Horror deals with elements of terror and adventure-like puzzle solving pretty effectively. The pacing is a bit uneven, but the overall story is an interesting one and the game works well as a whole despite a handful of rough spots. Fans of the slow burn horror genre should enjoy their trip through the manor, but those hoping for a more action-oriented experience like Resident Evil may come away somewhat disappointed.
An unremarkable story is outshined by engaging, if difficult, puzzles, and a persistently creepy atmosphere.
If Protocol Games had a little bit more money and experience, we could have had a something truly special with this game. But as it stands Song of Horror is just a solid work, with some minor and neglectable shortcomings.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Song of Horror has some great ideas and is genuinely scary at times, but random deaths and awkward controls sometimes threaten to spoil the experience.
Song of Horror is a lot of fun and kept me on my toes, there is a constant feeling of tension as you play it due to the ominous Presence that lurks all around you and also the fear of perma-death is its own threat. Whilst there were a couple of bugs and the graphics (especially the faces) could be improved, Song of Horror is an extremely entertaining and solid indie horror game.
So should you buy Song of Horror? If you’re a fan of the survival horror genre, then this game is definitely for you. This game has our full recommendation for those seeking a haunting experience with interesting mechanics.
Song of Horror is a good game for those who like to complete puzzles in a scary atmosphere. The story is remarkably interesting and the possibility of losing permanently some of our characters is rather troubling. Furthermore, the fact that you have random encounters with « The Presence » makes each run fun. The controls and the camera will not please everyone, but it might bring some good souvenirs to others.
Review in French | Read full review