Uncanny Valley

Release Date: April 23, 2015

Adventure, survival horror, horror, 2D, indie games, side-scroll, action adventure, singleplayer

5.9

OpenCritic

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A two-dimensional pixel art survival horror. It is a debut title of the independent Slovenian studio Cowardly Creations. In the game the player assumes the role of a night watchman who guards a mysterious factory in shifts with his friend. To kill some time, the protagonist decides to explore the building. He discovers things he would rather not know. As the story progresses, he learns new dark secrets about his working place.

Plot
Mechanics
Technical aspects

Uncanny Valley is a two-dimensional survival horror inspired by classic games. The title combines immersive story, exploration, puzzles solving and action sequences. It is a debut title of a Slovenian independent studio Cowardly Creations. The production was backed by funds gathered by using, among other ways, Indiegogo.

Plot

The title of the game is a term used in a scientific hypothesis according to which a robot (or a drawing or an animation that resembles it) that is too similar to human, yet noticeably distinguishable, creates an unpleasant feeling or even disgust in the observer. In the game, the player assumes the role of Tom, a night watchman who guards a mysterious factory in shifts with his lazy friend Buck. To kill some time, he starts exploring the building and discovers things he would rather not know.

Mechanics

Despite the fact that the title is a survival horror, the gameplay is quite unusual. In Uncanny Valley for PC, PS4 and etc. there are only a few sequences in which the player can die. The developers decided that repeating the same fragment of the game many times only frustrates the player instead of scaring them. So, instead of that, they implemented a consequence system. Each unsuccessful action will impact the plot and the gameplay of the game. For example, if Tom is hit by the enemy, he will start moving slower and it will become harder for him to escape from other opponents. Because of that, the game requires the player to be cautious and act wisely.

Technical aspects

The title for PC, PS4 and etc. resembles the genre classics with its pixel art graphics. Uncanny Valley has a dense and overwhelming atmosphere of danger and the title has many really scary moments. The climatic soundtrack inspired by movie horrors increases the immersion as well.

Last updated on April 10, 2017

Videos and Screens

[3:33] Uncanny Valley trailer

5.9

OpenCritic Rating

Game is Recomended by 15% of Critics. There are 24 Critic Reviews.

OpenCritic

ThisGenGaming: 7.5 / 10 by Justin Oneil

While Uncanny Valley has some design flaws it has a great story at its heart. Some elements fall apart over the course of many playthroughs but that doesn't change the fact that your first or second run will be an atmospheric treat. If you've got an hour here or there or a few hours to get through the whole thing I think Uncanny Valley is worth experiencing for any fan of horror or psychological games.

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Nintendo Life: 6 / 10 by Dom Reseigh-Lincoln

Uncanny Valley's desire to hark back to the simpler days of survival horror is commendable, especially in those early moments where you're flitting between abstract nightmares and a security job that feels increasingly isolated. However, the sheer openness of its non-linear plot means it's all too easy to jump large sections of the story as you stumble on one of the game's secrets too early on. Still, with a strict consequence-based system that rewards and punishes you in equal measure, Uncanny Valley has a lot of potential. It's just a shame it doesn't fully live up to it.

Full Review

The Digital Fix: 5 / 10 by Leigh Forgie

Despite a promising plot and an eerie atmosphere, Uncanny Valley fails to make the most out of its survival horror inspirations

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