Lovecraft's Untold Stories

 Xbox One
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Mixed or average reviews - based on 4 Critic Reviews What's this?

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  • Summary: Lovecraft's Untold Stories is based on H.P. Lovecraft's stories. You will experience first-hand the cosmic horror created by the genius of Providence. Every character will go through an investigation that will take them through different locations, from the creepy old Victorian mansion toLovecraft's Untold Stories is based on H.P. Lovecraft's stories. You will experience first-hand the cosmic horror created by the genius of Providence. Every character will go through an investigation that will take them through different locations, from the creepy old Victorian mansion to the abandoned hospital where forbidden experiments take place or the jungle where lost tribes celebrate forgotten rituals, just to name a few. Levels are randomly generated: it will be a different experience every time you play. Also, they vary depending on the character you're playing with. Look for items and clues to unlock secrets and new stories!… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 4
  3. Negative: 1 out of 4
  1. COGconnected
    May 29, 2019
    78
    Had the developers simply slapped the Lovecraft label on the game and not explored the rich mythos inherent in the name, this could have been a disaster of a game, but instead – and despite of its faults – Lovecraft’s Untold Stories is a rich and intoxicating set of tales weaved together, balancing mystery, combat, and madness together in an engrossing experience. Combat isn’t particularly up to snuff with today’s standards but it could be forgiven considering its aesthetic and gameplay are reminiscent of the SNES, with which the controls fit in perfectly.
  2. GameSpew
    May 20, 2019
    70
    Lovecraft’s Untold Stories is a fun shooter, for the most part. It doesn’t gain much from mining Lovecraft lore; you could swap out the foes for any other number of pixellated nightmares. But slaughtering your way through the hordes is a satisfying and challenging experience, and there’s enough replayability here to keep you diving back into the abyss.
  3. TheXboxHub
    Jun 13, 2019
    70
    If you’re a fan of Lovecraft and want to take in some old fashioned arcade action then this could well be the story for you.
  4. XBLA Fans
    May 31, 2019
    40
    It’s not that I didn’t like what I played, but that I couldn’t enjoy it more. You’re forced to abide by randomness. The less control I have in a game, the less I want to continue on with it. I liked the style and theme. The mazes were great and shooting monsters is always a pleasure. But then you die. That powerful new rifle you bought is no longer in your inventory. The shop that sold it might not have it in stock anymore. And they are overpriced anyway. Damage over time seems to ruin the combat. Everything I liked was overshadowed by exactly what H.P. Lovecraft was all about. Madness. If Untold Stories was meant to create that feeling in real life, then it sure succeeded.

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. GamerGuysNGals
    May 11, 2019
    9
    "Lovecraft’s Untold Stories”
    Reviewed by: Elias S. Lutes
    Publisher: BLG-Publishing Developer: Blini Games Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch    "Lovecraft’s Untold Stories”
    Reviewed by: Elias S. Lutes
    Publisher: BLG-Publishing
    Developer: Blini Games
    Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch

    Lovecraft’s Untold Stories begins with a mysterious telegram, and a man with a shotgun outside in the pouring rain. Trees are down, the cops have the roads shutdown, and you make your way to a dark, sprawling mansion with little equipment, and a lot of curiosity.

    The first level is just what you would expect from something Lovecraftian — a set of dark rooms illuminated by faint firelight, with cultists lurking behind closed doors. You’ll find all sorts of tools and information strewn throughout the chambers, and clever procedurally-generates layout means nothing is ever the same twice.

    As you travel onward, more information is uncovered about the predicament you’re in, and other levels have intriguing oddities: giant penguins to protect, zombies to slay, and an unraveling story that seems to become less and less important in favor of shotgunning down droves of enemies, all the while trying not to lose your own sanity after encounters with monsters and information that you’d rather never you laid eyes on.

    The game has elements of shooters, survival horror, RPG’s, and rogue-lites. The different characters you unlock through progression have small quirks that make them unique, and since the game is never the same twice, this gives all the more reason to replay with a newly unlocked protagonist. (My favorite so far is the thief.)

    Graphically, the game focuses on quality pixel art that lends itself well to the dark rooms - candlelight and shadows are cast exceptionally well and in outdoor areas the colors really pop! Icons are easily discernible and items are easy to spot once you get used to breaking open boxes and collecting tools to use against the eldritch horrors that await you. Inventory management á la Resident Evil is crucially important, and you’ll be moving around your items and sorting through what to keep and what to toss on the regular.

    A shining piece of this experience is the soundtrack. The music for each level suits the adventure incredibly well, lending ambience and true world building to each place to explore. From the sounds of rain to the low growls from the monsters you fight, everything seems to have been lovingly made to increase the immersion.

    Pros:
    -High replay value
    -Fantastic soundtrack

    Cons:
    -Hard to aim
    -A and B are flipped on Switch, so it takes a little getting used to to navigate menus.

    Overall: 9
    Lovecraft’s Untold Stories is a fantastic port to the Nintendo Switch, with wonderful gameplay and fantastical environments to explore and rid of creatures from beyond — a must have for any horror enthusiast, and a suggested pickup for anyone in the mood for a traipse through the darkness and threat of insanity for the sake of good old adventure.    … Expand
  2. Xbox_Alive
    May 10, 2019
    8
    Lovecraft's Untold Stories presents a variety of enemies and the boss battles have a lot of creativity and punch which makes defeating themLovecraft's Untold Stories presents a variety of enemies and the boss battles have a lot of creativity and punch which makes defeating them feel quite rewarding. Lovecraft’s Untold Stories features a number of many genres rolled into one nice package and most of these have been done very well. which in turn means that the game is really enjoyable and unique at the same time. The main gameplay is battling a variety of enemies and solving puzzles, and I’m pleased that the combat is solid even if it does lack a small amount of depth overall. Thankfully this is quickly overlooked due to the uniqueness each character has in Lovecraft's Untold Stories and each character has a different story means that playing as each one feels important. The enemies and the level design are top notch. Each enemy poses its own problem and you’ll find that not only are the bosses most creative, but they are also provide a rewarding feeling to defeat. Lovecraft's Untold Stories can be unforgiving in difficulty at times so prepare yourself for a few possible frustrating moments on occasion. Despite this little bit of frustration you will become more determined to persevere. Lovecraft’s Untold Stories definitely thinks outside of the box and despite a few shortcomings they don’t really impact your experience in the end.… Expand

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