Reviews

• gamedeal user

  Nov 1, 2021

  I'm angry. This game could be so good but my experience with it was just so frustrating. Bugs and freezes forced me to ctrl+alt+del out of the game several times causing me to lose 30+ minutes of progress every time. I can't even refund it because I really wanted to give it a chance and kept playing (which is my fault, I know). It's sad that the developer didn't manage to patch all game breaking bugs and glitches since it is such a unique experience and many aspects of it are so fascinating. I'll keep playing and try different approaches and maybe change my review at some point, though.
• gamedeal user

  Nov 8, 2021

  I think I would really love this game if it wasn't so outrageously glitchy. The concept, art, and gameplay are all really, really interesting, and I don't even fault anyone who's able to love this game despite that, but I can't in good faith recommend it myself. I've had NPCs not appear where they're supposed to be, NPCs talking to other invisible NPCs, and other weird stuff like my character's face appearing through the diving helmet. I've had the fishing minigame completely poop the bed and make it look like I've caught a fish when I have absolutely nothing. I've had NPCs act as if I never did the quest I just completed for them the previous day. I've had things like the lipstick become unobtainable because I'd dug it up and then died that day, but the game thinks I still have it when it reloads. No glitch has been completely game breaking, but they are so frequent and obvious enough that it has ruined my experience. I think I would at this point rather watch a Let's Play or read the Wiki instead of trying to play myself.
• gamedeal user

  Nov 29, 2021

  EDIT: I was a little harsh, considering it's one dev. This is the most bug-ridden, broken game I have ever played, and the dev shows no signs of returning to fix it. I really want to recommend it, but until the dev returns, I can't. It's a real shame, because there's so much promise here, but I restarted countless times over sixteen hours, and was met with each playthrough breaking irreversibly. Without fail. The atmosphere and horror in this game are second to none, really, and I love the setup. I just can't recommend this unless you get it for mere dollars during a sale. Please return to this, dev.
• Rue

  Aug 24, 2022

  Great game (story, unique art style, etc), but sadly, too goddamn buggy to recommend. Without doing anything that strange, you are likely to run into at least ONE show stopping bug during a standard play for a week. Comes in the form of softlocks when you die, npcs freezing in places and becoming non-interactable, or just straight up crashes. There are less severe bugs that you'll likely hit too -- important items disappearing and being unusable for the rest of the playthrough is a common issue, as well as getting stuck wandering slightly off the map. If you want the experience of this game, find a few youtube videos showing off the cooler aspects. Save yourself the trouble of being up at 5:30am and doing everything you can possibly think of to overcome a game breaking bug.
• gamedeal user

  Sep 8, 2022

  As a huge fan of Lakeview Cabin Collection, I was looking forward to this game. The concept seemed fairly interesting, some sort of mix of a pixelated grand theft auto game and a mystery game, with some gameplay and visual elements similar to Lakeview Cabin, all set in a very obviously Twin Peaks inspired location. The problems all lay in the execution of these ideas. There's a lot of tedium in this game, most of it stemming from the basic gameplay idea of having events tied to real time passing, forcing you to be in the right place at the right time or wait for certain events to trigger, combined with the time loop plot mechanic. In theory this all sounds like it could be interesting, but in practice it means a lot of trial and error, a lot of waiting, a lot of redoing things you've already done just to try to get a slightly different result, and it also affects the storytelling (which I'll get to) because it means major story elements are revealed to you in a pretty random order depending on your actions. The pacing of the gameplay and story and how they interact is another major problem. This game has life simulator elements, which isn't a bad thing, and like I said it's very inspired by Twin Peaks. In games like Stardew Valley or dating simulators, you grow attached to the characters through talking to them during their routines, ultimately triggering special events as time passes and you get to know them better, which means you like them even more. And in a good horror story, you'd grow to like the characters before anything too horrible happens to most of them outside of the inciting incident. But, small spoiler below: this game kills off the entire population of the village after only a few in-game days, meaning you'll see all these characters die off horrifically well before you even get to know any of them particularly well. Then you're sent back to the start of the week and get to try other paths to avert this outcome or find answers to the mysteries of the town. This storytelling decision is honestly not very good at all, and probably stemmed from wanting to have a lot of branching story possibilities and encourage people to try tons of different things without burdening the story with the consequences of those actions, allowing you to start fresh and try other things. But what it really does is make everything you do in the game feel utterly meaningless, which very much takes away from the horror of anything going on, if we're meant to take the horror elements even a little seriously (this game does have a sense of humor, after all). And it makes it hard to care about any of the characters if you can be extraordinarily cruel to them, hurt their feelings, tear them apart with your own hands, watch them get slaughtered by monsters, see them tormented in hell, and then just hit the reset button on everything. Beyond that major issue though, the writing is also kind of... quite bad. Lakeview Cabin had very minimal storytelling, as all the characters are mute and the stories are meant to be very simple slashers that copy their premises from popular franchises (admittedly with a clever metanarrative running through it all), but here there's extensive dialogue with every character and they're all characterized relatively deeply. The problem is none of their characters are very good or interesting. As well as just being obviously amateurish writing, there's a big current of misanthropy going through how everyone talks. Almost every character is meant to be pathetic or despicable, and it makes it really hard to care about any of them. Again, in a life sim, you grow to care about all the little virtual people that live in your town. And in Twin Peaks, everyone had their own little inner lives you were privy to, and you cared about almost all of them, even the villains. You won't care about any of these assholes, and you won't want to save them. And honestly, some of the content of the game is just in bad taste, even for something meant to be horror. I won't go into detail, but it's something that would be more appropriate in an edgy teenage south park fan's crappy short story than an official game. You can explore gross and taboo topics in the horror genre, but you need to do it with a modicum of tact, and here these elements just feel like they're thrown in gratuitously and without any thought beyond trying to shock you. So yeah, it's a repetitive game where you try to solve a mystery you don't care about to save a town full of people you don't like, where nothing feels like it matters and the stories being told are pointless, uninteresting and somewhat gross. I definitely don't recommend it, and it makes me somewhat dread the next Lakeview Cabin game if this downward trend in quality continues.
• gamedeal user

  Oct 21, 2022

  I tried so hard to like this game; "oh, a folksy small town RPG that's actually a mystery horror, that sounds fun." This game wasn't fun. I don't know if I was just dumb or bad at this game, but I was struggling constantly. I've played my fair share of indie horror games with confusing puzzles, but I felt like nothing was explained. Not that I wanted constant hand-holding, but like a hint, a pop-up would have sufficed. I like exploring games and learning from my mistakes, but it felt like this game punishes you for messing up (as in you better have a guide open in your browser otherwise you risk restarting the day). The story was the only thing that kept me coming back, but after a certain point, I gave up on that too. It doesn't really help that all the characters just feel like kinda grody with nothing super redeemable about them. A bit too edgy grimdark grinding for my liking, but if that's up your alley, then this is the game for you.
• Hundin

  Jan 22, 2023

  the game is interesting but bugs prevent any enjoyment. The bugs just ruin the gameplay
• Bippityboo62

  Apr 13, 2023

  Welcome to Lakeview Valley, Constant…

  The Lakeview Series has been on my mind for the last 10 years since Markiplier played the original Newgrounds game. With its great and disarming allure of pixel graphics and a calm setting, surreal and unsettling atmosphere, and its homage to classic slasher films of the 70’s and 80’s, the 2D side scrollers are a must play for any fans of the slasher genre or horror in general. Lakeview Valley probably is Roope’s most ambitious title (aside from maybe Lakeview Cabin 2, but I haven’t gotten there yet) ditching the side scrolling and going for an isometric open world rpg with things to see, people to do, and a rabbit hole story that goes so deep you may find yourself shaking hands with the Devil himself, with revelations that are as shocking and disturbing as they are rewarding to discover. Story/Setting You play as a custom protagonist as they make their way to their new home in Lakeview Valley (you can customize their name and look in a simple yet effective character creator). Outside of town, however, a naked and bloodied girl is ran over by your bus driver, screaming a cryptic message about blood flies before dying on the road. You make your way into town and are greeted to a small but quaint community, from the Sheriff who keeps the peace, to a sweet old lady, to a doomsday prepper with trust issues and a shotgun. From there, the world is your oyster to play around and experiment in, letting you either become the next best celebrity in town or becoming the anti-Christ with your ravenous brutality. During your day to day activities is a catch: things go bump in the night once the clock strikes 12, so you better make sure you’re in bed and DON’T go outside…unless your curiosity gets the best of you and you must see what’s out there. There’s also a mysterious creature following you in dark crevices around town, giving you advice and leading you along, even tempting you with unlimited power. Who is this creature and why is he helping you? And finally, a hermit appears on your first night, hinting that time is repeating and to trust the frog. What did he mean by that and who is the frog? General Gameplay As mentioned, the game is an open world rpg and has many avenues to tackle it, similar to the experimentation in previous lakeview games. However, you only have 7 days to do what you need to, so use your time wisely. Popularity is your bread and butter and will help you in your daily allowance from the bank. The more popular you are, the more money you’ll make. Popularity can be gained through helping people with their needs, whether it be returning a stolen item, helping with the construction of a stage for Sunday, or doing more…unsavory or questionable things…but befriending or gaining the trust of the right person can open up new avenues for the story and it’s characters. Your home will be where you spend your nights and it’s not the prettiest sight initially. However, there are people in town that can help you turn this dumpster fire into a dumpster home (so long as you have the funds and the patience to drag the junk out of your yard). Who knows, you may just impress your neighbors with your tastes? It’s not the most complicated customization, and to be honest, I wish there was more variety, but it gets the job done. Items will be key in aiding you on your stay in the Valley. Chainsaws can help cut bushes and open new paths. The shovel and metal detector can help you find hidden secrets or masks to cosplay in. Medkits can help you in a tight spot where you find yourself bleeding nonstop. Stockpiling your items will be critical in the long run. Of course, you could always enact your darkest desires. After all, Matthew is an unfaithful sexual deviant and home wrecker, Frank’s attitude and demeanor offends you, and Lil Bobby threatened to out you as a pedo if you DIDN’T molest him, so why not enact a little justice? As with any Lakeview game, killing is most certainly an option, but don’t expect a walk in the park: people will fight back, scream for help, and go run to the sheriff if they witness/are a victim of a crime, and more likely than not, you’re initially fighting with a slow chainsaw, your stamina is that of a geriatric and you’re exposing your face while leaving a bloody trail. Killing like an amateur will bite you in the ass later on, so train your stamina, hide your identity, and leave no trace as you prey on your helpless victims. Doing so will reward you, as your friend in the shadows will bless you with powers that can add further efficiency to your tasks and dirty deeds. And who knows; you may just see these people again on a different plane of reality. Cons: The Bugs As much as I’ve praised this game, there is one thing that holds it back: the bugs. Given this game was released back in 2019 and did not have a massive following, the last update was in 2020, so there’s a lot of issues that remain untouched; some minor and some legitimately game breaking. Some minor ones that I’ve seen are being stuck in a dragging position despite not having a draggable item in sight, your character disappearing while using the Sauna, equipped items disappearing the next day if you grab food at Amy’s Diner, and menus overlapping when multiple are open. Game breaking wise, there’s one notable glitch where the next day will load but your character will not be there and you can’t do anything (Frank will usually also appear and threaten you despite being nowhere near him…). This, along with the minor bugs, can usually be fixed with a reboot of the game, but there was one case where every time I reboot, I was still gone and had to start a new save file. These bugs turned what is an otherwise great game into an occasionally frustrating one, and I don’t really have hope for an update or community fix given there’s no mod support and the last update was in 2020, so the best thing to do is hope rebooting the game fixes the bug you’re currently having. Final Verdict Lakeview Valley is a worthy, albeit flawed, entry to the series. It crafts a simplistic but effective open world rpg that allows for a lot of freedom, creativity, and experimentation as you either explore the murder mystery, help the town, or burn it to the ground one body at a time. The story is a slow burn, but the revelations help to contrast the generally laid back facade of the setting with grisly and pretty disturbing story beats. There’s plenty I haven’t touched on here in the story, including that there are multiple endings, though it’s best to go into most of it blind and experience it for yourself. The progression from a weak and timid newbie into a hardened, powerful, and sadistic killing machine is a slow but rewarding process if you have the patience for it. Though the bugs hold it back from being a must play, I genuinely enjoyed the time I spent with this game and it’s reignited my love for the series. For $15.99, if you can look past the bugs, you’ll find a relaxing, violent, shocking, and rewarding experience that will keep you fighting until the end. Score: 8/10
• gamedeal user

  Oct 25, 2019

  Imagine an 18+ stardew valley except instead of farming crops you just cut peoples faces off and wear them. At least thats one possible way of playing. You can also be a nice boy and gain the love of the villagers by helping them out with random crap, or you can ignore all the unwashed villagers and discover the secrets of this little village. Must buy for fans of Lakeview Cabin. BEWARE THOUGH. Its kinda buggy as hell right now. Considering its the work of one dude though its still impressive and given a few more updates could easily be worth more than the asking price.
• gamedeal user

  Oct 26, 2019

  Chilling and immersive, you'll find yourself doing horrible things or being chased by horrible things. So much to find and explore in the tiny town, many items to try to incorporate into your murder routine. Watching the sheriff assess your crime scenes is compelling, especially when you start staging them specifically to be discovered... Yep, you'll go dark and go into the dark. Strongly recommend this and all of this author's works. Still so much to see, just had to take a break at 12 hours gameplay to leave positivity.