Release Date: April 23, 2015
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Platforms:
PC Windows April 23, 2015
PlayStation Vita February 8, 2017
PlayStation 4 February 8, 2017
Xbox One February 10, 2017
Nintendo Switch December 25, 2018
Developer: Cowardly Creations
Publisher: Digerati
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System Requirements for Uncanny Valley Video Game:
PC / Windows
Minimum System Requirements:
Intel Core i3 2.5 GHz, 2 GB RAM, graphic card 512 MB GeForce 8800 GT or better, 200 MB HDD, Windows 7.
Game Ratings for Uncanny Valley Video Game.
Twinfinite: 3 / 5 by Matthew Herst
If you want to rush through Uncanny Valley you won't get the full experience. One play through is not enough to learn the ins and outs of the town, how to accomplish specific objectives, and what the story is really trying to convey.
Cubed3: 6 / 10 by Thom Compton
Uncanny Valley is going to catch some players' eyes, and leave a lot of others wondering if they missed something. The painful truth is that they didn't. The game is often too counterproductive to be enjoyed, as it manages to tackle every good idea with a bad one. At first, it feels like Silent Hill, then the dread sets in that it might just be the parts people were indifferent to, or didn't like. Any survival horror fan should check it out, but don't expect anything more than a game with a lot of potential that never quite realises it.
Digitally ed: 2.5 / 5
If the developers had been content to just play to the game's strengths as an adventure game, Uncanny Valley could have been something really good. Sadly, the shoehorning in of dull "survival horror" pulls the rug out from under that potential.
Average score from votes.