Uncanny Valley

Once you’ve learned what you can about the ‘twist’ after a few playthroughs, and the 'aha' realization wears off, there’s little reason to continue playing unless you’re working towards specific achievements or you really want to see every ending possible.

Compellingly creepy and narratively stimulating, but poorly served by its puzzles. [April 2017, p.84]

Exploring the facility and discovering the nuances of the plot are certainly the highlights of this game, but the lack of direction is a double-edged sword, giving players the opportunity to discover as much as they can but often leaving them unsure of what exactly they are supposed to be doing. The survival elements of this survival-horror also aren't as fully realised as they could have been and only appear during the short second half of the story. With a length of only one to two hours, it’s easy to finish a single playthrough in one sitting and still have plenty of time to go back in for more, but once you have discovered what secrets are lurking in the basement, there is very little to entice you back other than finishing up any missed achievements, of course.

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. It’s a unique adventure game that delves into a twisted psyche and tells a twisted, unhinged narrative with simple yet effective art that leaves enough to the imagination to keep some of the horror intact. The only major issue is with the repetitive nature of the game.

I loved the world of Uncanny Valley and the work that the developers have put into the tone, style and feel of the game. I didn’t like playing the game so much though and at times it felt like a horrible chore, mainly because of those controls.

Uncanny Valley has strong presentation and an interesting story to tell but it’s held back by bad execution and cumbersome controls.

Uncanny Valley has a couple of good ideas. Firstly, it has an interesting setting and plot, and the 2D action adventure approach works well at a conceptual level. The introduction of a compelling reason to replay the game, and the various means to progress through it and end it is also very welcome. Unfortunately, the combination of abysmal controls, poor combat and a lot of repetition in almost every area can make it hard to get the most out of Uncanny Valley, and as a result, it's not going to be for everyone.