The Order of the Snake Scale

Interesting but tiresome, The Order of the Snake Scale combines the Twin Peaks pattern (government investigator called in to solve 'weird' murder of woman in small town) with some slight cyberpunk and cosmic horror elements. The writing has some charm and twists, but really needed a pass or two from a native English speaker. Puzzles are often obscure and frustrating, with related elements placed far away from each other, requiring onerous trudging across a dull, oversized map in order to test theories and find items. Traversal is fine, minimal jank. Combat is fiddly, despite the innovative camera-in-camera 'aiming view' when the player prepares a ranged attack. Ammunition is seems incredibly scarce, which is a problem for a game with this kind of artificial length - I can see players investing a lot of time into this only to be unable to finish the experience due to a lack of bullets. Sound effects are okay, music is passable, though it does tend to repeat and incorporates a number of stings into background tracks which will occasionally make you think something dramatic is about to happen... and then nothing does. Controls are mostly okay, though the pad layout seems a littl…

Unfortunately can't recommend this one. What bills itself as a survival horror game is actually a frustrating adventure game, with puzzles that have you backtracking all over the map trying to find the one little item in a corner that you missed. After my third time having to look up a solution and realizing I would have to backtrack all the way to the start of the game, I decided to call it quits. The other frustrating bit of this game calling itself survival horror is that there's no survival aspect (healing items and bullets are EVERYWHERE, I was never even close to running out) and there's no horror aspect; the game very rarely sets up scenarios that are even remotely scary. Enemies (of which I think there are only 2 types) always announce themselves before running at you, and combat is largely a joke that is rarely threatening. The game is also constantly blasting its moody, ambient tracks in the background, rarely allowing for any moments of silence or tension to be felt. It's frustrating because there is something here that is interesting; I love the fixed camera perspectives and tank controls coupled with the first-person aiming. The visuals are pretty solid and the…

1 part point and click, 1/2 part Resident Evil tank controls, 2/7ths first person shooter, a dash of cyberpunk, a dram of cosmic horror(?) and as many chances to get stopped on a portruding bit of scenery as you can handle and you have Order of the Snake Scale. Played on an Xbox controller. What you need to know. 1. You've come to a small town to investigate the death of a young woman and will do very little of that. 2. Check the controls before you play. You HAVE A FLASHLIGHT. Use it. 3. You are a cyborg but you will regret not getting leg implants because you will be walking a lot. 4. As with most adventure games you need to find a object you can pick up to use on an object you cannot. 5. Search every area VERY thoroughly. Just because you have the shavings of cat hair doesn't mean you should run back to the mustache maker right away. Because tucked out of sight behind the pile of cat hair is bottle of bourbon you will need to give to a worker so he quits his job, so you can tell his supervisor that, so his supervisor can go after him, leaving his security card unattended on the table that you can't take while he's there because he yells at you cybog cop man working for the…

Horrible controls, lighting and the camera movement actually makes you feel sick.

This is a hidden gem to me. I loved the writing and the plot. the combat is satisfactory i'd call it. I did find myself using the red eye to move around more then the 3rd person over world static camera after a while. The atmosphere and music is wonderful and fit greatly with the mood. It would be nice if there was a few points to fast travel from one side of the map to the area but other then that. This game really reminded me of old point and click adventure style games more then anything. It was a fun adventure.

This is a very fun game. It is enjoyable to use the first-person perspective in the third person view. The tank movement is good and it's possible to use the first person view as an alternative to third person controls. The game does not handhold and builds unique environments for the player to explore. The storyline is interesting and provides depth for the characters as well as the world.