骷髅X:回文恐惧症

Gameplay is a hybrid beast: visual novel segments where dialogue and decisions shape the plot, seamlessly interspersed with turn-based tactical battles. The narrative branching is the cornerstone—choices in character interactions, resource allocation, and combat outcomes directly impact subsequent chapters, creating a web of causality that feels genuinely consequential. Each mercenary brings unique skills to grid-based battles against supernatural foes, demanding strategic positioning and ability cooldown management. However, the combat system, while serviceable, lacks depth; encounters often devolve into repetitive skirmishes with limited enemy variety and simplistic AI, making it feel more like a narrative checkpoint than a tactical challenge. The survival mechanics—managing morale, supplies, and psychological stress—are underdeveloped, reducing tension to a superficial level. Still, the integration of battles into the story flow is innovative, avoiding jarring transitions and keeping pacing tight, albeit at the cost of combat complexity.

Visually, the game embraces austerity, likely a byproduct of its modest specs. Character portraits are static and stylized but lack polish, with occasional animation hiccups that break immersion. Environments are rendered in basic 2D with limited detail, evoking a low-budget aesthetic that fails to capitalize on the horror setting—shadowy labs and forests feel more like placeholders than menacing spaces. Audio design fares slightly better: ambient drones and sparse sound effects (distant screams, shuffling footsteps) sporadically build unease, but the soundtrack is forgettable and often absent during key moments. This minimalist approach may appeal to purists who prioritize narrative, but it underwhelms in an era where even indies leverage art direction to enhance atmosphere. The result is a technically functional but artistically uninspired package that leans heavily on player imagination to fill the gaps.