Wow! This game is amazing. Having originally bailed because it had a few too many hidden object minigames (which in retrospect were pretty front-loaded), I decided to revisit the first game in the series after loving the 3rd. I am so glad I did, because it’s easily one of the greatest games in the genre I’ve played.

Not many HOPA games are as high quality as the True Fear series, but this one is. It’s got the same polished and gritty art style that’s meticulously hand-drawn, as well as incredible minigames, inventory puzzles, exploration, and backtracking.

The game takes place at an abandoned medical research facility, so it is a dark eerie setting. It’s very atmospheric, and while not a horror game, it totally scratches a similar itch. It’s really satisfying to play and progress and it’s a rare treat to find games like this in the genre. It makes all the research worth it to finally find a hidden gem like this - and there’s 2 other games in the series! Not to mention 3 other series by the same dev.

Super recommended.