Panelak

Gameplay

The basic controls consist of classic elements – walking, running, sneaking, and jumping. The game includes a short built-in tutorial that introduces the player to the controls and interaction with the environment. Thanks to this, the entry into the game is smooth and does not seem confusing.

I positively evaluate this introduction, which helps to quickly understand the basic mechanics and better focus on the atmosphere itself.

However, a certain weakness is the inventory. It is opened with the Tab key or when using items, but controlling it with the mouse wheel works the opposite of what would be intuitive. Another problem is the accumulation of items that do not gradually disappear from the inventory and rather get in the way towards the end of the game.

Music

The musical background during the game does not seem distracting, but at the same time, it is not very memorable. Given the short game time (two passes took me slightly over three hours), the music does not have enough space to be deeply ingrained in memory.

However, the sound effects and ambient sound are well-made and support the atmosphere of the game. A big plus is the local Czech dubbing, which is good for a smaller independent game and does not seem intrusive.

Graphics

The graphics are one of the game's strengths. The apartment building is created in Unreal Engine 5 and looks very decent visually. The filter used gives the image a gray, slightly faded look, which is well-suited to the horror setting of the apartment building.

However, the use of a modern engine takes its toll in the form of higher hardware requirements. On older systems, players will not enjoy the game to the highest details.

In some places, I noticed strange behavior of the light - for example, the windows suddenly lit up when passing by with a flashlight. On the other hand, the game can also offer very realistic lighting effects, so these are rather minor technical shortcomings.

Story

The story is introduced right at the beginning, and its goal is clear - to get to the roof of the apartment building and prevent a tragedy. Throughout the game, you are accompanied by an effort to fulfill this goal, while gradually encountering unusual house rules that complicate and, at the same time, make the passage through the house special.

The content of the story itself is based on the repeated completion of tasks, but thanks to the imaginative execution, it does not seem downright tiring.

Optimization

The optimization is at a good level. Setting the game in a relatively small and enclosed space of a panel house significantly helps performance.

In several cases, I noticed objects that were drawn later or, conversely, disappeared earlier than they should, especially in the final part of the game. However, given the small scale of the game, these are minor things that do not fundamentally disrupt the experience.

Content and pace

The pace of the game is very brisk. You get to the panel house almost immediately, and the main character continuously writes down in a diary what needs to be done next.

Tasks are often based on the simple principle of "find the key" or "unlock the next path". However, due to the short game time, this repetitiveness does not have a particularly negative effect.

However, there may be times when you lose your bearings. The game often just announces the goal without providing any more specific clues. Several times, I found myself wandering around the apartment for several minutes or looking for the right angle for interaction, which can be frustrating for some players.

Despite the fact that it is a horror game, the game did not strike me as downright scary. Rather than fear, it evokes a slight tension and sense of uncertainty, and the interactions with monsters seem more symbolic than threatening. So if the player is looking for an intense horror experience, they may be disappointed, but as an atmospheric snack from an unconventional environment, the game works well.