The first half of Cry of Fear delivers a top tier horror experience. Its claustrophobic environments create a sense of unease and the deliberately janky combat amplifies the tension. The light puzzles help it maintain a well-paced flow, preventing any sense of monotony.

But then, Chapter 4 hits and I go : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsV7JoDPajU

It takes an unexpected turn into an uninspiring fetch quest with a more action-oriented approach. This slight shift in gameplay in increaseing enemy spawn rate in more open areas, doesn't quite align with the game's Silent Hill-esque combat. Moreover, the iconic Half-Life 1 jank become more unbearable during platforming and nightmare sections, making me a lot more grateful for Valve's inclusion of quicksaves in all their singleplayer games.

As for the story, it's alright. Although, like with some other indie horror games, I can't help but evoke the thought, 'this is just doing what Silent Hill 2 did way better.' But it's worth noting that Cry of Fear was developed by a group of college boys, not a team of AAA professionals. The game radiates a genuine sense of passion and commitment and the flaws don't overshadow the effort and dedication poured into creating it.

It has heart, a somewhat janky heart, but it is still in the right place.