Sights & Sounds
- The hand drawn + watercolor visuals are very charming. It's a great looking game
- The music is alright. While not bad, it certainly isn't all that memorable
- Counter to that is the sound design, which was actually quite good. The ominous titular creaking of the giant crumbling edifice you're exploring, the thunderous stomping of the creature that's stalking you, and even the subtle sounds of footsteps and light switches all contribute well to the game's gloomy tones
Story & Vibes
- It's not all doom and gloom, though. Creaks does a good job of breaking the tension with occasional doses of humor. There's nothing laugh-out-loud funny going on, but the occasional chuckle is appreciated
- There's not much of a story. You're just a guy living in a small apartment who climbs through a hole in the wall to discover a strange world full of monsters and puzzles. So basically Silent Hill 4
- That isn't to say that Creaks lacks a narrative. You are trying to help the residents of the large building defend against the giant who keeps bashing up their house, but the whole story unfolds passively as you progress
Playability & Replayability
- The puzzles in Creaks are pretty good and just difficult enough during the later stages to be satisfying. Just take your time, pay attention to the environment, and don't be afraid to experiment
- In some of the longer puzzles where it's possible to die, the game does a good job of providing checkpoints. It was a nice little quality-of-life touch
- Most of the puzzles revolve around positioning, sequencing, and timing. Nothing revolutionary, but still fun
- Be sure to poke around for secrets if you're trying to 100% the game. None of them are too deviously hidden (I only missed a single one by the time I finished). Fortunately, there's a chapter select after you beat the game that allows you to go back for any you passed up
Overall Impressions & Performance
- Amanita may only make one type of game (puzzle adventure games with amazing visuals, minimalist storytelling, and heaps of atmosphere), but they're damn good at it
- Creaks is an ideal Steam Deck game. I played most of it while dealing with air travel. It did a good job distracting me from the cramped 737 seat
Final Verdict
- 7/10. If you're already into Amanita games, this will definitely appeal to you and is definitely worth playing. It's not quite as heartfelt or complex as Machinarium, but it's still a good time with some clever puzzles. Nice to look at, too
- The hand drawn + watercolor visuals are very charming. It's a great looking game
- The music is alright. While not bad, it certainly isn't all that memorable
- Counter to that is the sound design, which was actually quite good. The ominous titular creaking of the giant crumbling edifice you're exploring, the thunderous stomping of the creature that's stalking you, and even the subtle sounds of footsteps and light switches all contribute well to the game's gloomy tones
Story & Vibes
- It's not all doom and gloom, though. Creaks does a good job of breaking the tension with occasional doses of humor. There's nothing laugh-out-loud funny going on, but the occasional chuckle is appreciated
- There's not much of a story. You're just a guy living in a small apartment who climbs through a hole in the wall to discover a strange world full of monsters and puzzles. So basically Silent Hill 4
- That isn't to say that Creaks lacks a narrative. You are trying to help the residents of the large building defend against the giant who keeps bashing up their house, but the whole story unfolds passively as you progress
Playability & Replayability
- The puzzles in Creaks are pretty good and just difficult enough during the later stages to be satisfying. Just take your time, pay attention to the environment, and don't be afraid to experiment
- In some of the longer puzzles where it's possible to die, the game does a good job of providing checkpoints. It was a nice little quality-of-life touch
- Most of the puzzles revolve around positioning, sequencing, and timing. Nothing revolutionary, but still fun
- Be sure to poke around for secrets if you're trying to 100% the game. None of them are too deviously hidden (I only missed a single one by the time I finished). Fortunately, there's a chapter select after you beat the game that allows you to go back for any you passed up
Overall Impressions & Performance
- Amanita may only make one type of game (puzzle adventure games with amazing visuals, minimalist storytelling, and heaps of atmosphere), but they're damn good at it
- Creaks is an ideal Steam Deck game. I played most of it while dealing with air travel. It did a good job distracting me from the cramped 737 seat
Final Verdict
- 7/10. If you're already into Amanita games, this will definitely appeal to you and is definitely worth playing. It's not quite as heartfelt or complex as Machinarium, but it's still a good time with some clever puzzles. Nice to look at, too