From my old Steam review, posted in 2014:
"I don't know why I keep on coming back to this rather short game. With four levels, each with four endings - one official and three alternative - and a set of 'collectables' (read: photos) to find, TRAUMA is short. So what is it about it which makes me come back? Is it the mechanics of actions which you can use to clear the levels? Or is it the story of someone who was caught in a car crash, and how the levels help explore her mind's state as she recovers?"
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It has been three years since I did that review on Steam for TRAUMA, a point and click adventure based in the dreams of a young woman who survives a car crash, but is in hospital recovering from said crash. And now that I look back on it, with fresh eyes due to not playing it for over a year, I can still see the charm of it.
The Graphics:
TRAUMA is, first and foremost, similar to an FMV game in terms of graphics, but instead opts to use stills which you can move around either through clicking or through the use of special gestures - but I'll explain them when it comes to the difficulty. There are some FMV sequences, like the introduction, the short films which play once you complete the main ending of each dream and the two endings, but otherwise TRAUMA opts for a photographic look with the odd neon glowing symbol.
The Sound:
TRAUMA doesn't have a lot in terms of music and sound, with it being a short game, but what music and sounds there are do manage to fit into the game.
The Addictiveness and Depth:
TRAUMA is short. You can possibly beat the main story in about 15 minutes, maybe less, and to collect everything might take up to an hour. But, as I explained in the old review, there's something about it which makes me come back, even after completing the game. There might not be any achievements either. So this is more of a matter of taste and if it tugs at your heart.
The Story:
TRAUMA has an interesting story if you look hard enough. While some of it is explained through the cutscreens and the endings, there are photos which add some more detail to it. But it's very short, as I had explained earlier. And it's best experienced for yourself.
The Difficulty:
TRAUMA is mostly easy to get to grips with, but while most of the controls are good, one of the four Ending Powers (These powers are taught once per level, and is needed to clear the main ending of that level as well as one of the alternative endings of each of the three other levels) can be a bit tricky to preform. The one in question is the 'Capture' power, which is used to capture standing 'ghosts'. It may take a few times to get it right. And you'd need that not only to clear the main ending of the level you get it in, in order to get the first ending, you'll need it to get three of the alternative endings in other levels. And trying to find all the photos to unlock the true ending is not easy, as some are well hidden. Thankfully, once you get all four endings in a level, you get the ability to sense how close you are to specific photos in a way similar to 'getting warmer/colder' when looking for something someone else has hidden.
The Verdict:
TRAUMA isn't for everyone, and I'm not sure if it's worth the full price of $6.99 (or £4.39) - then again, I got it as part of a bundle. But it is one of the strangest point and click games I ever played, and I still can't help but keep coming back for more - I've sunk over a full day's worth of playtime into this game even before I came back to it. As such, it gets 7.3/10 from me. From my old Steam review, posted in 2014:
"I don't know why I keep on coming back to this rather short game. With four levels, each with four endings - one official and three alternative - and a set of 'collectables' (read: photos) to find, TRAUMA is short. So what is it about it which makes me come back? Is it the mechanics of actions which you can use to clear the levels? Or is it the story of someone who was caught in a car crash, and how the levels help explore her mind's state as she recovers?"
----------
It has been three years since I did that review on Steam for TRAUMA, a point and click adventure based in the dreams of a young woman who survives a car crash, but is in hospital recovering from said crash. And now that I look back on it, with fresh eyes due to not playing it for over a year, I can still see the charm of it.
The Graphics:
TRAUMA is, first and foremost, similar to an FMV game in terms of graphics, but instead opts to use stills which you can move around either through clicking or through the use of special gestures - but I'll explain them when it comes to the difficulty. There are some FMV sequences, like the introduction, the short films which play once you complete the main ending of each dream and the two endings, but otherwise TRAUMA opts for a photographic look with the odd neon glowing symbol.
The Sound:
TRAUMA doesn't have a lot in terms of music and sound, with it being a short game, but what music and sounds there are do manage to fit into the game.
The Addictiveness and Depth:
TRAUMA is short. You can possibly beat the main story in about 15 minutes, maybe less, and to collect everything might take up to an hour. But, as I explained in the old review, there's something about it which makes me come back, even after completing the game. There might not be any achievements either. So this is more of a matter of taste and if it tugs at your heart.
The Story:
TRAUMA has an interesting story if you look hard enough. While some of it is explained through the cutscreens and the endings, there are photos which add some more detail to it. But it's very short, as I had explained earlier. And it's best experienced for yourself.
The Difficulty:
TRAUMA is mostly easy to get to grips with, but while most of the controls are good, one of the four Ending Powers (These powers are taught once per level, and is needed to clear the main ending of that level as well as one of the alternative endings of each of the three other levels) can be a bit tricky to preform. The one in question is the 'Capture' power, which is used to capture standing 'ghosts'. It may take a few times to get it right. And you'd need that not only to clear the main ending of the level you get it in, in order to get the first ending, you'll need it to get three of the alternative endings in other levels. And trying to find all the photos to unlock the true ending is not easy, as some are well hidden. Thankfully, once you get all four endings in a level, you get the ability to sense how close you are to specific photos in a way similar to 'getting warmer/colder' when looking for something someone else has hidden.
The Verdict:
TRAUMA isn't for everyone, and I'm not sure if it's worth the full price of $6.99 (or £4.39) - then again, I got it as part of a bundle. But it is one of the strangest point and click games I ever played, and I still can't help but keep coming back for more - I've sunk over a full day's worth of playtime into this game even before I came back to it. As such, it gets 7.3/10 from me. |
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