
57
MONSTER
Perception is a first-person narrative horror adventure that tells the story of Cassie, a blind heroine who uses her extraordinary hearing and razor-sharp wits to unravel the mysteries of an abandoned estate that haunts her dreams.
Game analysis
Monster Scorecard
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Story and Narrative
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58
Perception blends atmospheric horror with a gripping, character-driven narrative through its blind protagonist’s journey, praised for emotional depth and mysterious items. However, overreliance on clichés, underdeveloped themes, and an unsatisfying ending undermine its potential, creating a polarizing experience between ambitious concept and flawed execution.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR STORY
Story Score
58
Positive Reviews (80-100)
14%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
58%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
28%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the story and narrative.
TL;DR
story and narrative
Perception blends atmospheric horror with a gripping, character-driven narrative through its blind protagonist’s journey, praised for emotional depth and mysterious items. However, overreliance on clichés, underdeveloped themes, and an unsatisfying ending undermine its potential, creating a polarizing experience between ambitious concept and flawed execution.
Gameplay Mechanics
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56
Perception’s echolocation mechanic is a brilliant concept that redefines horror exploration, but its repetitive gameplay, shallow puzzles, and technical flaws undermine its potential, leaving players stuck in a frustrating, underwhelming experience.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR GAMEPLAY
Gameplay Score
56
Positive Reviews (80-100)
6%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
69%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
25%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the gameplay mechanics.
TL;DR
gameplay mechanics
Perception’s echolocation mechanic is a brilliant concept that redefines horror exploration, but its repetitive gameplay, shallow puzzles, and technical flaws undermine its potential, leaving players stuck in a frustrating, underwhelming experience.
Graphics and Visual Design
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61
Perception’s bold visual design creatively simulates blindness through echolocation and color-coded environments, earning praise for thematic cohesion and atmospheric tension, but its repetitive monochrome palette and lack of texture draw criticism for feeling stale and underdeveloped.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR VISUALS
Visual Score
61
Positive Reviews (80-100)
14%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
75%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
11%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the graphics and visual design.
TL;DR
graphics and visual design
Perception’s bold visual design creatively simulates blindness through echolocation and color-coded environments, earning praise for thematic cohesion and atmospheric tension, but its repetitive monochrome palette and lack of texture draw criticism for feeling stale and underdeveloped.
Music and Sound Design
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73
Praise for Perception's sound design as a bold, immersive horror mechanic, but criticism over jump-scare reliance, repetitive audio, and underdeveloped elements like music and voice acting undermine its potential.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR SOUND DESIGN
Sound Score
73
Positive Reviews (80-100)
59%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
28%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
14%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the music and sound design.
TL;DR
music and sound design
Praise for Perception's sound design as a bold, immersive horror mechanic, but criticism over jump-scare reliance, repetitive audio, and underdeveloped elements like music and voice acting undermine its potential.
Voice Acting
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58
Voice acting in Perception is a mixed bag—praised for emotional depth and immersive character work, but criticized for inconsistency, flat delivery, and lack of horror immersion, leaving its impact unevenly felt.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR VOICE ACTING
Acting Score
58
Positive Reviews (80-100)
23%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
55%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
23%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the voice acting.
TL;DR
voice acting
Voice acting in Perception is a mixed bag—praised for emotional depth and immersive character work, but criticized for inconsistency, flat delivery, and lack of horror immersion, leaving its impact unevenly felt.
Technical Performance
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56
Perception’s tech glitches vary by platform: PS4 grapples with frequent bugs, Xbox One faces isolated issues, and PC delivers stability despite minor hiccups, with all systems struggling to match the game’s chilling atmosphere.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE
Tech Score
56
Positive Reviews (80-100)
0%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
75%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
25%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the technical performance.
TL;DR
technical performance
Perception’s tech glitches vary by platform: PS4 grapples with frequent bugs, Xbox One faces isolated issues, and PC delivers stability despite minor hiccups, with all systems struggling to match the game’s chilling atmosphere.
Replay Value
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34
Perception is a brief, atmospheric horror title with strong initial appeal but suffers from short length, repetitive mechanics, and no post-game incentives, making it a one-time experience despite its stylish concept.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR REPLAY VALUE
Replay Score
34
Positive Reviews (80-100)
0%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
13%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
87%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the replay value.
TL;DR
replay value
Perception is a brief, atmospheric horror title with strong initial appeal but suffers from short length, repetitive mechanics, and no post-game incentives, making it a one-time experience despite its stylish concept.
Overall Verdict
57
MONSTER
OVERALL SCORE DISTRIBUTION
Monster Score
57
Positive Reviews (80-100)
9%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
73%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
18%
Based on analyzing all available reviews that scored and critiqued the game.
TL;DR
Perception’s innovative echolocation mechanic and empathetic storytelling shine, but repetitive gameplay, hollow horror, and clunky design leave it as a polarizing, unfulfilled experiment.
57
MONSTER
Reviews
99 reviews found83
Game Informer
May 25, 2017
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Perception is a memorable horror experience that succeeds through its unique setup, gameplay mechanics, and atmospheric tension. While not relentlessly terrifying, it effectively keeps players engaged with its mystery and psychological scares.
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80
PSX Extreme
Sep 13, 2017
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
A unique, heartfelt experience with innovative mechanics and a compelling story. While flawed in technical aspects and length, it offers a memorable blend of horror and emotional depth that stands out from typical 'walking simulators'.
75
CGMagazine
May 30, 2017
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Perception is a passionate, original take on first-person horror with strong sound design and unique mechanics. While it suffers from repetition and uneven narrative moments, its fresh approach and short length make it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre.
75
NintendoWorldReport
Nov 17, 2017
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Perception is a unique, suspense-driven experience that prioritizes atmosphere and storytelling over action or horror. It offers several hours of engagement for players who appreciate its slow-burn approach but may falter in repetition later on.
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73
GameCrate
Jun 20, 2017
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Perception is an intriguing but uneven experience. While it excels in atmosphere and unique gameplay concepts, flaws in storytelling, repetition, and a rushed conclusion prevent it from being a standout title. It succeeds as an 'ok game' but falls short of greatness.
73
GamePro Germany
Jul 23, 2017
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Perception is a solid but underwhelming experience. While its innovative concept and atmospheric elements are commendable, it fails to fully realize the potential of its blindness mechanic, resulting in a game that feels more like a standard adventure than a groundbreaking horror experience.
70
GameGrin
Jul 24, 2017
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
The game is deemed worth playing despite its flaws, with praise for its unique mechanics and atmosphere. It offers an interesting experience but isn't consistently great.
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70
Multiplayer.it
May 25, 2017
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
The game has a strong narrative and innovative use of sound design, but struggles with gameplay mechanics, puzzle difficulty, and technical issues. It is praised for its storytelling and atmosphere but falls short in delivering a challenging or polished experience.
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65
God is a Geek
Jun 27, 2017
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Perception is an enjoyable game with strong voice acting and sound design, but its gameplay mechanics feel repetitive and overly simplified. While it successfully conveys its themes of adversity, the lack of challenge and occasional technical shortcomings prevent it from being a standout experience.
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65
Gaming Nexus
Jul 18, 2017
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
The game is acknowledged as a creative effort with clever mechanics and an engaging narrative, but it falls short in delivering horror and depth. The reviewer appreciates its originality and ambition but feels it lacks the substance of AAA titles, ultimately calling it a style-over-substance experience.
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