GYLT

The opinions of the critics regarding the story of GYLT are varied, but there are some common positive aspects that emerge. Many critics praise the game for its exploration of themes such as bullying, loneliness, and childhood nightmares. They appreciate how the narrative touches on real-world issues and raises questions about the characters' motivations and the town's transformation. Critics like Adventure Gamers and Digital Chumps commend the emotional burden and desperation carried by the protagonist, Sally, and how it creates the right emotions. IGN Spain highlights the strong voice acting in Spanish, which adds to the engaging nature of the narrative. Additionally, critics such as GameSpew and SomosXbox find the story engaging and impactful, leaving a lasting impression on players. However, there are also negative opinions regarding the story of GYLT. Some critics, like Wccftech and GamingBolt, criticize the lack of subtlety in the game's execution, particularly in delivering its message about bullying. They find the twist to be obvious and the character moments to come off as preachy. IGN Portugal mentions that the story is short and simple, which may leave some players wanting more depth and exploration. PlayStation Universe feels that the weighty themes in the story are not explored deeply enough, leading to a predictable narrative that is not fleshed out. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the story of GYLT is engaging, with positive elements such as its exploration of real-world issues and emotional impact. The game effectively tackles themes of bullying and loneliness, leaving players thinking and reflecting on their own experiences. However, some critics feel that the execution lacks subtlety and depth, leading to a predictable narrative and missed opportunities for further exploration. Despite these criticisms, the overall sentiment is that GYLT delivers a narrative that resonates with players and successfully conveys its message about bullying and its consequences.

In analyzing the opinions of the critics regarding the gameplay of GYLT, it is evident that there are both positive and negative aspects to consider. Starting with the positives, the majority of critics praise the inclusion of stealth mechanics in the gameplay. Adventure Gamers commends the well-implemented stealth mechanics, while GamingTrend highlights the various ways to deal with enemies, including sneaking and using a flashlight to distract or defeat them. This suggests that the stealth gameplay in GYLT is engaging and offers players multiple options for approaching encounters. Additionally, several critics appreciate the inclusion of puzzles in the gameplay. Digital Chumps mentions that the gameplay mechanics are tightly knit with the story and offer a variety of mechanics and design, while KeenGamer emphasizes the need for player intuition in solving environmental puzzles. These positive remarks indicate that the puzzles in GYLT provide a satisfying challenge and contribute to the overall immersive experience. However, there are also some negative aspects to consider. Noisy Pixel criticizes the lack of tension in encounters, stating that the player is equipped too well and encounters lack tension. IGN Portugal echoes this sentiment, stating that the gameplay is not challenging or scary enough for adult players. This suggests that the gameplay may lack a sense of difficulty and intensity, potentially impacting the overall immersion and engagement for some players. Furthermore, some critics mention that the combat mechanics in GYLT are basic or weak. PlayStation Universe states that the combat system is weak, while Push Square describes it as tedious and easily avoidable with the stealth system. These criticisms suggest that the combat mechanics may not be as satisfying or engaging as other aspects of the gameplay. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that GYLT offers a gameplay experience that combines elements of stealth, puzzles, and combat. The inclusion of well-implemented stealth mechanics and engaging puzzles are highlighted as positive aspects. However, the lack of tension in encounters and the perceived weakness of the combat mechanics are mentioned as potential drawbacks. It is important to note that while some critics express disappointment with certain aspects of the gameplay, others find it enjoyable and well-balanced.

The opinions of the critics regarding the Graphics and Visual Design of GYLT are generally positive. The game's art style is often praised for its unique and stylized approach, with several critics mentioning the cartoonish aesthetic that adds to the game's atmosphere. Adventure Gamers commends the level of detail in the environments, while COGconnected describes the art design as reminiscent of animated fairy tales with a darker subtext. Digital Chumps also highlights the well-designed creepy environments and character models. IGN Spain praises the game's visually impressive design, emphasizing the well-crafted art direction and smooth transitions between cinematics and gameplay. TheXboxHub mentions the fresh cartoon-like vibe and attractive character and location designs. These positive opinions indicate that the game's graphics and visual design successfully create a unique and immersive world, with attention to detail and a visually appealing art style. However, there are some negative opinions regarding the Graphics and Visual Design of GYLT. Noisy Pixel criticizes the functional visuals, mentioning that the shadows can be too harsh, making it difficult to see, and the flashlight is not helpful enough. GamingBolt states that the visuals are not impressive and that there are no improvements in the re-release. The Games Machine criticizes the lack of distinctive visual design. These criticisms suggest that while the game's graphics may have some flaws or lack innovation, they do not significantly detract from the overall experience. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that GYLT has a visually appealing and well-crafted art style that effectively creates a creepy and immersive atmosphere. The game's stylized graphics, cartoonish aesthetics, and attention to detail are frequently praised. Critics like GameMAG, GamingTrend, and Vandal mention the game's homage to horror titles and its ability to create a disturbing atmosphere. IGN Portugal and SomosXbox highlight the game's representation of the protagonist's perception of reality and the outstanding use of light and shadows. While there are some negative opinions regarding certain aspects of the visuals, the overall sentiment is positive, indicating that the Graphics and Visual Design of GYLT contribute positively to the game's overall experience.

The opinions of the critics regarding the sound design and music of GYLT are overwhelmingly positive. The majority of the critics praised the game's soundtrack, describing it as beautiful, amazing, magnificent, and high-quality. Cris Velasco's composition was particularly highlighted, with critics mentioning his ability to create a range of emotions through his music, from heavy and dramatic to haunting and somber. Adventure Gamers specifically mentioned that the orchestral score in GYLT enhances the atmosphere of the game, while IGN Spain noted that the soundtrack effectively complements the on-screen action with tension, combat, and escape. The voice acting and sound effects were also commended, with critics such as Digital Chumps and PlayStation Universe mentioning that they contribute to the overall atmosphere and increase the feeling of being trapped in a horrible place. Despite the overall positive reception, there were a few criticisms regarding the sound design and music of GYLT. GamingBolt mentioned that the jumpscares were not effective, suggesting that they could have been improved. KeenGamer pointed out synchronization issues with enemy music, which could potentially disrupt the immersion of players. Meristation also mentioned that the integration of dynamic music and cinematic sequences could be improved, although they still acknowledged the decent Spanish dub and the work of Cris Velasco. In conclusion, the consensus among the critics is that the sound design and music of GYLT are very good. The majority of the critics praised the game's soundtrack, highlighting its ability to enhance the atmosphere, create tension, and contribute to the overall experience. The voice acting and sound effects were also well-received, with critics noting their effectiveness in building tension and uneasiness. While there were some minor criticisms regarding jumpscares, synchronization issues, and the integration of dynamic music, these were overshadowed by the overall positive reception. Overall, the sound design and music of GYLT were highly regarded by the critics, adding to the immersive and atmospheric nature of the game.

The overall sentiment towards the voice acting in GYLT is predominantly positive. Critics such as COGconnected, Digital Chumps, GamingBolt, IGN Spain, Meristation, PlayStation Universe, Vandal, But Why Tho?, and TheXboxHub all express satisfaction with the voice performances in the game. They highlight various positive aspects, including the effectiveness of the voice acting in bringing the characters to life, enhancing immersion, and supporting the emotional journey of the main character, Sally. IGN Spain specifically praises the Spanish dub, describing it as excellent and contributing to the overall atmosphere of the game. TheXboxHub also commends the lead voiceover work, stating that it is of a high standard. While the majority of critics have positive opinions about the voice acting, there are a few who express more mixed or average views. Hobby Consolas considers the voice acting to be average, without providing further details or elaboration. This suggests that while the voice performances may not stand out as exceptional, they are still competent and do not detract from the overall experience. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the voice acting in GYLT is generally good and satisfactory. The positive aspects highlighted by multiple reviewers, such as the effective portrayal of characters, the contribution to immersion, and the high standard of the lead voiceover work, indicate that the voice acting adds value to the game. While there are a few mixed opinions, the positive sentiment from the majority of critics suggests that the voice acting in GYLT is a notable strength of the game.

In terms of the Technical Performance of GYLT, the majority of critics had positive opinions across different gaming platforms. COGconnected, who played the game on PC, commended the smooth and sharp port with no noticeable framerate drops or hiccups. GameSpew, who played on PS5, praised the rock-solid performance and brief loading times. MeuPlayStation also played on PS5 and noted the absence of frame rate drops or sudden crashes, describing the performance as satisfactory. While the overall sentiment regarding the Technical Performance of GYLT is positive, there were a few criticisms mentioned by some critics. Meristation, who played on PS5, pointed out that while the game runs smoothly in local mode, there are some audiovisual and gameplay aspects that could use more polish. Multiplayer.it mentioned animation and camera issues, although they still recognized the good technical and stylistic work in the game. The Games Machine mentioned "piccoli glitch e problemi di compenetrazione poligonale" (small glitches and polygonal penetration problems), indicating some technical imperfections. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that GYLT delivers a solid Technical Performance across different gaming platforms. The smooth and sharp port on PC, rock-solid performance on PS5, and absence of major issues such as frame rate drops or crashes contribute to a positive experience for players. While there were some minor criticisms regarding audiovisual aspects and technical imperfections, these did not significantly detract from the overall positive sentiment towards the game's Technical Performance.

In analyzing the opinions of the critics regarding the replay value of GYLT, it is evident that there are both positive and negative aspects to consider. Several critics, such as GameMAG and IGN Spain, highlight the game's hidden diaries, special items, and collectibles that can affect the ending, providing some replay value. These elements encourage exploration and completionist playthroughs, adding depth to the gameplay experience. Additionally, IGN Spain mentions the inclusion of a New Game+ mode called 'Return to Campus,' which further enhances the replayability of the game. On the other hand, critics like COGconnected and GamingBolt express concerns about the game's short length and lack of remarkable mechanics, which may limit its replay value. COGconnected specifically mentions the game's five-hour length, while GamingBolt states that there is little incentive to replay the game except for alternate endings and collectibles. Furthermore, But Why Tho? highlights the unsatisfying conclusion of the game, which may diminish the desire to further explore the story. Overall, the general consensus among the critics is that GYLT offers some replay value through its hidden diaries, special items, and collectibles. The inclusion of multiple endings, player choices, and a New Game+ mode adds depth to the gameplay experience and encourages players to revisit the game. However, the game's short length and lack of remarkable mechanics are seen as potential drawbacks that may limit the desire for multiple playthroughs. Despite these concerns, the impactful themes, memorable presentation, and engaging collectibles are praised by critics like COGconnected, GameSpew, and Push Square, further highlighting the positive aspects of the game's replay value.