Sometimes, I feel like the power of a .EXE and the presentation of it really miss the mark.
I mean, it feels like sometimes a character will just happen across a .EXE and then whuh-oh, suddenly Happy Zone is now HELL Zone and everything is dying and on fire‼️‼️‼️
This also feeds into the repetition factor, which I also feel like is also a strong criticism.
But I mean, would it kill someone to make a more nuanced .EXE? There are more ways to make something scary than shock factor and jumpscares, just saying.
Most of the .EXE games' plots are sameish:
"Oh no, this game is actually possessed by the protagonist's deceased family member!" or "Oh no, turns out that this game killed a person!", you name it.
Another thing is the extreme use of fourth wall breaks since it's trendy now. If used correctly then it might actually be unnerving. But a lot of games just tend to break it every five seconds, pull out your PC name or just open the maps on your PC, it's overused and not spooky anymore.
does Sonic.exe kill for sport? for fun? does he have to rip innocent souls or is he punishing bad actions? is he working alone or is he part of something bigger? is he doing this willingly or is he forced to? can he be redeemed or is he too far gone?
Having the same "Tails Knuckles Eggman" trio as if it was a Spongebob Patrick video (goated channel btw check them out)
Said characters being essentially "walk right and see them be brutally tortured"
no actual unique formula for 90% of them
A lack of 3D Sonic.EXE games...
i said this on youtube alreadym but i really wish more of them tackled good endings instead
it always feels more rewarding and enjoyable to finish when the ending isnt just "muhh me alll powerful me god you die muahahaha"
There is an unfortunate lack of EXE games that play like actual Sonic games/fangames
EYX dabbled with this concept, and a bunch of Mario horror games do this too (My Mario Game). They have full levels, gimmicks and even bosses whilst still maintaining the horror aspect and being fun on top of that
not everyone is the best at everything, i get it (my super mario maker 1 levels from back then have the worst level designs ever) but i feel like getting playtesters or outside feedback can help with the issues i listed
my own personal gripe is that a lot of them feel kinda repetitive. I don't mind if an exe game is cheesy or "bad", as to me it adds to its charm. i just find a lot of them lately feel very, very repetitive. but thats just my own, single personal gripe lol
mostly EXE parody games (not sunky though)
like from what I've seen it's usually just "Sonic.EXE but WACKY meme sounds and images!" and it's just so bland and unfunny most of the time
I think that there should be a parody EXE game where the victims are just tired with him or he fails at killing 'em
My main issue with exe games is that there isn't much gameplay. That's why many people called them walking sims with them ending in the character you are playing as dying. I wish it wasn't those two things.
this is not necessarily bad but its kinda sad they always use sonic
i understand for example shadow is already edgy but where are amy exes? wheres stuff about daisys third eye?
also i love when creepypastas talk about important irl topics like my mario game was about guilt(?), im sad most just [1/2]
I know it’s really easy to just edit sprites but come ON. Stuff like Tails’ Nightmare are insanely memorable for this exact reason. Make a game that visually stands out! Be unique! It’s cool!
I feel like most don’t play with the idea of a rogue entity/AI wrecking stuff very well, it’s the same dime a dozen “OOH POPULAR FRIENDLY CHARACTER BUT EVIL AND SCAAAAARY”
Ya’ll can do better
Rewrite feels like the only realistic EXE that I've actually seen due to how accurate to the 90s he looks
like he looks like a Sega Saturn character who would also be in a PC port
One issue I have is whenever it’s very clearly directed at one specific YouTuber, whenever a .exe game is like that it makes it feel less fun to play cuz it’s not as immersive of an experience if that makes any sense
Comments
I mean, it feels like sometimes a character will just happen across a .EXE and then whuh-oh, suddenly Happy Zone is now HELL Zone and everything is dying and on fire‼️‼️‼️
I dunno, it just isn't interesting
But I mean, would it kill someone to make a more nuanced .EXE? There are more ways to make something scary than shock factor and jumpscares, just saying.
"Oh no, this game is actually possessed by the protagonist's deceased family member!" or "Oh no, turns out that this game killed a person!", you name it.
When I finished the game I had my sonic plushie ready and everything but he didn't kill me or anything !
So all I can say is that it's good, but not perfect.
To hell with it.
Here’s my rambly takes on what more games like these need to include.
1) More actual gameplay.
Yeah, I know. It’s a given. I just want the levels to feel like
The actual levels they’re trying to emulate instead of em just being “how the background looks”
(1/18)
Maybe make some SUBTLE changes to show that something is amiss.
Make these changes gradually more noticeable, but don’t make it anything explicitly gorey or with the intent to scare.
(2/18)
Make the player feel like something is wrong or incorrect.
Maybe something akin to how Doom’s “My House” map applies subtle & seamless changes to freak out the player, especially the experienced Doom players.
(3/18)
Maybe the animations are just a bit too smooth. Maybe the way the camera works starts bugging out a bit.
Stuff like that.
Just keep in mind that this is supposed to be a fun game at the end of the day, both for you & the entity.
MAKE it fun.
(4/18)
2) Give the antagonist at least SOME personality
It’s why Lord X is my favorite iteration since he’s so much more than just a sadistic supernatural entity.
Like
He takes on Sonic’s image cause he just
LOVES the franchise.
That’s adorably understandable!!
(5/18)
But I always adored how Lord X’s vessel gradually rots overtime.
HE is not immune to misfortune.
HE is not as powerful as he likes to make himself
& that GROUNDING
is DELICIOUS…
(6/18)
does Sonic.exe kill for sport? for fun? does he have to rip innocent souls or is he punishing bad actions? is he working alone or is he part of something bigger? is he doing this willingly or is he forced to? can he be redeemed or is he too far gone?
- bad writing (either stories that don’t make sense OR stories that’re too complex)
- bad gameplay
- not interesting enough/too cliched
That’s why I think games like SoH, EYX, and 2011 are good, because they don’t really apply on this list, at least imo.
I love Sonic, but some people need to know there are other franchises out there.
Said characters being essentially "walk right and see them be brutally tortured"
no actual unique formula for 90% of them
A lack of 3D Sonic.EXE games...
it always feels more rewarding and enjoyable to finish when the ending isnt just "muhh me alll powerful me god you die muahahaha"
EYX dabbled with this concept, and a bunch of Mario horror games do this too (My Mario Game). They have full levels, gimmicks and even bosses whilst still maintaining the horror aspect and being fun on top of that
not everyone is the best at everything, i get it (my super mario maker 1 levels from back then have the worst level designs ever) but i feel like getting playtesters or outside feedback can help with the issues i listed
Tails keeps dying
like from what I've seen it's usually just "Sonic.EXE but WACKY meme sounds and images!" and it's just so bland and unfunny most of the time
I think that there should be a parody EXE game where the victims are just tired with him or he fails at killing 'em
i understand for example shadow is already edgy but where are amy exes? wheres stuff about daisys third eye?
also i love when creepypastas talk about important irl topics like my mario game was about guilt(?), im sad most just [1/2]
I know it’s really easy to just edit sprites but come ON. Stuff like Tails’ Nightmare are insanely memorable for this exact reason. Make a game that visually stands out! Be unique! It’s cool!
Also genuine gameplay that isn't rage inducing
Ya’ll can do better
like he looks like a Sega Saturn character who would also be in a PC port
1. there are a lacky of parody games, that try to be actually funny
2. the lack of multiple endings especially good endings