I really did like the ending of the Backrooms 2026, actually. The twist that the Backrooms is a space that you can physically exit but a part of you mentally will always be trapped in is a great subversion and really effectively inverts the concept. The main scientist character looks directly into the camera and reveals he is still caught in the same nostalgia trap that Clark was, stuck in a repetitive motion and going nowhere. Mary got out but she's still in there. You can leave but you can never escape
i genuinely encourage non black people to engage with this, who might be worried they can't because of the word "nigga" because they feel like it's overstepping. the only way it would be overstepping is saying it to me when ur not black, but please don't be afraid to engage with black art.
i kinda get annoyed when non black people police other non blacks on how to engage with black culture because it creates a problem where non black people avoid us all together which can be extremely isolating and create even MORE tension and overall being uneducated.
[Emulated][I did not play this game on its intended platform]
[These are entirely my personal opinions and observations]
Overall ratting: 7/10
Spoilers ahead! [I have played through 10 levels of the first dungeon for the purpose of this review :3]
Cutscenes: 8/10
All of the cutscenes are pretty nice and entertaining. But oh god. Oh my fucking God. WHY IS THE INTRO CUTSCENE SO LONG. SWEAR TO GOD I WAS SO BORED DURING THE DANCE SEQUENCE 😭😭
Other than that, they are quite good!
Character Designs: 9/10
Fun and fitting for a kid's game
Bonus points for not sexualizing the catgirl!! Her design is cute and fitting and no unessary sexyness here!
The white haired antagonist is so edgy I felt middle school me there jdjaxbak
Controls: 6/10
THIS CAMERA CONTROLS ARE ATROCIOUS, so. slow. don't even try to move it, just use square instead to focus enemies and good luck
It always seems to have a lag behind after you press a button. It takes forever to respond
It was very 50/50 when it came to how intuitive buttons are. It took me awile to get used to using the quick menu for items
The shitty câmera controls have made me lose so many times I actualy considered giving up on the game
Its a situation of "get used to it" jank that I do NOT like and would very much rather not go through
Gameplay: 8/10
The Gameplay loop is mostly what keeps me coming back to it.
I enjoy watching the houses be complete and the people start to wander
I do plan on filling everyone's house placement request, but I am a bit lazy for now lmao
I really enjoy the weapon system and I am pumped to build up one of them!
The way the resorces are put is very fun but I do think the thirst mechanic is a bit pointless. It seems to be an atempt to add dificulty and it fails at its ONLY job.
The game straight up does not tell you about things like the power of the little ponds/springs around the cave. It was quite the nightmare to navigate everything before I accidentaly went into one
Bat and ghost hitboxes are so fucking stupid when they're flying. Now, its already hard to hit without locking in the câmera, but to try and hit the bats/ghost while they're flying it just unfair. The hitboxes simply are janky
I hate the Poison mechanic. Its well done and objectively adds a fair and well balanced dificulty the game bebefits from. Im just fucking tired of the janky bar hitboxes that keep making me get bit by them
The quick time events felt like they came out of nowhere, but they work perfectly and look rather cool if you ask me, so I really don't mind them
Bugs & Glitches: 5/10
I have gotten soft locked twice so far.
One when at the start of the game the mayor did not trigger the extra resorces he gives you, so I kept dying on the second floor like and idiot. so I had to restart the game
Other when unlocking the cat. I restored the house, but no event trigered. Had to again restart it
I am not ususaly this harsh, but 2 soft locks and one at the begining of the game is just unacceptable
Closing thoughts
I really like the game overall, it makes me want to die sometimes for all the wrong reasons, which is not ideal, but the Gameplay loop is enjoyable
Although I don't think I would ever stop to play nearly as often as I do if this wasn't being emulated on a hand held device honestly