Analysis of Shines Over: The Damned.

Shines Over: The Damned is an adventure and horror game developed by the Spanish studio Juan-Mod Studio.

Shine on: the damned is the latest proposal from Juan-Mod Studio. The developer is characterized by creating experimental and visually striking games. This title was released in early 2024 on various platforms. However, on Xbox it took a little longer to arrive, but we already have it here.

It's a very original game in terms of its concept. And the title has caught the attention of players for its experimental approach, technical demo designs and immersive atmosphere.

History and setting

Shine on: the damned follows a protagonist with no name or memory, accompanied by his faithful German Shepherd. This will accompany us in our journey through a dark and surreal world. The story focuses on the search for answers and survival in an environment full of challenges and dangers. The story is minimalist, sparse and almost non-existent. However, this leaves a lot of room for player interpretation and creating our own story as we progress.

Gameplay

The game offers us quite limited gameplay. It combines elements of first-person exploration with platforming and puzzle challenges. Although they are all very simple and short. The whole game lasts no more than 40 minutes. As a result, it sometimes felt more like a tech demo than a full title. Its chapters are short and their passage is limited to solving a simple puzzle or a slightly more complicated jump zone.

Shines Over: The Damned includes shades of terrorbut unlike other games of the genre, there are no weapons or direct combat; the emphasis is on escape, problem solving and some quick event this will require us to press buttons.

One of his stamps is he game doesn't self-kept. It's an experience to overcome in one go. In fact, you can't even pause it, because you will immediately go to the main menu where your only option is to start the game again. It's sometimes complicated if you don't know about it. So if you have to go to the toilet, we advise you not to stop and leave it there, as is. I liked the proposal in general, it is an intensive adventure of 40 minutes, without breaks.

Design and graphics

The design the visuals of the game are impressive. It contrasts sharply with its parsimony in content and duration. But it is seen as a high profile title. It features a dark, detailed color palette that creates an immersive atmosphere. The environments are full of details and textures that add depth and realism to the game world. It suffers from somewhat poor optimization in some areas where textures load very slowly and there is some flashing. Yet the art direction is a mix of dark and surreal styles, which contributes to the feeling of mystery and disorientation.

The soundtrack of Shine on: the damned is a collaboration between Akira Yamaoka and Masafumi Takada, known for their work on the Silent Hill series. The soundtrack is a mix of dark and atmospheric sounds that intensify the gaming experience and create a haunting and emotional atmosphere.

Conclusion

Shine on: the damned is a unique gaming experience that combines elements of adventure and horror to create an immersive and emotional atmosphere. With its stunning visual design, captivating soundtrack, and minimalist storytelling, the game offers a unique experience different from what we are used to.

It has strengths like no saves, which gives it another depth on a playable level, although it may not appeal to everyone. Its length is another burden for this title guilty of being excessively short. This, along with the minimalist and sparse nature of its story and plot, means that Shine on: the damned in a particular work of art that will arouse as many detractors as fans.