[b] General Gameplay [/b] This has a Her Story vibe that I really like. Typing in words that might be important based on what you hear. The feedback for those guesses—when you type in a word that isn't relevant, nothing happens (really nothing)—is not the greatest and the hint system is slow and a sort of tedious. [b] Results System [/b] Not sure how I feel about the whole numbers system because it's also unclear to me what those numbers relate to. Like if you type in a word and the number 4 pops up, is that part 4 of a particular chapter or what? I really felt a bit lost with that and also with the numbers that pop up next to the topics you've found. One of the words, for example, had a 26 next to it. If there are 26 relevant parts, why can't I access them all? Why can I only access 10? I'm not sure if that's what the number means but... that would be my question if it is. If you CAN access all 26 then I'm not sure why it's not obvious HOW to do this. [b] Atmosphere/Visual [/b...
Game Tags
About This Game
"Gripping and well-told" Kotaku
"The Black Widow is an unnerving experience… Hearing the actual testimonies was haunting" Monstervine
“Eerie…spooky murder-mystery” Invision Game Community
“Wonderfully weird…a unique take on mystery solving” Extra Life
"The Black Widow is particularly poignant ...it’s rather cleverly designed" Digitally Downloaded
An interactive murder mystery unraveled by communicating with the dead …literally.
Faithfully reenacted from original court records and letters, the game allows players to investigate the true case of Australia’s first female serial killer. Ask your own questions to determine whether she was truly guilty – or unjustly executed.
This provocative format challenges players to reflect on their own prejudices and reconsider the verdict of a contentious legal case. Was the accused a callous adulteress, drunkard, and liar – or a victim of sexist expectations?
Key Features
- Communicate with a convicted killer.
- Ask questions using topics via a spirit board.
- Delve into a complex and dramatic murder mystery.
- Immerse yourself in a faithful, dramatic recreation of a Victorian-era court case.
- Enjoy vivid graphics and an unnerving, atmospheric interface.
Screenshots
User Reviews
Wish I was good at writing detailed reviews as the others. I didn't have any issues with the mechanics of the game. Although there were times I had to think about what words to put in, I never felt like I needed a guide or was confused where to go next. The voice acting was just top tier. Without spoilers, the desperation in the character's voice at different parts was acute and immersive. There was one portion where the hair on my arms stood on end. The UI does have its issues, but I didn't really feel like it was something that intruded in my experience beyond getting over it initially. I'd consider this more of an immersive story than a game. I really enjoyed it and I felt engaged and like I wanted to focus and see it to the end. I was constantly second guessing my impressions. Worth the cost!
The premise of the game is really brilliant and I found myself wanting to know more and keeping notes on the case, but there are some glaring problems, like the technical issues, that really lets this game down. -Not being able to read transcripts or scroll back like a VN makes it difficult to keep track of what is said and of any potential clues -Progression could be made clearer - Maybe a sort of tally system to show that you've exhausted all clues from a certain word, not just colour added to a frame -More creative use of music would add to the atmosphere, perhaps peaking when a word of interest is mentioned -The deepfake thing with the picture just cuts through all the tension, its janky af -The save feature, or lack there of, is what lets it down the most. The game is a lot of listening and certain parts are drawn out and long, and you can't speed it up or skip lines but you need to listen to them in their entirety for the clue to count; with this in mind losing your progress...
VERY INTERESTING!!! Ok so this is definitely worth checking out, but difficult to understand how to get started..... From the beginning when it says Guilty, press the Yes. This gets her talking, you progress thru her dialog by clicking on the darkened numbers. From there pay attention to single words that you can click on the ouija board, then click YES for her to respond...Example (children) click NO to pause her dialog. There is a flower above the YES that keeps track of all dialogs. Clicking on GOODBYE will end the game but save where you left off automatically. This is an interesting case. Def recommend checking out!
So this seems like a normal game. You enter certain key words and then you get to hear certain dialogue from the historical accounts of this accused serial killer who was hanged after having to face several trials with questionable legal tactics from Australian authorities. Is she guilty or was she falsely accused? You investigate. You're using a Ouija board and this seemed like any other normal horror game until late one night. I started hearing voices outside the game. They were saying words that I could not spell in a language that was unintelligible. However, these words that I cannot begin to pronounce were shown on screen and I clicked yes, curious as to what happen. Needless to say, I have not been able to sleep. I feel a presence around me and hear demonic sounds, possibly phrases from a dead language. I have quit the game and dare not open it again. However, I do hear from my PC speakers the following jingle "Rats, Rats, Rats, Rough on Rats, and your dog, and drown your cat...
I absolutely loved this game and so did my viewers! Such a unique concept and so well done. I was completely enthralled with the story. Even though the game set up was simple, it set a wonderfully creepy atmosphere. The voice acting was great, and I really felt like we were listening to the actual woman telling her side of the story. My only negative was that the hint system does not yet seem to be in place yet and I had almost the whole frame gilded except for figuring out one or two clues. I would love it if this developer could expand on this style of game by incorporating even more old criminal cases maybe such as Lizzie Borden or Jack the Ripper. So much potential for this type of game!
System Requirements
Minimum
- OS *: Windows 7+
- Processor: 1.7 GHz
- Memory: 1 GB RAM
- Graphics: VRAM 512MB
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 512 MB available space
FAQ
How much does The Black Widow cost?
The Black Widow costs $5.99.
What are the system requirements for The Black Widow?
Minimum: Minimum: OS *: Windows 7+ Processor: 1.7 GHz Memory: 1 GB RAM Graphics: VRAM 512MB DirectX: Version 11 Storage: 512 MB available space
What platforms is The Black Widow available on?
The Black Widow is available on Windows PC, macOS.
Is The Black Widow worth buying?
The Black Widow has 67% positive reviews from 6 players.
When was The Black Widow released?
The Black Widow was released on Jul 31, 2019.
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