Paracentric

The Good
Before I say anything else about this game, I think it's only fair to mention that it was created in 24 hours for a game jam. You can't expect anyone to create a high-quality RPG in only a day, so it's ridiculous to judge it by the standards of RPGs with more conventional development times. One particular thing I won't hold against the game is its use of default RPG Maker assets, since they were used infrequently and not without good reason.

Paracentric was heavily influenced by two specific games: Yume Nikki and OFF. Both are cult classics of the surreal horror genre, and both were made in RPG Maker, but that's about where their similarities end. Surreal horror is not an easy genre to do well in the first place, so taking inspiration from two games that go about it very differently is a bit of a strange choice. However, I think Paracentric at least partially pulls it off. Its original graphics, particularly those used in the overworld, draw from Yume Nikki's distinctive style without feeling overly derivative.

Though the story isn't well-developed due to the time limitations on the game's production, what is there is highly intriguing. Outlawing people's very senses is a fantastically weird idea, and has tons of potential as both a physical and metaphorical concept. I would love to see a full-length story of any kind that explores this idea further.

The Bad
However, the story is not without its downfalls. Although I greatly enjoyed OFF and would be happy to play other games that employ similar tropes, I feel Paracentric followed its predecessor's plot structure a little too closely. Concepts such as purified zones were copied almost exactly, and this game's Citizens seemed a bit too similar to OFF's Elsen characters. I would have much rather seen the game try to form more of its own identity. Additionally, a plot twist at the end came out of nowhere and seemed to contradict information that had already been established about the bosses.

The music was irritating, to say the very least. I ended up turning it off entirely because it was detracting from my experience. The sound effects were passable, though, so I kept them on.

Also, the ending I chose contained a jumpscare. As someone who startles easily, I dislike jumpscares to begin with, but I also felt this one was misplaced. There are several different kinds of horror that use different methods to scare audiences, and atmospheric surreal horror just isn't really compatible with sudden scares such as this one.

The Bottom Line
Despite Paracentric's flaws, it plays its few strengths well enough that I would still recommend giving it a shot. It's a short game that can be completed within 30-45 minutes, and as long as you go in with realistic expectations, you'll likely find something to enjoy if you're a fan of the genre.