Loved it! Spooky atmosphere. Somehow the blocky PS1 graphics really work. Some of the best narrative exposition in any game in recent memory. Great job! My full review and the other most special games from The Bundle here: https://notlikeothergames.wordpress.com/
Very interesting game! Gave me a lot of feels. Great writing, very atmospheric.
One bit of constructive feedback: a number of doors in this game had their texture on the wrong way around on the inside, so it would hinge on the side where you see the handle and it swings open where you see the hinges. I recall the doors to the shed and the trailers in particular.
Wow, what an experience. Despite knowing there weren't any jumpscares, I still got anxious from the atmosphere...very haunting scenery and storytelling. Awesome game!
as a person who grew up in a cult (though not as brutally violent), this actually made me cry. the last time i cried playing a game was 5 years ago, and i play a boatload of games. really good at allowing the player's mind to wander to create the horror rather than just showing you the complete horror itself; plus i felt all the pieces of the story weren't placed anywhere too obscure, or anywhere too obvious. such accurate story telling i could feel uncomfortably close to the situation. 10/10!
It took me three and a half hours to play, which is pretty standard for me--I'm a very slow player, especially in exploration games. I also kept forgetting where I had and hadn't been and ended up having to revisit some sites multiple times.
I loved the story, I loved the setting, I absolutely ADORED the graphics. The lofi graphics really played into the game, and made everything seem so much more real.
One of the coolest games I've ever played, I highly recommend it!
Really good, so far. Though I am stuck as despite having my brightness up and the games brightness up. My screen is completely black in this one section. I have added a photo, it does not give away any of the story though lol. Is it possible to perhaps add a way to up the contrast during game play? Im struggling.
So... Did you already pick up the lantern battery?
In the very beginning of the game you might need to get the generator key and turn on the generator behind each building (and hit the light switches in wach room) in order to see well.
After a while, you pick up a battery that allows you to iluminate the area in front of you at the click of a button. (B on the XBox controller, I don't know which button it is on keyboard and mouse. I think you need to open the item menu and use the battery before the lantern becomes available, tough.)
If you don't do that, then yeah, some areas will be pretty dark. ^^;
Oh no, I didn't find the battery after getting the generator key. Whoops. I just played by taking screenshots then changing the contrast on photoshop so I had a point of reference of where to pivet. Welp I made that harder for myself, thank you for letting me know!
what a fantastic game! i absolutely loved this. the way the story trickled out into the player's hands was wonderful. thank you so much for making sagebrush.
In a world that too often equates frames per second and stereotypical characters with quality, Sagebrush and it's lo-fi aesthetic proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that unforgettable video games can just be beautiful rather than expensive.
I bought this game among hundreds in a bundle, yet so far it has been the best one I've played. Probably the best game I got from itch.io in general. Hell, it might be short, but this may be one of my favourite first person adventures in general.
Is it mindblowing on a technical level? Well no, it's actually rather janky, but it's story was jaw-dropping to me. It's a great investigative game about a new age cult and I can just recommend people to play this blind.
I just finished playing this for my youtube channel (wishpoet, go check out my gameplay! :)), and OH MY GOD, I've never been so moved by a game before. Lol. The atmosphere was perfect, the sounds and music were perfect, the story was intense. And that ending! Even when I was editing the last video of the gameplay, I still got chills. Great job on this game. Worth much more than $7 in my opinion.
What a journey. I knew next to nothing going in, was piqued with personal interests that were core to me at the start.. and after 14/12'ing it: yes. Just.. yes. To say more is to betray the whole thing, so instead: thank you (as odd of a thing as that is to do, considering).
To those wondering: YES, play it. Go in as blind as you can, don't try to 'game' it, and just.. experience it.
I really really want to play this game but when I run it on Windows, I'm stuck at the beginning at the gate because I can't "use" the wirecutters. When I press E in the inventory nothing happens, and when I press E on the gate when they are in my inventory it says I don't have anything to cut it. :(
WOW. This game was a great experience. It took me around an hour or two to complete. Its very linear and story driven. The story is absolutely realistic. This isn't as extreme as something like the game Outcast. It's chilling due to the realism, and the progression is great. Some parts were very unnerving, but there are no jump scares or even other people/creatures to interact with. You're alone. Exploring. Uncovering the truth. Some parts were a bit hard to figure out, like others mentioned though (the padlock code!).
This was such a bone chilling game, it was creepy but I was so happy there weren't any jumpscares. The ending part was terrifying though but I felt such a sense of relief getting through it. This was a fantastic walking kind of game and I enjoyed being led around from item to item! It was a great game and I loved seeing the story rolled out as I went along!
Great experience. Early on, some of the progress items are too difficult to find. Feels like a dead end a few minutes in. I had to use a guide for certain things. I still don't know where the padlock combination is located. The story is well written and researched. Sometimes I wished for the ability to jump in order to better target some items and enter trailers.
Impressive. It took me kind of off-guard, as I had not read the summery before playing it. The game has a dense atmosphere and the unraveling of the information is well done. I really wished the voice-acting would have been more professional, though. I know, this is a small indie-game with no budget, but I think the overall experience would have been even more captivating with it. Nonetheless, I highly recommend this game :)
Really well done walking simulator / adventure game mix about exploring a cult campground. The game really edges you forward constantly and intrigues you to uncover its history. I was especially surprised by the engaging audio content framing the whole experience. I do have a few gripes with how the game is structured, but its a great concept that is well worth checking out. 4/5
A great game with an amazingly creepy atmosphere. As someone who grew up in a cult (not as violent as this) I related to the character's feelings of doubt, fear and guilt.
If I ever achieve the level of Narrative genius that this game executes so beautifully, I will consider my life goal reached and surpassed. Honestly, one of the best narrative pieces I have ever experienced. 1000/10
My girlfriend and I just finished playing through this game and loved it. The only part we really struggled was getting into the rectory (because we totally missed seeing the lock). The whole thing was really haunting and sad, but I'm glad we played through it. There's some creepy elements, but the game isn't outright scary (other than the first time you realize the doors close on their own, jeez). What a great mystery to unravel. We were really impressed, and we definitely can't wait to see what Redact Games releases next!
[SPOILERS] god. where to start. i love this game so much. 2 full hours, 15/12 tapes, and an out of body experience. my name is also Lillian (spelled differently i know) and i go by Lily. im a depressed college student studying fine art (useless degree, not communications but whatever) who has trouble finding a job. I also [bigger spoiler] have survivors guilt and have tried to kill myself multiple times. on top of this, my ex boyfriend who i dated for 3.5 years is named tim. this game really came for me specifically huh. 10/10. this was amazing, and i cant wait for more!!!!
One of the best narrative experiences I've had in a long time. Heartbreaking, hopeful, vile, but grounded in facts and reality. I will be raving about this game/experience to anyone who will listen...The last game that really got me this excited about the medium in terms of story and atmosphere was Outer Wilds. Great Work!
One hour and half of game play and absolutely all of it enjoyed. It had been so long since I had this much fun playing a game and even longer since I had been so engaged in the story. I'm usually not one for 3d exploration games with wacky graphics but this game is so marvelously done. and everything plays in its favor. This game made me feel things so strong as the story progressed at some point I completely forgot I was playing and I actually felt like I was actually exploring Safe Heaven. Aching for another similar game.
This is one of the best games I've played, period. It's atmospheric and incredibly well put together. It's beautiful. I think the style of the graphics add to it. The story unfolds beautifully and comes together perfectly. I can't say enough about this game.
I never comment on these pages but after playing through this game, I just gotta say it was amazing. I got this game in the $5 bundle and I fell in love with it. 1 hour 30 minutes was my playtime and found all the tapes. It was a great story and super super creepy. I hope similar games are released in the future! Great job!
one of my first plays through the bundle, thank you for having it available there! from the start i was hooked. the two-bit design makes it all the more eerie feeling. i love how it's meant to keep one on their toes, but never quite terrify them all in one scare. it's a psychological fear, a wondering of what exactly happened, and the genuine anxiety creeping up throughout as the story unfolds itself. the twist at the end really got me, and i was left feeling fully treated to a great experience! thank you for this wonderful work.
There's a very loud buzzing sound starts up when I turn on the cafeteria generator, and it doesn't stop no matter how far I walk away from it. Does anyone know of a solution?
An enjoyable walking simulator. Graphics are a little rough (my main issue is how the menu does not fit the aesthetic of the world, and suffers from some severe low light issues), but story unfolds in a good way. Easy to follow, will be difficult to miss what's going on, and doesn't rely on any hard puzzles.
I did somehow wind up with 15/12 tapes at the end, so a bit of a funny bug there. But I'd recommend it. Fine to spend a little over an hour.
I just got this game in the bundle, and was hooked from the first tape. I finished a couple minutes ago, and immediately had to tell you how much I loved it. Thank you so much for all your hard work, the results are incredible! I'm recommending this game to everyone I know.
SPOILERS FOR ANYONE WHO DOESN'T WANT TO KNOW WHETHER THERE ARE HORROR/JUMPSCARE ELEMENTS:
The game is certainly intended to be creepy and there are disturbing images and randomized ambient noises (like loudly creaking wood) that might startle you, but there are no jump scares and there are no enemies/threats in the game. The horror is purely atmospheric.
Received this through the Racial Justice Bundle. Played through it, and it's one of the best games of this type that I've experienced in a long time. As a Christian myself, I came away from it thinking that everyone needs to play it. Single-handedly made the donation cost of the bundle worth it.
Not a problem -- I have been thinking about the game a lot since finishing it. I ended up purchasing it on Steam this morning so that I can better support your work. Take care and thanks again for creating such a thoughtful game!
very immersive storytelling and wonderful design ,, the more i learned about james the angrier i got lmao god it's really a sad thought this has happened and continues to happen to people and they don't know it
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Loved it! Spooky atmosphere. Somehow the blocky PS1 graphics really work. Some of the best narrative exposition in any game in recent memory. Great job!
My full review and the other most special games from The Bundle here: https://notlikeothergames.wordpress.com/
Hey ! Neat work. :) Can we send you the link of our game when it's gonna be out this spring ?
Very interesting game! Gave me a lot of feels. Great writing, very atmospheric.
One bit of constructive feedback: a number of doors in this game had their texture on the wrong way around on the inside, so it would hinge on the side where you see the handle and it swings open where you see the hinges. I recall the doors to the shed and the trailers in particular.
Haven't played the game yet but it seems like something I'd love to see in VR!
Wow, what an experience. Despite knowing there weren't any jumpscares, I still got anxious from the atmosphere...very haunting scenery and storytelling. Awesome game!
as a person who grew up in a cult (though not as brutally violent), this actually made me cry. the last time i cried playing a game was 5 years ago, and i play a boatload of games. really good at allowing the player's mind to wander to create the horror rather than just showing you the complete horror itself; plus i felt all the pieces of the story weren't placed anywhere too obscure, or anywhere too obvious. such accurate story telling i could feel uncomfortably close to the situation. 10/10!
Loved this game!
It took me three and a half hours to play, which is pretty standard for me--I'm a very slow player, especially in exploration games. I also kept forgetting where I had and hadn't been and ended up having to revisit some sites multiple times.
I loved the story, I loved the setting, I absolutely ADORED the graphics. The lofi graphics really played into the game, and made everything seem so much more real.
One of the coolest games I've ever played, I highly recommend it!
Really good, so far. Though I am stuck as despite having my brightness up and the games brightness up. My screen is completely black in this one section. I have added a photo, it does not give away any of the story though lol. Is it possible to perhaps add a way to up the contrast during game play? Im struggling.
So... Did you already pick up the lantern battery?
In the very beginning of the game you might need to get the generator key and turn on the generator behind each building (and hit the light switches in wach room) in order to see well.
After a while, you pick up a battery that allows you to iluminate the area in front of you at the click of a button. (B on the XBox controller, I don't know which button it is on keyboard and mouse. I think you need to open the item menu and use the battery before the lantern becomes available, tough.)
If you don't do that, then yeah, some areas will be pretty dark. ^^;
Oh no, I didn't find the battery after getting the generator key. Whoops. I just played by taking screenshots then changing the contrast on photoshop so I had a point of reference of where to pivet. Welp I made that harder for myself, thank you for letting me know!
what a fantastic game! i absolutely loved this. the way the story trickled out into the player's hands was wonderful. thank you so much for making sagebrush.
Serious question - are there any jumpscares? Anxiety ^^;
No worries - the game is intended to be eerie but there are no jump scares.
Thank you!!
In a world that too often equates frames per second and stereotypical characters with quality, Sagebrush and it's lo-fi aesthetic proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that unforgettable video games can just be beautiful rather than expensive.
this ^
shame you can only upvote once.
I bought this game among hundreds in a bundle, yet so far it has been the best one I've played. Probably the best game I got from itch.io in general. Hell, it might be short, but this may be one of my favourite first person adventures in general.
Is it mindblowing on a technical level? Well no, it's actually rather janky, but it's story was jaw-dropping to me. It's a great investigative game about a new age cult and I can just recommend people to play this blind.
I just finished playing this for my youtube channel (wishpoet, go check out my gameplay! :)), and OH MY GOD, I've never been so moved by a game before. Lol. The atmosphere was perfect, the sounds and music were perfect, the story was intense. And that ending! Even when I was editing the last video of the gameplay, I still got chills. Great job on this game. Worth much more than $7 in my opinion.
What a journey. I knew next to nothing going in, was piqued with personal interests that were core to me at the start.. and after 14/12'ing it: yes. Just.. yes. To say more is to betray the whole thing, so instead: thank you (as odd of a thing as that is to do, considering).
To those wondering: YES, play it. Go in as blind as you can, don't try to 'game' it, and just.. experience it.
I really really want to play this game but when I run it on Windows, I'm stuck at the beginning at the gate because I can't "use" the wirecutters. When I press E in the inventory nothing happens, and when I press E on the gate when they are in my inventory it says I don't have anything to cut it. :(
Hint: you can't actually cut through the gate, but maybe there's a spot nearby...
(Unless you already knew that and this is in fact a bug I haven't encountered yet...)
...I'm embarrassed
WOW. This game was a great experience. It took me around an hour or two to complete. Its very linear and story driven. The story is absolutely realistic. This isn't as extreme as something like the game Outcast. It's chilling due to the realism, and the progression is great. Some parts were very unnerving, but there are no jump scares or even other people/creatures to interact with. You're alone. Exploring. Uncovering the truth. Some parts were a bit hard to figure out, like others mentioned though (the padlock code!).
Loved it! Eerie atmosphere and incredibly well paced. Felt so much unease exploring the compound.
This was such a bone chilling game, it was creepy but I was so happy there weren't any jumpscares. The ending part was terrifying though but I felt such a sense of relief getting through it. This was a fantastic walking kind of game and I enjoyed being led around from item to item! It was a great game and I loved seeing the story rolled out as I went along!
Great experience. Early on, some of the progress items are too difficult to find. Feels like a dead end a few minutes in. I had to use a guide for certain things. I still don't know where the padlock combination is located. The story is well written and researched. Sometimes I wished for the ability to jump in order to better target some items and enter trailers.
PHENOMENAL game. was full of absolute dread the entire playthrough. #digupfatherjamesandkillhimagain2020
ALSO - i got stuck on the rectory. There's a padlock on the gate where you can put in a number combination, there isnt a key for u to find.
Impressive. It took me kind of off-guard, as I had not read the summery before playing it. The game has a dense atmosphere and the unraveling of the information is well done. I really wished the voice-acting would have been more professional, though. I know, this is a small indie-game with no budget, but I think the overall experience would have been even more captivating with it. Nonetheless, I highly recommend this game :)
Really well done walking simulator / adventure game mix about exploring a cult campground. The game really edges you forward constantly and intrigues you to uncover its history. I was especially surprised by the engaging audio content framing the whole experience. I do have a few gripes with how the game is structured, but its a great concept that is well worth checking out. 4/5
More Racial Justice bundle impressions and ranking: https://itch.io/c/915453/quick-impressions-bundle-for-racial-justice
A great game with an amazingly creepy atmosphere. As someone who grew up in a cult (not as violent as this) I related to the character's feelings of doubt, fear and guilt.
incredible game
Really interesting game, it was really well made and it was so much fun to hear the story and explore the commune. I really enjoyed this!
If I ever achieve the level of Narrative genius that this game executes so beautifully, I will consider my life goal reached and surpassed. Honestly, one of the best narrative pieces I have ever experienced. 1000/10
You can grab the shovel through the window
My girlfriend and I just finished playing through this game and loved it. The only part we really struggled was getting into the rectory (because we totally missed seeing the lock). The whole thing was really haunting and sad, but I'm glad we played through it. There's some creepy elements, but the game isn't outright scary (other than the first time you realize the doors close on their own, jeez). What a great mystery to unravel. We were really impressed, and we definitely can't wait to see what Redact Games releases next!
[SPOILERS] god. where to start. i love this game so much. 2 full hours, 15/12 tapes, and an out of body experience. my name is also Lillian (spelled differently i know) and i go by Lily. im a depressed college student studying fine art (useless degree, not communications but whatever) who has trouble finding a job. I also [bigger spoiler] have survivors guilt and have tried to kill myself multiple times. on top of this, my ex boyfriend who i dated for 3.5 years is named tim. this game really came for me specifically huh. 10/10. this was amazing, and i cant wait for more!!!!
One of the best narrative experiences I've had in a long time. Heartbreaking, hopeful, vile, but grounded in facts and reality. I will be raving about this game/experience to anyone who will listen...The last game that really got me this excited about the medium in terms of story and atmosphere was Outer Wilds. Great Work!
One hour and half of game play and absolutely all of it enjoyed. It had been so long since I had this much fun playing a game and even longer since I had been so engaged in the story. I'm usually not one for 3d exploration games with wacky graphics but this game is so marvelously done. and everything plays in its favor. This game made me feel things so strong as the story progressed at some point I completely forgot I was playing and I actually felt like I was actually exploring Safe Heaven. Aching for another similar game.
This is one of the best games I've played, period. It's atmospheric and incredibly well put together. It's beautiful. I think the style of the graphics add to it. The story unfolds beautifully and comes together perfectly. I can't say enough about this game.
I never comment on these pages but after playing through this game, I just gotta say it was amazing. I got this game in the $5 bundle and I fell in love with it. 1 hour 30 minutes was my playtime and found all the tapes. It was a great story and super super creepy. I hope similar games are released in the future! Great job!
one of my first plays through the bundle, thank you for having it available there! from the start i was hooked. the two-bit design makes it all the more eerie feeling. i love how it's meant to keep one on their toes, but never quite terrify them all in one scare. it's a psychological fear, a wondering of what exactly happened, and the genuine anxiety creeping up throughout as the story unfolds itself. the twist at the end really got me, and i was left feeling fully treated to a great experience! thank you for this wonderful work.
There's a very loud buzzing sound starts up when I turn on the cafeteria generator, and it doesn't stop no matter how far I walk away from it. Does anyone know of a solution?
Strange -- definitely not intentional. I'll take a look at it and see if I can pin down the problem.
Well, I'm not quite sure how that bug regressed but I found the cause and I'll be issuing an update shortly to fix it. Thanks for letting me know!
Excellent! Thank you!
An enjoyable walking simulator. Graphics are a little rough (my main issue is how the menu does not fit the aesthetic of the world, and suffers from some severe low light issues), but story unfolds in a good way. Easy to follow, will be difficult to miss what's going on, and doesn't rely on any hard puzzles.
I did somehow wind up with 15/12 tapes at the end, so a bit of a funny bug there. But I'd recommend it. Fine to spend a little over an hour.
I just got this game in the bundle, and was hooked from the first tape. I finished a couple minutes ago, and immediately had to tell you how much I loved it. Thank you so much for all your hard work, the results are incredible! I'm recommending this game to everyone I know.
Totally AGREE !! And thanks Dev for putting it in the bundle !!
hi i am very interested in the story element of the game. however, i am afraid that there will be horror/jumpscare element. Will these be in the game?
Hey there!
SPOILERS FOR ANYONE WHO DOESN'T WANT TO KNOW WHETHER THERE ARE HORROR/JUMPSCARE ELEMENTS:
The game is certainly intended to be creepy and there are disturbing images and randomized ambient noises (like loudly creaking wood) that might startle you, but there are no jump scares and there are no enemies/threats in the game. The horror is purely atmospheric.
Thank you so much! I'll give this a try!
Received this through the Racial Justice Bundle. Played through it, and it's one of the best games of this type that I've experienced in a long time. As a Christian myself, I came away from it thinking that everyone needs to play it. Single-handedly made the donation cost of the bundle worth it.
Thank you so much! This is incredibly kind!
Not a problem -- I have been thinking about the game a lot since finishing it. I ended up purchasing it on Steam this morning so that I can better support your work. Take care and thanks again for creating such a thoughtful game!
very immersive storytelling and wonderful design ,, the more i learned about james the angrier i got lmao god it's really a sad thought this has happened and continues to happen to people and they don't know it
I'm glad I could make you angry and sad :P
For real though, glad you enjoyed the game.
Highly enjoyed this experience :-)