Scratches - Director's Cut

Scratches is the Victorian mansion version of Gone Home: explore an empty house, rummage through the previous owner's things, slowly unlock access to more rooms of the house, and eventually unravel a mystery that is only slightly more interesting than the one in Gone Home.

I know this game was removed from Steam years ago, and I have heard that it is quite difficult to obtain a key for it now (I bought my copy years ago and only just now got around to playing it). I am posting this review to say that the game is not quite as good as its fans make it out to be, and it is probably not worth the trouble to track down a key for it unless my summary description ("Victorian mansion version of Gone Home") sounds really interesting to you.

By the way, if you happen to like this game, see if you can find a copy of a 1981 horror movie called "Hell Night" starring Linda Blair. That movie tells basically the same story as this game, but the movie was better.

Underrated game. Music is good. The creepy atmosphere is good One of my favourites. Recommend it if you like and enjoy point & click games like I do.
7/10

The graphics look good even now.

The plot is interesting, but there are enough unrevealed details:
(
Is James alive or dead? Jerry says he's dead. But the bank account is open.
Who was feeding Robin raw meat in the basement?
Who killed James' wife? Him or his son? Was it intentional or accidental?

).

Additional pluses: only one jump scare in the entire game and all the dialogue is voiced.

“The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown”
~H.P. Lovecraft

What's your favorite scary movie? Ahem! Sorry. Wrong line. Anyway, horrors. Let me tell you about horrors. Because, let's just admit it – horrors are a pretty complicated topic. I mean, define scary? When it's about slashers, it's pretty easy. You either find them disgusting or you laugh your heart out, while consuming unhealthy amount of popcorn. Because primetime, b***es! If you know what I mean. But are those really scary? Well, I don't think so. Especially when it's about books. Because honestly, I never understood the appeal of reading about somebody slashing people in pieces. Movies of such kind work better (for example, who doesn't like the good ol' Robert Englund and his legendary villain), but then again, those aren't really that scary (popcorn guy here). On the other hand, there's H.P. Lovecraft phenomenon. Most of his stories are, like, exactly the same thing again and again. And not all of them are even well-written. But then again, when you read Mr. Lovecraft's works, you can't stop feeling that certain... thing. That things that gets you out of your comfort zone. Just because of how he nailed that certain atmosphere. Atmosphere of the unknown. Atmosphere that makes you think that there are forces beyond your comprehension in play. Atmosphere that makes you feel that. That is what really makes me scared. Some movies got that right. Take the first Blair Witch movie for example. There was no slashing and spooks were barely there, but at the same time, it was scary as F just because you felt that there's something in the woods. And the fact that you can't actually see it? It used to make things even more scary.

Now, let's talk about video games. Sure, we had quite a lot of great horrors before Scratches. We had Robert Hirschboeck with all his charisma in the legendary 7th Guest dilogy, we had dream-like journey inspired by H.R. Giger's works in Darkseed, we had criminally underrated video game adaptation of John Saul's serialized novel Blackstone Chronicles (no, seriously, you should totally check it out in case you've missed it), we had Phantasmagoria from queen of Point-and-Click genre, Roberta Williams, herself etc, etc, etc. Not only those were very good games, they actually got the idea about the atmosphere quite right. But at the same time... you kinda knew what to expect there. Sure, those were pretty spooky by video game standards. But still, they didn't try to play with the idea of the unknown. Now, here comes Scratches.

Technically, it's a pretty simple game. It's just out usual first-person Point-and-Click adventure with a free camera, similar to what we had in games like The Forgotten: It Begins and Riddle of the Sphinx before it. And you know what? It's not even that good as a Point-and-Click title. The interactions are logical (originally, this game was supposed to have the unfair development that was somewhat similar to what we had in William R. Fisher III's Romantic Blue, bu thankfully, it was canned) but way, way too basic and it's not like there's a lot of them too. Seriously, there are only a few things to do and there isn't much items to interact with. I mean, you can open pretty much any drawer here and look at pretty much everything, but there are only few things to pick up and use. In other words, don't expect Return to Mysterious Island here. And don't expect MYST, of course, since there are no puzzles here to solve. It's just that – you pick up the rope and surprise-surprise! You use it for climbing. So... what's so cool about this game? Why everybody likes it so much?

The secret of this game is, as you can easily tell at this point of my review, is in its atmosphere. Even though it's a pretty short game (even by Point-and-Click standards) and there aren't that many places to visit (the entire game takes place in one single mansion), it simulates the real experience perfectly. In other words, Scratches is a lot like an interactive experience thingy. You're at that old mansion. Alone. And your car is broken. What would you do? Naturally, you'll start to explore and... that's when the real fun will begin. See, Scratches is not one of those movie-like experiences. It won't force the story on you. Things won't just happen. The idea is for you to dig up some tiny little pieces from the past. One by one. That's exactly why it's one of those games that you should at least try to beat without the guide. Just because that's the entire appeal of this game – you walk through the empty house, you read old diaries and notes, you look at the things that were left behind, you discover some disturbing facts and then suddenly, you realize that... but no, I won't spoil anything to you, of course.

What's fun is that there's actually a hidden ending here, in this exact version. Technically, it works more like an Easter egg, but in a way, it's a very funny nod to people with no imagination. In other words, “just stay calm and do your job” people may find the entirely different finale that fits their personalities perfectly. And as for the rest of us... Like I said, Scratches is all about little details. It's not about the items you pick up, it's not about puzzles, it's not even about the storytelling. It's about you being there. Reading the old notes of the previous inhabitants, going through the things they left in their rooms and being scared of the dark mystery that may (or may not) being hidden in the mansion. That's what this game is all about. You read the note that gives you certain idea, you begin to feel uncomfortable and then... then you hear something and being like "KYAAAAAAAAA!!!" It's not just our usual jumpscares or something. This game is more than that. It consumes you. Gets you involved. Up to the point where you'll feel a lot like Robert Olmstead from Lovecraft's The Shadow over Innsmouth. You'll have that spooky mystery at your hands but you won't be able to stop digging. You In other words, it's one of the very few games that put the atmosphere over everything else without becoming one of those “walking sims” with exactly nothing to do. In its heart Scratches is still our usual first-person Point-and-Click adventure, but it feels more like an experience. One of those you'll never forget.

P.S. You may wonder about the “Director's Cut” and how it's different from the original. Well, first of all, the visuals were tweaked a bit and the game looks more spooky now. Nothing groundbreaking, of course, but still, it does look better. There's also new and improved soundtrack. Most importantly, though, there's a new feature (in your inventory you'll find a pretty useful journal, in which our character will keep all the notes about what happened so far), Easter eggs, an alternative ending I've already mentioned above and... some sort of an extra chapter. In so-called “Last Visit”, we'll return to the mansion as different character to take a final look at it and learn about... well, again, I don't want to spoil anything to you, but... let's just say it's more like a way to get rid of the loose ends. You can beat the entire chapter in only a few minutes, but it does help with those loose ends, so... yeah. It sure does feel a bit disappointing and those loose ends deserved way better, but well, it's still better than nothing. In other words, this version is quite a different thing from what we had originally, but after this there's literally no reason to go back. Dixi.

Thanks to Civvie for pointing this game out, truth be told it was laying dormant in my Steam library forever and I wouldn't have finally installed it if it weren't for him. I'm not the biggest fan of these type of games but the atmosphere is top notch and keeps you playing. It's a shame it's no longer available on here.

Played this game years and years ago. The 1st point and click game I ever played to the end. Never forgot about it. I just came back here to the store page these years later to see if there might be anything interesting in the "More Like This" section. So.
It's atmospheric.
It's Immersive.
It has a compelling storyline.
It wasn't as awkward as I imagined a point and click would be. But it's also the only one I've really played. I would say the gameplay was only slightly distracting for me at times. Mostly due to some clicks requiring extreme precision if I remember correctly.
But other than that.. I had a good time! One I will apparently will never forget!
I see Necleosys is working on a new game. Looking forward.

I really wanted more of this. It was a simple horror story told with a point-and-click play style and a very satisfying, yet harrowing, ending. I really, really liked this game. It's one of the few games which's plot I still remember without looking it up.

Exceptional atmosphere, especially considering the age of the game. It does have a bit of a difficult learning curve, as it doesn't do much to prompt you on where you need to go, but I've played for just shy of four hours now and am very intrigued thus far.

Due to legal ownership issues this game was out of the market for a very long time and it's nice to see it finally coming back.
My old review seems to have vanished, so I shall try to recollect why exactly this game deserves your attention, with all the good and bad stuff about it.

CONS:
- slow pace (depends on how quick you are with puzzle solving errands - goes along the way with classic point and click adventures);
- each of the three main chapters (or should I say "acts") contain, at least, one bullsНit puzzle that's not so much hard as it's just time padding and forces you to run around a lot before solution occurs);
- first person controls akin to Myst can feel a bit wonky (switching to original controls with the cursor not locked in center of the screen might help to avoid dizziness)

Now, my favourite part, PROS:
+ good world building;
+ some of the best scripts out there (both story and dialogues are paced out exactly to deliver good intrigue, suspense and eagerness to untangle the mystery, and solid resolution with some little mysteries left undisclosed but provided with enough clues for a conclusive detective afterthought - the best kind)
+ the best soundtrack that multiplies any feel (of lonesomeness, dread, sorrow etc.) the scene tries to invoke by a hundred;
+ challenging and mostly sensibly structured puzzles (take it with caution, as this particular "plus" is always subjective when it comes to puzzle logic)

Absolutely recommended for any horror / classic point'n'click adventure buff who enjoys good writing and dialogues
(i'd say the german voice-over takes the biscuit in terms of emotional feedback - everyone are on the same page and the policeman's lines properly kreep the f*ck out; Russian is not bad and mostly preserved the intended tone of protagonist and his agent, though the secretary is a bit absent-minded; English took the hardest hit of half-аrsеning and everyone sounds as involved as an old man reading his meds prescription).

Old but gold. I hope that devs will pick this game up from abandonware canister when they release their next game Asylum. Scratches is a psychological based horror game which plot sets in the old abandoned villa with an eerie history and eventually an author comes around to rent a house for few days to get some inspiration for his novels.

On each day you spent in the house you have numerous tasks to do, things to find and puzzles to solve before the story lets you open a new story by sleeping in a bed. And it is clear enough that when story proceeds so tights the atmosphere, when you become willingly or unwillingly more aware of what has happened on previous inhabitants. Scratches doesn't have too much jump scares but when it uses them they strike hard and make sure to keep the tension up.

Scratches also excels quite well in puzzles, but sometimes it was clashing with the actual story when keeping me from proceeding when I hadn't realized to notice some tiny item in place 'a' and use that with some tool in place 'b' which meaning I already had forgotten when seeking the item mentioned before. Puzzles aren't irrational, but sometimes felt being in a thin crossing line between challenging and far fetched. My point is that when I was running third time a full circle and searching everything in a house plus reading the notebook only scratching I did hear was when my hand was up and my nails were moving vertically on my forehead and I felt that the story and atmosphere was flattening like the ceiling of the bleak house.

So I really do to use some guide to help you get through of the most shady puzzles and enjoy the story wholeheartedly or for the ultimate experience: rent a old remote cabin or villa for weekend, do not use any electricity excluding to charge your computer and I think that you will have yourself a nice momentum of horror which you hardly forget.

Remember to check this out if it comes available again.

For me, one of my biggest gripes with most horror games is the same with most modern horror films: no substance. Many games in the genre seem to rely so heavily on the simple "jump scare" tactic that its become an embarassing trope. What was once a rarely used, often to great effect method of really terrifying the player/viewer now has become a crutch upon which so many bad games and movies rely on.
Scratches- Director's Cut is not such a game.
This point and click style adventure game sees you as an author taking a trip to Blackwood manor, an estate with a strange and sordid history where you are tasked with completing your current novel and perhaps take inspiration to write others. Taking the role of Michael Arthate, you explore the manse and its grounds, piecing together an ever darkening mystery which by its end will leave you wanting more like it.
Taking strong inspiration from the works of HP Lovecraft, this game's heart lies in its writing and backstory. Pouring over journal entries, notes and clippings unveils a dark plot whose connections to a possible occult force really grips you, and though this game's ending may not be as magnanamous as its core story, I feel it perfectly encapsulates that sense of "fear of the unknown" beautifully.
Gameplay is...finicky. Though this is a traditional point and click adventure, it exists in a quasi-3D space, though you are mainly static and can only move along set paths while looking around in a full 360 view of each area you visit. One major drawback to this is the movement of the cursor when looking around, as it has a momentum and can be hard to adjust to for awhile during first play throughs. Sadly I could not find a way within the game's settings to adjust this more like a FPS' look controls, but after my playthrough you adapt to it without much issue.
Thankfully unlike adventure games of old, this game won't have you slogging through arbitrary arcade sequences or nonsensical puzzles to progress forward. While there are some points that the "puzzles" are not well defined, all of them operate under sound logic and make sense.
The English voice cast was excellent, giving each character (all...5 I want to say?) distinct personalities and quirks, which help engross me into its narrative. Michael is something of a whiny sod at the start, his companion (and your only real source of hints other than your Journal) Jerry is that best friend who you just know may have put you in way over your head, and your secretary Barbara is fun and bubbly, which is a nice contrast on occasion. I can safely say there was never a character who sounded bad or phoned in to me...even though...erm, you only talk to people over the phone.
Even with its second companion story, the game is relatively short, and can be completed within an afternoon, at most I'd estimate 3 hours or more if going completely blind first time around.
Graphically this game is a bit rough, and one of its other drawbacks is the movement from locations. Going in between rooms requires dealing with Resident Evil style door animations each and every time, which can slog down the game. However, this is a game meant to be played slow and meticulously, so I understand why its like this. Environments throughout the game space have a classic gothic horror feel to them, and in many ways feels like a true spiritual successor to the classic "Alone in the Dark." The name of this game is ATMOSPHERE.
All in all, I really enjoyed this game. It gave me the right kind of horror experience I liked, with a gripping story, decent exploratory puzzles, amazing soundtrack, haunting ideas, and leaves me wanting more.

Recommended with some caveats: the game is an often tense, but not horrific, atmospheric experience that is unfortunately marred by some very obtuse puzzles. Certain parts of the game's story won't progress until you do something specific, and it's not always clear what you're supposed to do. In one case you simply have to use the telephone, but there's nothing telling you that.

It's a point and click in the old-school Myst style, where you move through largely static environments and uncover the story gradually while working through puzzles. The old house is spooky and beautifully detailed, and has held up pretty well graphically consdering the age of the game. It can still offer an engrossing old school point and click experience, but it comes with the downsides of old school obtuse adventure game logic. Be prepared to look up some of the puzzles and don't expect a lot of horror and you should enjoy this.

I usually do not enjoy point-and-click games whose puzzles are solely inventory-based (what I call gather-and-combine). I get insanely bored and there's nothing I hate more than go around "pixel-hunting".
That said... even though Scratches is pretty much that kind of game, I enjoyed it very, VERY much. Scratches has a wonderfully creepy/melancholy atmosphere that wraps you up while you unravel the story. It doesn't use (because it doesn't need) the typical "jump scares" to make you feel it. The music (and sound effects in general) is exquisitely appropriate and increases the effect, accompanying the story without being too obvious and without falling in the "cheap horror flick" category. In fact, the first time that this game managed to raise my pulse, it was mostly because of the music.
This game is a work of art and I fully recommend it.

Scratches is a peculiar game (or, mayhaps, I'm simply unfamiliar with the genre). The pacing of this game is quite slow, especially for such a short game (completed under 7 hours, though with some time to think through game sessions - and, embarrasingly, a few glances in a walkthrough).
As I stated, the game builds up slowly, yet it's not, by any means, a drawback! The story unfolds marvelously, and the creepy plot got under my skin very quickly.
The story itself is the brightest part of the game. Sadly, it's the only stellar aspect.
Graphics are... well, adequate. Decent enough and very mood-building (if there's even such a phrase).
The sounds and music are eerie and decent, but nothing more.
The gameplay itself is lacklustre and clunky. I swear that all the times I had to take a glance into a walkthrough, was because some flaw within the game, like an unintuitive way of using (clicking) on something, or the way that the game fails at informing clearly and visibly, what is interactable, and what is not.

Nevertheless, the vibe of Scratches is simply amazing! It grasped me and pulled into the mystery from the first minute... keeping on my toes to the very end.
Is the game great? No, it isn't. The story behind is, though!
Even though it's a very diferent game from, let's say, Amnesia, it's far scarier than it. Oh, certainly I got scared more than while playing the Machine for Pigs.

The answer, my pumpkins, is simple. You are the one scaring yourself, as Scratches digs deeply into your imagination and lets you fear not what finds you... but what *you* will find out next.

Thumbs up!

It's hard to write an objective review when you're facing a game that does some things astoundingly well while failing considerably in some other aspects. I guess that from the game's own description and all the other reviews you already know what this game is about; but is it worth your time?

Where does it shine?

Atmosphere: definitely where the game is at it's best; the visuals, although low resolution and noticeably old, hold up very well and the whole place feels astonishingly real. While the exteriors could use some work, nothing in the house seems either forced or overdone, and the whole scenery is meticulously arranged. Add that to some very well placed sound effects and music (when it works...see below) and this game is able to provide an ambience up to par with games like Amnesia. Which is saying a lot, given it's an old school point and click.

Writing: while I have a mixed opinion on the story itself (I liked it, but I wouldn't say it's particularly mind-blowing) one of the things I loved the most while playing was reading all the documents along the way. The writing style feels pleasantly Lovecraftian and adds a lot to both the atmosphere and to your curiosity.

Suspense: that is to say, don't expect the amazing atmosphere to be spoiled by cheesy jump scares,

Where does it fail?

Technical aspects: I had a huge amount of trouble getting this game to work. At first it didn't even open, and only after some time lurking forums and attempting some rather weird solutions (creating a config file the installation forgot to...what the hell?!) did I get it to run. But then, I found out the resolution was locked at 1024x768, the game stuttered heavily and the audio was constantly being interrupted. Even had some problems where important conversations were skipped in their entirety for no reason. Of course, you may be lucky and end up having none of these problems. Hell, even if you do have all these problems and more, the game only moves at your own pace, so it's perfectly playable.

Difficulty: What the hell. Seriously, what the hell. If there's one thing I hate that this game does CONSTANTLY is assuming you magically know what to do next. I've played a considerable amount of adventure games and this is seriously the first that left me completely speechless at finding the solution of something - and not because it was genius. Every time you progress you're left with the same question: what now? And the answer doesn't change, either, it always involves re-exploring the whole house from top to bottom for some sweet spot that wasn't there before. So, unless you have your whole life to spare, don't even bother and just follow a guide if you want to leave with your sanity.

In conclusion, if you've already played and enjoyed games such as Dark Fall and (my personal favorite) Anchorhead, then you're certainly going to enjoy Scratches, even if it isn't the brightest of the bunch. If, instead, you're coming from games such as Amnesia, I'd advise you to try both those games first and check if the slow-placed-absurd-puzzles horror style is for you.

Alright, I'll admit it: This one scared me. Very few games have EVER succeeded in scaring me, but this little point and click adventure pulled it off. There is something so immersive, so creepy, and so utterly engrossing about the environments of "Scratches." Even when nothing is happening (which is, admittedly, most of the time) the constant dread of knowing that something WILL happen manages to keep the tension going.

That having been said, this is a point and click adventure game, which means you WILL run into some frustratingly obtuse puzzles and might have to consult a guide a few times. And the bonus side story isn't HALF as entertaining as the original game, spelling out answers to questions that were MUCH creepier back when they were merely dark hints while simultaneously raising bigger questions which it completely fails to address.

But hey, those are small annoyances to pay for the first game that's managed to send a genuine chill down my spine since "Eternal Darkness." Now if you'll excuse me, there's this odd scratching sound in my house I've got to go investigate...

This is one of my favorite adventure games to date. I love the supernatural athmosphere and the game can be very unsettlign at times. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is up for a horror-adventure.

If I had to describe my gamer career, I would describe myself as a "horror game connoisseur." I've played everything from Resident Evil to Dead Space to Amnesia to Limbo to Condemned. Home? I've played it. Dark Fall? I've played that too. I'm telling you all this because I want you to understand what I mean when I say:

THIS IS THE SCARIEST GAME I'VE EVER PLAYED.

Yes, I know. I can hear the snorts of doubt. Scariest? Really? There's no blood, no gore, and only one body. But this was the game, above all other games, that scared the crap out of me. This was the one game that made me actually fall out of my chair screaming. This is a game that is not about cheap thrills or gore porn, it is a game that is about all of the qualities that make for great horror. Atmosphere, build-up, soundtrack, all are done great.

That said, there is one caveat I must make: USE A WALKTHROUGH WHEN PLAYING THIS GAME. Seriously, just do it. This is a game about experience over gameplay. Trust me, using a walkthrough won't make you miss anything. The horrors will be just as good with out all of the unnecessary searching. Trust me. I know this seems to run contrary to the "purity of video games" but in this one instance it works.

Extremely atmospheric, which was a surprise because it's an point-and-click game. Amazing soundtrack and well made environment. Being able to look 360 degrees around you is nice. Puzzles might be frustrating at times but overall it's a nice experience.

Absolutely recommended and will explain why there is so much expectation about the upcoming Asylum. A traditional old-school point 'n' click adventure with horror elements and a lot of mood. Very short for a lot of gamers standards but exactly the right length for me. If you need to trim down your backlog start here as there even is a nice walkthrough guide posted right here on Steam if you get stuck! Worth trying, full of british accents and cliches but, like I said, very nice ambience.

I am a fan of adventure games, especially in the horror genre, but I can't honesty recommend this game. It basically boils down to wandering around a house for 8-10 hours straight. Clues are incredibly subtle at times, and puzzles are often quite arbitrary.

The story actually starts off with an interesting premise, but the scary factor wears off after you realize, 2 hours in, that nothing actually happens in this house. Not until the end -- and by that point, the lame ending is little recompense for your hard work.

If you're thinking about playing this game, I have just one tip for you: Call your friend/realtor Jerry. Even if it makes no sense to call him, just do it. Half the time, you can't do anything until you call him, but there's no indication from the game that this is what you're supposed to do. You'll waste a lot of time wandering around wondering what you missed, and then realize you need to call your BFF Jerry to advance time forward enough to get a new clue.