YOU DESERVE Review for PC

This is Gaming Cypher’s PC review (done by John Pruitt) of You Deserve by indie developer TGA Company in collaboration with Raul Borreguero & Matias Aguilera.

You Deserve is a first person investigative adventure game enveloped in environmental horror. The game is filled with motifs of isolation, depression, and anger, all of which become increasingly more evident as you progress from level to level. If you are the type of player who enjoys puzzle solving, intriguing narratives, and the feeling of dread with every step you take, then by all means play this game.

The plot is pretty standard, and you do not have to understand every little detail just to figure out the mystery. You play as Amy Cooper, and you begin the game with amnesia having just freed yourself from a chair with rope constraints. It seems a little cliché, but it helps you understand the world as Amy reminisces. You may find that the story comes out more clearly by exploring most of the areas and solving puzzles. By the end of the game you will realize why you deserve to be punished.

At first sight, you might have had a Slenderman or an Amnesia impression, and I would likely agree; it does have that vibe because of the graphics. Aside from how it looks, the gameplay is somewhat limited in terms of what you can and cannot do, but you can still have a good time up until the very end. For instance, you can’t jump, swim, or hide, but you don’t really need these features given what obstacles lie before you. Plus, I ain’t afraid of no ghost, so there’s no point in hiding, but I would sure love to jump. You are capable of moving objects, but I would describe that mechanic as wonky, because you have to mash the left mouse button a couple times before you can see the object even budge. It does not matter too much once it is out of your way, but I would appreciate being able to lift the object out of the way like in Amnesia if only for convenience. Speaking of objects, there is an inventory screen, which you can access by pressing tab, and it serves to remind you which objects you still have on you. There is also a small arbitration concerning the items you will have to carry in your right hand opposed to what you carry in your pockets, but you might not even think about it while solving the puzzles. You can also access documents and collectibles in their own tabs, though there is not much interaction with these items. When dealing with Easter eggs, you can pick them up, but you will not find them in your inventory, and it is annoying while trying to find all of them. That’s quite a drawback if you are a completionist.

When it comes down to getting all the achievements, especially if that’s your thing, then you may be in for a treat. One includes not dying once throughout a playthrough, which is easier said than done, and another requires you to solve a certain puzzle under 15 seconds. The difficulty of all the puzzles get progressively harder, and they all require a special attention to detail. They mostly require the player to find a key or some kind of tool, but survivability becomes a factor after a certain point, just like in Slenderman. Finding these items can often lead to frustration, and as I mentioned – it does get harder. I would contribute the difficulty to the addition of an actively aggressive antagonist, the world’s worst flashlight, and a more open environment.

The sound quality is very good. I would recommend that you play this in the dark with headphones on max volume if you want the full experience. The scripting can be a bit off, and sometimes in a comical way. For instance, when I encountered the first ghostly image in the crypt section I expected a chase so I turned back. When I returned the character belatedly commented: “What the hell was that?”, but you will find that the scripting is spot on in many encounters succeeding the opening level. There is even a chase scene when the antagonist says in a playfully creepy tone: “I’m right behind you …” and that sent a shiver down my spine. However, the protagonist (in English) sounds unenthused to the point that you can’t take her seriously. The voice acting is not the greatest, but it has a moment or two of greatness.

The various documents that you find also have some bearing on the immersion of this game. As you read you may catch a few grammatical mistakes, and the textual voice is lackluster. By that I mean it feels like these documents are all written by the same person and they do not evoke much of a response from the player. Some of the documents, as well as the wall art, contribute big and bold remarks that sink in as you continue to encounter them. For instance, you can find “Your Fault,” “You’re Alone,” and various others everywhere you go. You may even develop a sense of guilt on account of how many times you see the writings on the wall.

Overall, You Deserve is a good game. I would highly recommend trying it out for yourself, or watching your favorite YouTuber take a crack at it. The game itself may take about 3-4 hours to complete depending on how quickly you are able to navigate and to figure out the puzzles. The last portion is especially nefarious given the larger space you need to explore, and perhaps you may need to fix the brightness so you can find the tools you so desperately need. I believe a fair rating would be an 8 out of 10 given the core elements of a horror adventure game at play, the atmospheric quality, and a somewhat interesting plot. I also take into account the occasional glitches, the so-so voice acting, and partially limiting game mechanics.

Here is the official You Deserve trailer:

You Deserve is now available for PC on Steam.

John Pruitt

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I like to think of myself as the average Joe who grew up alongside video games. I have fun playing strategy games, RPGs, shooters, sandboxes, the whole shebang! Every game provides an experience whether it strikes you as profound, mundane, or someplace in between. I'd like to weigh in my two cents before you spend a single penny.

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