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Big Update: Monster Improvements, Navigation, Flash Flicker Tweaks & More

Hello!
A new update is available! To download it, please restart your Steam client. As a solo developer, I need a bit more time for updates. Thanks for your suggestions and feedbackIve implemented things you mentioned on the forum, in videos, or via private messages.

Gameplay and Horror Improvements

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Increased probability of monster attacks in "Normal Game" mode To increase the difficulty level, the probability of monster attacks has been raised on specific levels. This change makes the game more intense and engaging, requiring more attention and preparation. The "Adventure" mode (no monsters) and "HorrorCore" mode (the highest number of monsters) remain unchanged, allowing players to choose their preferred challenge level.

Added new navigation hints Additional bloody arrows have been added that appear when an area is illuminated, indicating the correct path. Additionally, some areas now have more light, significantly improving navigation in dark locations and enhancing the overall gameplay experience, especially in more complex levels.

Improved "Disable Flash Flicker" option Optimized how this feature works. When flickering is turned off, the flash now stays on briefly and fades out slowly, giving the player extra time to look around. This subtle change enhances immersion by eliminating distracting flickering that could divert attention at crucial moments. Flash flicker disabled:

Extended default flash duration The default flash duration has been increased from 0.3s to 1s, allowing players to explore locations without feeling rushed. This also provides a better opportunity to notice details and hidden elements in the environment. Default option:

Added option to disable voice-over dialogues More flexibility has been introduced in the audio settings, allowing players to choose between disabling only voices or muting dialogues entirely. This feature gives greater control over how players experience the story and the extent to which they immerse themselves in narrative audio elements.

Reduced volume of certain sound effects by 30% Adjusted the volume of sound effects to avoid excessive loudness, which could interfere with other audio elements like music or dialogue. This change aims to create a more balanced sound environment.

Added shutter sound volume control A new option has been introduced, allowing players to lower or increase the volume of the shutter sound, enabling a customized experience based on personal preferences. Lower shutter volume:

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Optimization and Performance

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Increased FPS and performance improvements Several optimizations have been made to improve game performance. These adjustments have increased the frame rate (FPS) by 5%-25%, ensuring smoother gameplay and minimizing lag, especially on lower-end PCs.

Reduced RAM usage Thanks to optimizations, the game now uses less RAM, improving stability, especially during longer play sessions when system resources may be heavily utilized. [/olist]

Technical Updates

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Support for new platforms The game has been updated to support Windows 64-bit, Windows 32-bit, Mac 64-bit (Intel64 + Apple Silicon), and Linux 64-bit. This makes the game accessible to a broader audience, regardless of their operating system.

Fixes for levels 2 and 3 Various fixes have been implemented for levels 2 and 3, improving both gameplay and visual quality. Players will notice improved navigation and better-balanced challenges on these levels.

Minor gamepad improvements Enhanced support for gamepads, eliminating small bugs that could occur when playing with a controller. The game now runs more smoothly on all compatible controllers.

Minor graphical improvements Small adjustments have been made to some graphical elements, improving the visual quality of the game, especially on older devices.

Minor animation improvements Small refinements have been made to monster animations to make their movements smoother, such as on level 2. [/olist]

Other

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Demo is ready and awaiting Valve approval The game demo has been completed and is awaiting approval from Valve, allowing a wider audience to experience the game before its full release.

Various small fixes A range of minor fixes has been made to enhance the overall gameplay experience, making it more stable and player-friendly. [/olist] More updates will be coming soon! Let me know on the forum if youre missing any features. For example, I could add an option for the camera to function as a flashlight.

[ 2025-02-16 13:50:06 CET ] [ Original post ]

HorrorCore: Maze and Pools of Horror

Airem Developer

Airem Publisher

2025-02-14 Release

Action Indie Strategy Casual RPG Adventure Simulation F2P Sports MMO Racing Singleplayer Multiplayer Coop EA Tags

Game News Posts: 5

🎹🖱️Keyboard + Mouse
🕹️ Partial Controller Support
🎮 Full Controller Support

No user reviews (0 reviews)

http://airem.pl

Steam Store

Public Linux Depots:

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THE GAME CONTAINS FLASHING LIGHTS AND VISUAL EFFECTS (E.G., CAMERA FLASH SIMULATIONS) THAT MAY CAUSE DISCOMFORT OR SEIZURES FOR PEOPLE SENSITIVE TO LIGHT FLASHING OR WITH PHOTOEPILEPSY. IT IS ADVISED TO EXERCISE CAUTION DURING PLAY AND CONSIDER TRYING THE DEMO BEFORE PURCHASING.

Welcome to HorrorCore: Labyrinth and Pools of Horror, a game that takes you on a journey through a disturbing, dark world full of tension, fear, and unexpected solutions. Inspired by the iconic Backrooms and horror classics, the game will immerse you in a labyrinth where every room could become a trap, and unknown entities lurk in the darkness, waiting for your mistakes.

As an amateur photographer, you decide to visit the newly opened museum dedicated to internet creepypasta legends. Among the exhibits is the legendary painting "Forgotten Halls," said to hide dark secrets. Fascinated by the history behind the artwork, you decide to capture its image through your lens. However, shortly after entering the museum, you begin to notice strange changes — the surroundings become increasingly unreal, and dark shadows seem to come alive. Soon, you realize the museum is not what it seems, and lurking around every corner is something you can't capture in a frame. You must unravel the mystery of "Forgotten Halls" and escape before you become part of its eerie history.

In this world, you won’t find traditional light or a flashlight. Your only hope is a camera, or more precisely, the camera flash. This brief, blinding light allows you to momentarily unveil dark secrets, but when it fades… you’re left in total darkness, filled with terrifying sounds that seem to emerge from the depths of hell itself.

Two Game Modes

Normal: In this mode, you’ll face a true fight for survival. Something in the dark may kill you, but can you find the exit before it's too late?
Exploration: If you want to experience the thrill of fear without the pressure of time, choose this mode. Although there’s no mortal danger, the darkness will still be unsettling, and the atmosphere will never cease to disturb you.

The game isn’t about traditional combat – it’s about the fear that rises within you with every passing moment. The camera is your only "weapon." The flash of light can slow down unknown entities, but you never know if it will attract something even worse.

Key Features:

Turning Points in the Dark – brief flashes from the camera that reveal a terrifying reality.
No Flashlight – the camera’s light is the only way to uncover the truth, but each use of the flash leaves you in total darkness.
Dark, Tense Atmosphere – gameplay in the dark, where every step could be your last.
Two Unique Modes – The Normal survival mode and Exploration, where there’s no pressure, but fear is just as real.
Steam Features – The game offers Steam Achievements to track your progress and unique accomplishments, Steam Cloud for saving progress and continuing your game across different devices, Steam Leaderboards for comparing your scores with other players, and support for gamepad controls, providing an alternative way to explore and survive.
Game Options: Disable Flicker (where the light simply shines for about 2 seconds before fading away), in-game brightness adjustment, language selection, voice acting options, control customization, as well as detailed graphics and audio settings. These options allow you to tailor the gameplay experience to your preferences, ensuring an immersive and comfortable environment whether you're adjusting visual effects, sound levels, or how you interact with the game.

“HorrorCore: Labyrinth and Pools of Horror” is a combination of classic horror with incredible atmosphere and psychological uncertainty, as well as dark mystery. The game will intrigue fans not only for its unique mechanics but also for its one-of-a-kind, incredibly unsettling world.

Discover what the darkness hides. Will you survive, or will you be consumed by the shadows?

MINIMAL SETUPOS: Linux 64 bits
Processor: Core i3 / AMD FX 2.4GhzMemory: 4 GB RAM
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Graphics: GTX 1050 / Nvidia GTX 460 / AMD Radeon HD 5750 / Intel HD 630 / GTX 750Network: Broadband Internet connection
Storage: 2 GB available spaceAdditional Notes: But. please check always demo. THE GAME CONTAINS FLASHING LIGHTS AND VISUAL EFFECTS (E.G.. CAMERA FLASH SIMULATIONS) THAT MAY CAUSE DISCOMFORT OR SEIZURES FOR PEOPLE SENSITIVE TO LIGHT FLASHING OR WITH PHOTOEPILEPSY. IT IS ADVISED TO EXERCISE CAUTION DURING PLAY AND CONSIDER TRYING THE DEMO BEFORE PURCHASING.
RECOMMENDED SETUPOS: Linux Ubuntu 64 bits
Processor: Core i5 / Ryzen 5Memory: 8 GB RAM
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: GTX 1080 / GTX 3060 Ti / Nvidia GTX 680 / AMD Radeon RX 580 / Intel Xe-HPG
Storage: 4 GB available spaceAdditional Notes: But. please check always demo. THE GAME CONTAINS FLASHING LIGHTS AND VISUAL EFFECTS (E.G.. CAMERA FLASH SIMULATIONS) THAT MAY CAUSE DISCOMFORT OR SEIZURES FOR PEOPLE SENSITIVE TO LIGHT FLASHING OR WITH PHOTOEPILEPSY. IT IS ADVISED TO EXERCISE CAUTION DURING PLAY AND CONSIDER TRYING THE DEMO BEFORE PURCHASING.

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