LBR received a Nintendo Switch review code from Flynn’s Arcade to review the Switch version of Looking Up I See Only A Ceiling.
Looking Up I See Only A Ceiling is a point-and-click surreal thriller from developer silver978 and publisher IndieArk. It is a short visual novel with multiple endings to discover, as well as an exploration mode that serves as an epilogue.
In Looking Up I See Only A Ceiling, a stressed student begins to encounter strange beings, objects, and events in her home. Players must explore various rooms, interact with important items, and survive an escalating threat.
Looking Up I See Only A Ceiling first launched onto PC via Steam in 2023. The Nintendo Switch version releases next week on February 29th. It will normally cost $2.99, but in a recent tweet, Flynn’s Arcade mentioned a 20% discount for the first week.
For context, here’s the original gameplay trailer for the Steam version:
Looking Up I See Only A Ceiling is both unusually and deliberately short. I only needed about half an hour to complete the main story and Explore mode, which actually has more story, so do not skip it.
But the price tag is very low. Also, its particular genre can get away with less content if the narrative properly evolves and the world packs a punch.
Beginning with some of my gripes, I found the final threat a bit on the nose after so much buildup. I would’ve appreciated a payoff that was more abstract.
The story itself didn’t really surprise me, compared to similar games like Milk outside a bag of milk. The themes here seem less profound, and hold your hand. Explore mode also intentionally spells everything out, which is a bit unnecessary.
Further, the story’s dialogue could feel a little wooden for some. But others might consider it a part of the overall mood.
However, I was very much impressed by the pacing and art design. Looking Up I See Only A Ceiling has a clear, controlled vision. It is only as long as it needs to be. It moves swiftly, successfully capturing the urgency and uncertainty of stress.
It also features excellent hand-drawn artwork. The shadows, clawing hands, corpses, and otherworldly sensations feel legitimately unnerving. The developer smartly included enough mundane activities and items for the bizarre to feel truly potent.
The music adds to this too, with atmospheric sounds that don’t have any real structure, but still affect you as intended. The flooding scene was a definite highlight for me.
Looking Up I See Only A Ceiling plays well on the Nintendo Switch. It should be fun to play on the go, perhaps as a campfire thrill.
Final Thoughts
Looking Up I See Only A Ceiling is a solid adventure with superb artwork and memorable imagery. It may be too brief and straightforward for some, but fans of the genre should be pleased. It is moody, unnerving, and inexpensive.
Score: 7.5/10
Support LBR and artists by reading more of our Tabletop and Video Game posts!
Leaderboard Reviews 