There’s a Gun in the Office is a special game, unfortunately, that is too short. Though this doesn’t detract from the overall presentation or my experience, I was left wanting. This creepy little title has you on edge throughout. Furthermore, it is the sense of unknown and the strict timescale that makes you panic repeatedly.
This stealth puzzle game was developed and published by Take IT Studio! It is a single-player game that can be completed in a short amount of time. However, if you explore every nook and cranny and you make untold errors, you can eek out a fair few hours.
There’s a Gun in the Office tells a haunting story.
The idea of being kidnapped and held captive is horrific. Unfortunately, this is exactly what happens to the protagonist. Locked inside a bedroom, they must move from room to room to get to the office. After all, there is a gun, and you must get your hands on it. On the face of it, the story seems pretty underwhelming. However, it is the time constraint and sense of panic that keep making you uncomfortable.
Every day begins with you in your room. You must use your hidden key to escape. However, once you leave, the clock starts to tick. You must find every relevant key and move from room to room before you are discovered. If you leave anything out of place or you are not in your room when they return, you fail that day. Consequently, you must work out what needs to be done and get it finished before your time runs out.
No helping hand.
There’s a Gun in the Office doesn’t guide you. As such, failure and confusion are almost guaranteed. This can cause frustration, but there are eureka moments when you discover the breakthrough. Furthermore, there is a sense of Deja vu as you must explore each room and disarm alarms, find food, and hunt for keys.
As each day begins, every essential element moves. The action utilises RNG to enhance confusion and mystery. Though this could piss you off, I enjoyed the random nature of each playthrough. Additionally, remembering the exact location of each key and piece of furniture wasn’t easy, but it was rewarding.
There’s a Gun in the Office isn’t the prettiest game.
For all of its positive elements, visually, There’s a Gun in the Office isn’t that attractive. The textures are a little off, and the lighting tends to go from one extreme to another. The result is a game that could have done with more polish. This doesn’t impact the gameplay, but it feels dated by modern standards.
The house makes odd noises as the hero moves quietly from room to room. This silence builds an uncomfortable atmosphere and a sense of despair. Moreover, as time ticks away, the audio becomes more desperate. Subsequently, panic sets in and mistakes happen. This simple design choice was phenomenal!
Better with a mouse and keyboard.
There’s a Gun in the Office isn’t as tight or accurate as I’d have liked. I imagine that it would be a million times easier to play with a mouse and keyboard. When time is not on your side, you don’t wish to waste valuable seconds. Unfortunately, my experience with a gamepad was occasionally clunky and this was unfortunate.
Replay value is limited. If you understand what is required, you will not struggle to progress. However, if you are a little slow or you struggle to remember every key location, you will enjoy hours of uncomfortable gameplay.
There’s a Gun in the Office is short, oppressive, but fantastic.
If you love pressure and unnerving moments, There’s a Gun in the Office will be right up your street. Every day is hellishly uncomfortable, and the daunting sense of despair haunts you throughout. I adore the eureka moments and the clever and simple mechanics. Accordingly, it is great, and I recommend buying it here! Can you find a way out of your hell? Explore the house, find the keys, and cover every trace of your existence.
