COLINA: Legacy

COLINA: Legacy is an indie survival horror game that evokes nostalgia for classics like Alan Wake, Resident Evil, and Silent Hill, blending puzzle-solving, exploration, and light-based combat. Players control Alex, who wakes up in his grandmother's eerie house, uncovering disturbing family secrets intertwined with cosmic horror elements. The game features a unique flashlight mechanic using glyphs to fight enemies and solve puzzles, alongside a rich narrative delivered mostly through notes scattered throughout the environment.

While the atmosphere, graphics, and story depth receive praise, the game is often criticized for clunky combat, confusing puzzles (especially sliding block puzzles), inconsistent storytelling, and lack of clear direction. The save system and enemy AI also frustrate some players. Despite these flaws, many find it a worthwhile experience for its price, especially if enjoyed as a slower-paced, atmospheric horror adventure with a strong Lovecraftian influence.

Highlights

Players appreciate COLINA: Legacy's atmospheric graphics and art style, which effectively create a spooky, immersive setting. The unique flashlight and glyph combat mechanic stands out as a creative gameplay element. The story and lore are considered original and engaging, with over 100 notes enriching the narrative and backstory. Puzzle design, especially in the ancient temple area, adds satisfying challenges. Voice acting and sound design contribute well to the horror ambiance, enhancing tension and immersion.

Criticisms

Common criticisms include the clunky and sometimes unresponsive combat system, which can be frustrating and unintuitive. Sliding block puzzles are frequently described as tedious and disruptive to pacing. The story delivery is sometimes vague or inconsistent, with an overreliance on notes that may overwhelm or confuse players. Lack of clear objectives and guidance leads to player frustration. The save system is limited, requiring frequent manual saving and backtracking. Some players find enemy AI erratic and combat encounters more annoying than scary.