House of Ashes VS The Devil in Me - WHICH IS BETTER?

[@foolmarkt6649]

The twist of House of Ashes really suprised me in a good way. I really liked it.

[@ButterflyEffectPodcast]

It took me by surprise too! ~ Jack

[@PresAlexWhit]

When I played TDiM shared story day 1, it was buggy, and Charlie died even though I pulled the lever as Mark. I also think there's a lot of dead-end mechanics that are only utilized once. I prefer House of Ashes because it doesn't have the "makeup" to make it seem deeper. I also love the NPCs.

[@dilophosaurusfan1739]

You're supposed to hold the lever down not just pull it and let it go

[@PresAlexWhit]

@dilophosaurusfan1739 Don't worry. I played the game 3 times. I know. That's how I know it was bugged. I held it.

[@introvertvibes6801]

I personally loved TDIM the most out of all of the Dark Picture Anthologies, but I will admit that HOA is also really good. I don't think I've heard anyone say that they disliked HOA; it's a lot of people's and players favorite for sure! -Hope you guys are doing well and staying safe & healthy 🙏🏾

[@ButterflyEffectPodcast]

Thanks Introvert, hope you're doing well too!! 😊 yeah like you, TDIM is my favourite but I've gotta say I'm surprised how our poll ended with a big sway to HoA. I knew it was popular but not that popular. ~ Jack

[@Tatjana_L.]

Hello :) I must admit, this is no contest for me - because imho, The Devil in Me has too many noticeable flaws in order to properly compete against House of Ashes. Granted, it also has a few things it does better (the first thing that came to mind were the finales and endings), but overall, I vastly prefer House of Ashes! But hey, let’s rank them with your categories, listen to your points and see where this goes! (Btw, I like how you didn’t know how the other one ranked the games :D) Story: While I liked HOA’s story more, I want to mention that I enjoyed TDIM’s _backstory_ more. The video secrets in TDIM were a game I wish I would have played! But yes, HOA’s story takes the cake :D Characters: Oh, this is difficult. I loved both HOA’s and TDIM’s main characters. I think I like TDIM’s main characters sliiightly more, but HOA has the benefit of a pretty cool side cast. So I guess they are equal for me :) Gameplay: I personally don’t rate glitches since they aren’t an intended part of the gaming experience, but regarding gameplay in general, I think TDIM has a little TOO much gameplay, with features that weren’t always properly used, while HOA had too much of the same stuff (combat, dialogue etc.). TDIM has the run button and some neat mechanics, but barely any QTEs, so I guess it’s equal. Horror: Well, this is easy. The Devil in Me, of course! Erin’s “Noises” chapter is the best horror sequence in any Supermassive game, imho. Sound Design: Once again, Erin’s “Noises” chapter comes to mind, but also HOA’s amazing vampire sounds. But honestly, I don’t know why the sound design should be as important to rank as categories like story and characters XD Though I have to admit that sound, music etc. was never something I paid that much attention to begin with ^^” But maybe you could combine Sound Design and Horror? Trophies: For me, it’s definitely House of Ashes because TDIM has so many collectible trophies D: These are so annoying to collect, and I’d rather collect trophies that let me see a new path of the game. Which, to be fair, TDIM also has, but HOA wins because it doesn’t have collectible trophies aside from the secrets. Btw, it only has the “head choices” trophy and no “heart choices” one, so that’s something to consider, too :) Location: I think TDIM’s hotel and island are pretty cool, but HOA wins easily for me because of the shifting in atmosphere and location. You described it perfectly, honestly: The deeper you go, the better it gets. Plus, if you call HOA repetitive for its tunnels, you should also consider TDIM’s endless hotel corridors XD TDIM does have some variation to be fair, but the areas are WAY too big imho, to the point where I’m surprised it isn’t your “walking simulator” game XD Graphics: Slight win for HOA. From the character models to the environment, I enjoyed HOA’s graphics slightly more than TDIM’s. I understand why you ranked them similarly, though - TDIM still looks great, I just think that the character models don’t look as “real” as they do in HOA. I can’t really explain it, though XD Display: Uh, do you mean the menu? Even after listening to your points, I didn’t quite understand what “Display” meant XD Similar to Sound Design, I don’t really understand why you would rank this as high as some other categories XD Choices: This is it. The MAJOR reason why I prefer HOA to TDIM. To be fair, I don’t only rank the choices themselves, but the choice system as a whole - and TDIM has A LOT of 50:50 choices, not all of them clear, only one longer-lasting butterfly effect (Complicit) and doesn’t offer much replayability for players like me, who wants to keep everybody alive. (The replayability in an “everyone survives” run is VERY important to me.) In House of Ashes, you have slightly more breathing room, but also a lot of choices that can come back later or are influenced by earlier choices: Air support, Clarice, Rachel’s infection, the UV wand, Nick entering the motherlode, the Ancient One, Eric (not) cutting the rope, Jason shooting the shepherd, the multiple injuries … plus, there’s maybe one 50:50 choice that automatically kills a character (Rachel begging Jason to shoot her), while the game always gives you a second (and sometimes even a third) chance to save them. I REALLY appreciate that, and it makes House of Ashes’s choice system my favorite overall :) There are also other categories I rank these games by: Finale/Ending (here, TDIM would win, though HOA is amazing as well), Pacing (a major win for HOA and a major loss for TDIM - the game has some serious pacing issues, unfortunately), Emotional Impact (neither of them would be THAT high tbh, but yes, both games have scenes that surprisingly touched me) and overall enjoyment (which mostly focuses on the flaws and how much they impact my experience). TLDR: The Devil in Me has things it does exceptionally well, but also enough things where it lacks severely. While House of Ashes is obviously not perfect, I think it’s flaws are much easier to forgive, especially considering how good the strengths are in comparison. Obviously just my opinion and I understand why someone might prefer TDIM and switch it with HOA in this paragraph. But I’m not surprised that the fandom overall sees HOA as the best DPA game ^^

[@ButterflyEffectPodcast]

It never ceases to amaze me the detail of your comments. I always love reading them! Seems like we agree on a lot of stuff Tatjana! - Liam

[@Dormonos089]

This is like the definition of hydrogen bomb vs coughing baby

[@ButterflyEffectPodcast]

😂😂😂

[@Anonymiad]

HoA is one of my favorite games, period. Played it so many times. TDiM was ok but personally, no where near as satisfying.

[@flavofibe]

The gameplay in Devil in Me really drags it down for me, especially replaying it. Shimmying and jumping and balancing and crawling and moving boxes. I'd much rather have dialogue choices.

[@ButterflyEffectPodcast]

Admittedly, I only played both games once and I imagine both drag in parts but you're not wrong. TDIM probably served a lot of exploration as showing off the new features which probably is a trudge on replays! - Liam

[@Arkham13v]

Here's my thoughts, House of Ashes: Pros: - best plot - best characters (Jason and Salim) - best arc (Jason's arc) - best antagonists (human or monsters) - best deuteragonists (Clarice, Merwin) - great reveal (the vampires are aliens) - better variety on the choices - best climax - bigger mystery/lore Cons: - repetitive settings (underground cave) - worst love triangle (should have sticked with just Eric and Rachel) - lack of game mechanic - lack of horror The Devil in Me: Pros: - heavy game mechanic - best overall cast - best settings (luxurious and bloody hotel) - better ambiance - better horror moments (poor Erin) - great dark ending (the cycle continues) - better connection to the source materials (Murder Castle, Saw and the Shinning) - unpredictable choices Cons: - lack of complexity from the characters - pointless obols (wish they didn't scrap it) - worst plot armor (looking at you Mark) - unfair consequences - bad pacing Overall: both are good in their own ways but in terms of enjoyability, HOA takes the spot. Despite the horrible love triangle arc, the rest of the story outweighs the negatives and even though it doesn't have much of a game mechanic that TDIM would have, it still managed to be a fun narrative game. It may not have the horror aspect, but the action packed moments made it more thrilling and intense as it should. TDIM isn't bad, it's still a good game and has a good setup but the main problem is that it goes way too long, especially at the beginning when they arrive at the shore and at the end once they get out of the hotel. They could have reduced the layout and perhaps it would have a much better pacing. These two titles are definitely on my top 2 for best DPA but it's very close, it could go either way. Final note: i'm not counting the bugs since my first playthrough didn't have too many bugs that would have ruined the game so fortunately, i got spared from the bug-pocalypse of TDIM first launch.

[@ButterflyEffectPodcast]

I agree with everything here! - Liam

[@javonscruggs8233]

I think house of ashes is way better interms of characters and story and choices. I also think the vampires are a way more scary threat and aren't as contrived as the villian of devil in me

[@ButterflyEffectPodcast]

That's fair! I do agree that the bats are the best villains we've had so far. ~ Jack

[@jburnaquatic]

I have to say Devil in me just based on the setting. A murderer in a trap house is personally more entertaining to me. Also, the characters are much more likeable. I couldn't stand Rachel and Nick was okay but underwhelming. Eric was cool but the game so clearly wanted him to die so by the final act he just stands in the background doing hardly anything. At least in my playthroughs. Salim and Jason are stars but The five characters in Devil in me as a collection are stronger I think. Erin was my least favorite because she's so wishy washy, but the rest I really like. Charlie being the best in my opinion. He was my favorite. I'd give devil in me a 8.5 and house of ashes an 8. I also think Clarice and Merwin were awesome characters and wish they could've survived. I'd take them over Nick and Rachel. On a replay I also found devil in me a bit more fun. Can't pinpoint why.

[@fleacythesheepgirl]

Having replayed them both recently it made realize how much I like House Of Ashes and how much Devil In Me fails. Devil in me is too bloated with all the huge areas to explore. I know they wanted to show off the new game mechanics but ugh it’s such a slog that slows down the story. House Of Ashes does an amazing job of hiding the seams of choices. Like the opposite of a Telltale game where the character you chose to save last episode dies so they don’t have to program different paths. Everything flows more naturally. I do think there’s a great mystery with the two killers in Devil In Me but most people aren’t that into the clues and overall House Of Ashes is a better experience.

[@ButterflyEffectPodcast]

I also favoured HoA narrowly and I did the ranking so open minded, I knew it would be close but not by 1 point on my end. Thanks for the comment! - Liam

[@reigner-brown]

Devil in my is probably the worst game they’ve put out. Second worst sorry I forgot about the quarry. And I didn’t play Frank stone because it just looked like more CW slop

[@ButterflyEffectPodcast]

Oh wow! Might be a silly question but will you still get Directive 8020? ~ Jack

[@gr33nriver77]

TDIM is significantly better in every single way. House of Ashes still being the weakest TPDA game. TDIM only has 1 plot armor character, 2 entire ending variations, exclusive chapters based on deaths, curator cut actually has exclusive content that enahnces the story, higher choices mattering opportunities, wayyy better chase scenes HoA has 3 plot armor characters, 1 ending, no exclusive chapters based on deaths or CC, Eric and Rachel are the only 2 characters where your choices matter, Forced Jason/Salim relationship that is entirely unavoidable. Storylines should be completely missable by choices and actions. -Jason/Salim always reconcile no matter how much they treat each other like shit meaning that all their choices together quite literally don't matter. -The love triangle is always concluded by Nick if Rachel/Eric are dead. -You always find out about the Alien Twist. -Salim has significant plot errors with calling the vampires "demons" until the chapter The Horror if he fails to learn of the sunlight and impale weakness. -Salim will always say Nick treated him nicely and like a friend even if Nick beats the shit out of him and ties him up -Eric and Rachel are good tho they have no real plot errors/continuity errors outside of Rachel saying she is built different and better by surviving alone (factually incorrect)

[@ButterflyEffectPodcast]

It's crazy bc I swear the DPA games excel in certain areas and leave the quality at the door in others. MoM has the branching and character cover, LH has the prologue and the lore, HoA has the action (no horror) and the locations for me while TDIM has the characters. - Liam

[@malecheerleader2007]

House of Ashes is 10000000X better. Didn’t even need to watch the video.

[@ButterflyEffectPodcast]

I ranked HoA a fraction better but ultimately got beat by Jack's ranking who favoured TDIM with a slightly higher fraction! The poll also favours HoA by a lot more. I guess that's the public opinion but that's what I love about the art of the debate! - Liam

[@Slasheen-04]

The Devil In Me supremacy❤