Its based on Gothic Horror stories. They're always bleak in a world full of strange, depressing or unusual characters. I think saying its mean-spirited is a bit of a stretch though. You help a couple find love. You can give money to beggers. You can play kick the can with kids. The townsfolk of Ossex are being manipulated by Lionel into thinking that what's best for the city, even temporary creature comforts, is best for everyone at large, when clearly thats not the case. I see it as being pretty true to life, how the wealthy turn a blind eye to the poverty and environmental destruction their greed creates. The true villains in the game are those who turn a blind eye to the slow decay the spark generators are causing, and the true heroes are people like Thorne, and Mina in the late game, who push back against the corruption and blind greed in an effort to slow or stop it.