This review contains spoilers
An absolutely incredible experience, start to finish. I didn't expect to rate another game 5 stars so soon, but god damn was this game amazing. I've never liked horror games – I'm too skittish to enjoy jumpscares and I've always been a bit squeamish about gore unless I'm the one creating it. Eldritch horror, however, is exactly my cup of tea. Combine that with my paralysing fear of the ocean, and this game was the best horror experience I have ever had by far.
The mechanics of the game are top-notch and only really got boring towards the end when I was trying to fill out my encyclopaedia. The layout of the map and placement of quests is intuitive; it was refreshing to go through the entire main story of a game without needing a guide. Speaking of the story, it's absolutely fascinating. The lore of this world is incredibly deep, but we only see the tip of it. A lot of left open and ambiguous and there's a lot we'll never know, but I like that. Not knowing everything makes the things we do know hit so much harder. I could gush about the way this story is told for days, but if I tried to write all of my thoughts out, I'd never end up posting this review at all.
I think this game is exactly the right length. It's not too short to leave you wanting, but not too long that it overstays its welcome. The fear factor wears off once your boat gets faster and you get used to the threats, so the length of the game works in its favour. You can go through the relatively short main story and really feel unnerved by it all, and then once you've finished it, you're free to go back and tie up loose ends with a quicker boat and a lot less to worry about. That's impeccable game design, especially for a horror title with a lot of side content.
I rarely ever give out 5-star reviews. I said it before in my review of Spiritfarer, but that status is reserved for games that really have an impact on me. This game is unforgettable. I'll forever cherish that sinking feeling I got when I caught my first aberrant, or when I first saw the phrase 'Something slithered into your cargo hold...'
That first journey to Gale Cliffs – panic meter dangerously high, sea monster tailing behind, engine running hot... that experience will stay with me for a long while. That is what this game is about. 10/10.
The mechanics of the game are top-notch and only really got boring towards the end when I was trying to fill out my encyclopaedia. The layout of the map and placement of quests is intuitive; it was refreshing to go through the entire main story of a game without needing a guide. Speaking of the story, it's absolutely fascinating. The lore of this world is incredibly deep, but we only see the tip of it. A lot of left open and ambiguous and there's a lot we'll never know, but I like that. Not knowing everything makes the things we do know hit so much harder. I could gush about the way this story is told for days, but if I tried to write all of my thoughts out, I'd never end up posting this review at all.
I think this game is exactly the right length. It's not too short to leave you wanting, but not too long that it overstays its welcome. The fear factor wears off once your boat gets faster and you get used to the threats, so the length of the game works in its favour. You can go through the relatively short main story and really feel unnerved by it all, and then once you've finished it, you're free to go back and tie up loose ends with a quicker boat and a lot less to worry about. That's impeccable game design, especially for a horror title with a lot of side content.
I rarely ever give out 5-star reviews. I said it before in my review of Spiritfarer, but that status is reserved for games that really have an impact on me. This game is unforgettable. I'll forever cherish that sinking feeling I got when I caught my first aberrant, or when I first saw the phrase 'Something slithered into your cargo hold...'
That first journey to Gale Cliffs – panic meter dangerously high, sea monster tailing behind, engine running hot... that experience will stay with me for a long while. That is what this game is about. 10/10.