Silver Chains is a first-person horror game with a strong
emphasis on story and exploration. I went into this one expecting it to be another
sub-par attempt at an indie game, like the endless tons of others we’ve gotten
in the past. To my excitement and
somewhat surprise, I was wrong and Silver Chains ended up being just the hidden
gem that we needed. In the game you
start of dazed and confused after a car accident in a seemingly remote location.
Your only hope of getting help is a nearby dilapidated mansion up ahead. You now
must search for clues within the mansion to unravel the truth about the
terrible events which have happened there.
Key in envelope Silver Chains; PC Horror Game
To start off, the graphics are highly polished and very visually
pleasing. The game is generally dark and
this does obscure a majority of your vision from seeing the entire environment
but it adds to the overall horror aesthetic.
There are well implemented lighting and particle effects in play. The great treat being the mansion
itself. It is a linearly designed so
that you have to keep moving on a forward path, this minimizes the chances of
getting lots and confused. This is a
great choice as usually happens to me in games like this where the location
feels like a stumbling around a dark maze.
You basically know where you are in relation to the rest of the entire mansion
at most times.
The high point of Silver Chains for me was the story. I loved finding the little notes and piecing
together to underlying narrative of the house. Whilst the story is enjoyable,
it is not perfect nor would most consider it good. It is the standard horror narrative, enter scary
location, discover unfortunate tragedies in scary location, get jump scared and
chased in scary location, end. We’ve
seen it all before and Silver Chains is no different, however this is not a
strike against how enjoyable the game actually is.
Room of hanging dolls in Silver Chains; PC Horror Game
Sound design is good with great ambient sounds, and believable
environmental noises. The main stumble
is the voice acting. The voice actors
sound like unpaid interns who are recording on their lunch break. The performances fall flat at being anything close
to being believable. The other point to
note is the length of the game. Silver
Chains come in at approximately 2 - 3 hours of playtime length for a $25
game. For me the length was acceptable for
a full pickup and play horror experience that you can complete in on sitting
but the some may take issue with it.
All in all, Silver Chains is not perfect, the
voice acting is not the best and there are some technical short comings but, as
a short self-contained horror narrative however
– it is worth your time.
After being on steam early access for the better part of the
last few months.The Blackout Club
finally makes its way to consoles with a full fledged released.For those who haven’t heard of it before, The
Blackout Club is a first-person co-op horror game centered around a group of
teenage friends investigating a monstrous secret beneath the surface of their
small town.1-4 players explore
procedurally-generated missions against a fearsome enemy you can only see with
your eyes closed.
I went into this game with little knowledge other than the
few promotional material floating around online.From the start you will be drawn in by how
deep and compelling the story actually is.It is a true mystery that is well crafted and intriguing enough that
players will get sucked into the lore of the world, taking on the motivation of
the characters.
The graphical aesthetic is well done and in some cases better
than expected.Details weren’t
overlooked and the neighborhood actually looks and feels like it could possible
exist in real life. The gameplay structure is mission based.The main structure of the game is co-op but
single player is also possible.The
player is rewarded for fluid movement and stealth. The tensest moments come when you are back up
against a wall and must try your best to formulate an escape.It is at these times that game really
shines.
An interesting enemy in the game is “the shape”.This enemy can only be seen when your eyes
are closed which makes for some heart pounding encounters. One of the biggest draw backs is that is It's
easy to be a bit underwhelmed by the multiplayer aspect of the game because of
how good the tutorial actually is.After
playing the tutorial you think you're about to embark on this horror/stealth
adventure with friends in co-op, which is true in some regards but unlike the
horror atmosphere of the tutorial.Actually, multiplayer is a faster pace and more of a thrill than a
scare.
All in all, The blackout club is a very fun and addicting
game that you can easily sinking many hours into. If a horror co-op adventure
sounds like fun for you, then consider giving this one a try.
Anime fans rejoice as the hyped release of Kill la
Kill the Game is here. Kill La Kill -IF- is an arena-based
combat game set in the world of the popular animated series of the same name. This
licensed fighter follows the lore of the series it is based on, but tells a
parallel story that fans of show will find surprisingly enjoyable. The game is an almost perfect re-creation of
the anime series, managing to capture all of the style and energy of the show. It uses a flat toned 3D model system that
almost looks like it’s cell shade but not entirely. The colours are vivid, bright and the overall
look feels just like you are playing an episode of the show.
The game has a story, versus
and practice mode – as well as a gallery.
The story mode as mentioned before, tells a new scenario of events separate
from anime. Versus mode is where you get a chance to test your skills in the
arena against AI or human opponents. Multiplayer options allow for competitive
battle amongst friends or linking up with challengers from around the world for
head to head battles.
The game surprisingly
includes both the original Japanese voices and the English dub. This is rare inclusion that many other
anime-based games have neglected adding in the past. Having the option to choose is a very
welcomed addition here. That being said,
fans of the either the dubbed or subbed version of the anime will instantly be pleased
by which ever vocals they pick, as both are equally as good and accurately
match their respective characters.
What about the fan
service? What would a Kill la Kill game be without its most iconic element? The developer of the game Arc Studio Works
were quick dispel fan concerns, that the game would be censored on
consoles. They assured fans that game
was going to release uncensored, the way it was meant to be experienced. Based on the pre-released version of the game
and the demo it seems that they were true to their promise.
As an anime inspired
game, Kill la Kill IF has everything a fan of the series would want. An engaging story, compelling visuals,
multiple audio options and an enjoyable solid combat system. All in all, whether you are an ultrafan of
the anime or just someone looking for a visually stylized fighter to pick up
and play, Kill la Kill IF is a solid game and worth your time.
From the start you’ll realize that the game is very polished
and highly detailed.The vivid colours
and smooth graphics is indeed a treat to the eyes.The environment is very large scale and most
of the set pieces are large scale rooms that do an amazing job of making you
feel the sense of scale.You do feel
like you actually in the game world.
The premise of the game is that in the near future, most
jobs have become automated and thus humans have lost all purpose for their
existence.In this time of need, a
savior arises in the form of a company called Activitude.Activitude is a Virtual Labor System that
matches humans with A.I. clients.These
clients however, have needs that only humans can fulfill.
Virtual Virtual Reality can be described as taking the best
parts of games like Job Simulator and Accounting+ and combining them into
something that just works.The gameplay
comprises the completion of a sequence of tasks for each of the A.I. clients,
who would then score your performance.When each task is completed you are taken back to a hub world where your
guide Chaz (that’s the robot with the single eye) would comment on your
performance before setting up for the next task.Not wanting to spoil a minute of anything it
has to offer, I intentionally did not include the any surprises, specific jokes
or plot twists in this review.
Nothing is taken seriously, each comment from Chaz is double
meaning. The A.I. clients take every
opportunity to belittle you if you don’t follow exact instructions. And the
entire thing is a hodgepodge of comically weird situations, overarching
conspiracies and self-doubting moments – And I have to say, I loved every
moment of it. These types of games can
be a hit or a miss with audiences as they are catering for a niche of persons
that would be interested in the premise they have make to offer. Virtual Virtual Reality wins on all
fronts. The game is filled with dialog
choices that all correspond to your actions.
You really do find yourself questioning your actions and thinking of
what is the best action to take before you do it.
You can play with 2 PS move controllers, which is
recommended for the most immersive experience.
Or you can play with the dual shock 4 controller which is not as
immersive but offers slightly more exact controls. My biggest and only problem is with
navigation. There is no turning option
mechanic to speak of, you physically turn your body to reach the periphery
areas or you can tap the move button three time to do a complete reversal to
face the opposite direction. It’s not
ideal and the difficulty with navigation was a bit of hindrance at times.
Whilst playing you do feel a sense of freedom and the
ability to do anything you want to do within the environment. Most objects are intractable, and the voice
acting along with the over the top dialog is perfect. Virtual Virtual Reality is definitely a must
buy. It deserves to join the ranks of
the must have games released on the PSVR platform thus far. Anyone looking for a light hearted, pickup
and enjoy experience will enjoy Virtual Virtual Reality.
Based on the preview trailers, In Death may come across as
yet another VR shooter with a medieval skin on top. This is where you would be wrong. I myself went into the experience with
tempered expectations, but an open mind. Needless to say, the game more than proved
itself. So should you give it a try?
Let’s take a closer look in our review of “In Death” for the PlayStation VR (PSVR).
In Death is a VR first person shooter that puts you in a procedurally
generated medieval world of floating ruins, in which you must defeat various
enemies on your journey progressing forward.From the start, you aren’t given any context or story points at
all.You are literally dropped at a
starting point, given a bow and left on your own.My first time playing, I was caught off guard,
as there is no hand holding or objectives to guide you at all.This strategy definitely did pay off on the
part of the developers, in forcing players to hit the ground running and start
figuring out the mechanics of the world for themselves.That being said, this is means that story
telling is non-existent, so those looking for any meaning narrative will be
sadly disappointed.What you can
discover however, is the context of the world as you journey forward.With each play session in game being referred
to as the “afterlife” – This is because, as the title suggests, from this point
you are journeying forward ‘in death’.
The game features various types of enemies that require
varying amounts of hits to take them down, with head-shots being the most encouraged
way of quickly dispatch enemies.From
the undead looking, zombie-like creatures called the abominations being easily
dispatched with one hit – to flying enemies like the cupids that require a
constant barrage of hits to be defeated.
‘In Death’ is an unforgiving, and extremely challenging
first-person shooter. Each play session
is treated as one complete journey through the “afterlife” – the point at which
you die is the end of that journey, there is no continuing afterwards.You then restart, back at the starting place
called “Sanctuary”. This is most
frustrating for boss encounters, as death means you must play your way back to
the boss fight, entirely from the beginning.
Floating Ruins (In Death PSVR)
Three Abominations about to attack (In Death PSVR)
The game allows for use of either the Dual Shock 4 or PS
Move controllers – it also allows for full movement locomotion, with snap
turning at various angles of rotation.The dual shock 4 allows for greater efficiency and simplicity while
playing – whilst the PS Move are more immersive.Using the Dual Shock 4, you reload and fire
your arrows with the right trigger, whilst changing your arrow types with the
right shoulder button.The left Trigger
is used for teleportation and left shoulder button activates the shield for
blocking incoming enemy attacks.The
left and right analog sticks are used for locomotion and rotation respectively,
with the D-pad being used for directional dashing.Despite having PS Move support, my preference
in this case was the Dual Shock 4.If
this was a stationary shooter, the PS Move controllers would be perfect, but
the added complexity of full locomotion, shooting and dodging was beyond the
design capabilities of the Move controllers and was more of a disadvantage
while playing.In which case I opted for the Dual Shock 4. In this case, I suggest trying both control
methods – then deciding which method works best for you.
Unfortunately for all its good points, the game’s biggest
stumbling point is in the sound design.It starts on a high point with low toned, religious themed music –
setting the atmosphere.Fitting well
into the narrative of being in a Christian inspired interpretation of purgatory
and the afterlife.But after this, it
sadly falls flat.There is no background
music in game, which is not a negative for me as I prefer not having background
in most cases – however, some may find the silence not to their liking. The real issue is the lack of proper sound
effects for the enemies.Enemies
approach silently with no audio cues, which prevents the player from being able
to listen for enemy footsteps or noises.This allows enemies to sneak up from behind unnoticed until they attack.In fact, the only sound effects you will be
hearing constantly is the clanking of weapons before and during attacks and the
death cries of enemies when they are defeated.
Anakim the Abomination - Boss Fight (In Death on PSVR)
Holding crossbow (In Death PSVR)
All in all, after spending many hours roaming the medieval floating
cathedrals, secret dungeons and tortured infernos of “In Death”, it has without
a doubt earned a spot of being one of the best PSVR titles I have played to
date.Its premise is not for everyone,
and it does have a few minor issues, but for those who are interested - it is a
definite buy.We give In Death on the
PSVR a 4.5 out of 5
In European folklore, a Deracine is a person who is take
from their home to another place.This
ties into the narrative of the game – as it includes pieces of folklore in its
storytelling.
From the start you will realize that Deracine is not for
everyone. The mystical approach, and heavy focus on storytelling is very
different from the previous games the studio became well known for.If you are not put off by this and decide to
take the journey however, you might enjoy what the game has to offer.
You progress the story by teleporting around the world and
interacting with objects. Thankfully the puzzles are fairly simple and
exploration is encouraged.The graphics
of the world is crisp and clear. Environments and objects look great in VR and
everything has a natural tone from the ambient lighting.
The game soundtrack is heavily low toned, with looping
melodies.It matches the style and feeling
of the world very well.Deracine can
feel like a point-and-click adventure to some people, but the choice to make it
only playable in VR was a good one.As
playing in VR allows the player to better connect with the characters and
experience the story of the world more fully.
Sadly, there are some bad points about the game as
well.Some of the puzzles don’t make
much sense and can become annoying trying to figure out what they require you
to do.Persons who aren’t fans of
teleportation movement will not be happy, as there is no free movement.And lastly, the game is not very long but
once you see everything – there is little interest to go back see play it
again.
As we mentioned before, the game is not for everyone.Many will be turned off by this type of game
from the start, but if you are willing to commit and pick up this title for the
$29.99 asking price there is an experience in Deracine for you to enjoy.
Home Sweet Home is a
heart stopping journey down the halls of a twisted nightmare. But the question is, is it worth your time?
Let’s find out in our review of Home Sweet Home for the PSVR.
Home Sweet Home is a game that tells a story of a wife that has gone missing, and a husband’s journey to find her. One night, Tim wakes up in a seemingly abandoned building instead of his home. While trying to escape, he’s hunted by a hostile female spirit. Her approach is made even more terrifying by her constant wailing and the disturbing clicking sounds she makes with her box cutter. The player not only has to focus on stealth, but also solve puzzles and investigate their surroundings to unlock the mystery of what exactly is going on.
The events of the story take place in Thailand, and feature many interesting cultural beliefs and mythology. The game explains its backstory along the way by use of ‘collectibles’ such as logs, diary entries, and newspaper clippings - that give details of past events in the story.
Graphics are crisp and clear, and the world is highly well detailed. My main complaint is with some of the character models, specifically of the humans in the game. While the demonic creatures and monsters look fearful and as realistic as could possibly be, the human characters seem to just miss the mark. Often looking odd and sometimes unnatural in the greater context of the world.
The game can be played in TV-Only or VR mode, but to get the most immersive experience – obviously the VR mode should be played. For the most part, the majority of Home Sweet Home is extremely straight forward. The most frustrating part is getting stuck on some of the puzzles. Some puzzles give no context and can become rage causing-ly difficult. Requiring the player to search the environment for hints and then using trial and error to hopefully find the solutions. If not give up all together and seek a walkthrough online.
"Box cutter" dead girl from Home Sweet Home (VR Game)
The game does its best to keep you the player always on edge. The environments often shift and change as you turn around. Sometimes moving through a doorway can take you to a different world than the one you entered. Avoiding enemies feels like playing hide and seek. Waiting for the enemy to move out of sight before rushing onto the next progression point. I have learned first-hand that attempting to sprint your walk through to the end of a level doesn’t work. At times it can feel like an extreme test of patience to sit wait and wait- as your heart pounds out of your chest to be sure it is safe before progressing forward.
The sound design in Home Sweet home is amazing. The music changes and sound effects give clues for when danger is approaching. As mentioned before, you are alert to danger when the ghost girl is nearby auto cues as well as the sounds of her haunting cries and footsteps. The only major stumble is the voice acting, as some parts can be laughable funny with how bad it is.
Home Sweet Home is fairly short, and can be completed in approximately 5 hours. This time can be longer if you try to get all collectables hidden throughout each level. All in all, the game is an enjoyable horror experience. The Thai mythology and setting is very interesting and there are truly scary moments to enjoy. The game is available right now on the PSN store for $29.99. Be aware however, that this is only episode 1 – the story is set to continue in futures episodes but no release date or additional is available at this time.
Unearthing Mars 2: The Ancient War is a futuristic first-person shooter developed by Winking Entertainment. A sequel to the first Unearthing Mars released in 2017.
This time around, all aspects of the original are improved, especially the graphics and many of the gameplay mechanics. This is seen in the stunning visuals and highly detailed character models. Sadly, for all of its positives - there are many shortfalls as well that keep Unearthing Mars 2 from reaching its full potential.
The large sense of scale, especially in boss battles and facing larger enemies is truly impressive. Moments such as these can be very intimidating in your first encounter. The game’s opening sequence is of particular note, as we are first greeted with some of the best character models even seen of any game on Playstation VR thus far. Unfortunately, the visual design is very inconsistent as moments later you are greeted with some of the worst graphics right after.
Combat is straight forward, with you simply taking out wave after wave of a handful variety of enemies, before progressing to the next level and doing the same all over again. You get a handful of gun to use but generally all feel pretty much the same with minor changes to their rates of fire.
There are 10 levels broken up in to chapters. Each chapter taking approximately 10 – 20 minutes to complete. There is not much in the way of replay value as the story is highly forgettable and the voice acting is not the best.
All in all, we give Unearthing Mars 2: The Ancient War a 5/10. It’s great for an occasional quick pick up and play enjoyment so often but lacks any further depth that would make you want to replay multiple times.
