As the spooky season continues, our staff has been diving into a variety of titles, from the deeply unsettling to the surprisingly serene. This week's selections include a revisitation of a seminal horror experience, a look at a unique live-action indie game, and a return to the comforting world of farming simulators.
A Return to Horror
Connor revisited Amnesia: The Dark Descent, a game that defined a generation of horror playthroughs when it first launched. Initially intimidated by the game in his younger years, Connor found that the title still holds up, offering a potent dose of fear and a worthwhile look back at the evolution of the horror genre.
Bertie expressed a degree of disappointment with Tenebris Somnia, an indie horror game that utilizes live-action sequences. While intrigued by the game's aesthetic and its innovative approach to horror, Bertie felt that the adventure game elements detracted from the overall terrifying experience. The game's unique blend of live-action footage and pixel art is reminiscent of Faith: The Unholy Trilogy, another horror title praised for its effectiveness.
Matt is exploring The Killing Stone, a PC title that merges roguelike deck-building mechanics with first-person narrative horror. As a Scandinavian witch's apprentice, players engage in a unique card-based combat system with strategic unit placement and spell augmentation. Matt also noted the game's inclusion of both modern and archaic English dialogue options, with the voice cast performing commendably in both.
Other Pursuits
While horror has been a prominent theme, Marie has been slowly progressing in Moonlight Peaks on the Switch. This supernatural farming simulator allows for a more relaxed pace, a stark contrast to the intense experiences others have been having. Marie is taking her time building her farm, focusing on a small livestock barn, a vegetable patch, and a vineyard, while also planning renovations near the beach. The sight of Death learning to cook has also been a peculiar highlight.
Matt also mentioned a brief foray into Silver Pines and reminisced about his initial encounter with the pioneering survival horror game Ecstatica over 30 years ago, noting its enduring impact.