Silver Pines, the debut game from Wych Elm, presents an intriguing blend of Lynchian noir mystery and survival horror, set against the backdrop of a dilapidated rural town bracing for a severe storm. While its expressive visual style and compelling missing-person narrative initially draw players in, the experience is significantly marred by frustrating backtracking and obtuse puzzle design that frequently impedes progress.
The game situates players in the role of a private detective tracking a missing musician. The decaying town, with its broken neon signs and abandoned establishments, creates an effectively oppressive atmosphere even before the introduction of supernatural threats. The explorable interiors of these locations complicate the seemingly straightforward network of interconnected paths typical of Metroidvania-style games, adding layers of environmental complexity.
Players control a detective whose rotoscoped movements contribute to the game's uncanny and uncomfortable tone. This deliberate heaviness extends to the combat, where slow melee attacks and scarce ammunition lend a sense of desperation and tension. The 'Survival Horror' difficulty setting, which conserves resources like health and bullets, enhances this feeling, making exploration a calculated risk.
Silver Pines also excels in its narrative elements. The mystery of the missing musician and the subtly unsettling strangeness of the town's paranormal elements are engaging. The inclusion of 'Terminal Drive,' a fictional pulpy science fiction show viewed on the town's televisions, adds a layer of meta-narrative akin to Alan Wake's Night Springs, providing further impetus to push through the dangers.
However, the game falters significantly in its puzzle and exploration design. While some initial key-finding and puzzle-solving felt natural, the game's progression into larger areas results in vast, backtrack-heavy mazes filled with dead ends and tedious item hunts. Exploration devolves into frustrating loops of wandering, encountering locked doors and unsolvable puzzles that obscure the intended path forward.
One particular instance highlighted a significant design flaw: the need to swim across a river where the objective was not clearly indicated, and previous attempts at swimming resulted in failure. The developers acknowledged potential issues with this section and expressed a willingness to rework it, a gesture that tempers criticism but underscores the design's shortcomings.
The game's structure also contrasts with the best Metroidvanias, which typically use inaccessible routes as teasers for future exploration. Silver Pines, conversely, often presents blocked paths that feel like obstacles rather than promises. The overlapping nature of some puzzles, such as two separate puzzles requiring the search for colorful bird models, further exacerbates the trial-and-error gameplay that feels outdated for the genre.
Despite these criticisms, the core mystery and the overall atmosphere of Silver Pines remain compelling enough to warrant a potential return, especially once guides and community solutions become available for moments of acute stuckness. However, with a strong autumn slate of games, players may opt for experiences that avoid such frustrating pacing and design impediments. 
