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Review: Narcosis

Posted on September 10, 2018 by Vanri The Rogue

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We all know how much I love me some horror games. I’m always looking for new games to play, especially from amazing indie developers. I was ecstatic to get a review copy of Narcosis from indie developer, Honor Code, thanks to my fellow Mixer streamer and friend, Rorifett, who put me in contact with David, one of the writers and the marketer for the game.

What’s it about?
A hundred leagues under the sea lies several research facilities. Narcosis follows a nameless man as he attempts to find his way back to the surface after an earthquake destroys these facilities and kills almost everyone else down there. He must find his way to the single escape pod, while avoiding aggressive squids, bloodthirsty fish, and terrifying spider crabs. All the while, the game is being framed and narrated by an interview, possibly on a talk show.

What did I think?
This game is visually stunning. The detail in each chapter was so painstakingly realistic, both visually and atmospherically. Each piece of floating debris made me jump. Each spider crab injected a new nightmare into my brain. Each squid caused a mini panic attack.

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The story was slow building and kept me at the edge of my seat. What happened to the other survivors? Would we ever get out of here? All questions were answered in the end, which is extremely satisfying in a horror game. I don’t want to be left with more questions than I started with. I want to be left wanting more content, not answers. Narcosis accomplished this in bounds.

The most important thing – to me – is that this game actually terrified me. My stress level was so high throughout the entire game that I had to take my anxiety meds. Not only am I terrified of the ocean as it is, but the creatures in the deepest, darkest reaches also fuel the worst nightmares. If I never see a spider crab again, it will be too soon.

Do I recommend it?
Highly. If you like horror games, this game is for you. If you like deep sea exploring, this game is for you. If you want to be afraid to go into the ocean for the rest of your life, this game is for you. (That last one’s a joke, of course, I was already afraid to go into the ocean!)

Narcosis can be found on PC and Xbox One.

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Review: Cursed

Posted on February 8, 2017 by Crymson Pleasure

Dev/Pub: Jetdogs Studioscursed_1
Medium: PC

I received Cursed and had a hell of a time playing it at first. I was trying to record it for Let’s Plays, but my software wanted NOTHING to do with this game. Finally I was able to stream the game.

What is it?
Cursed is a point-and-click horror type game with a female protagonist. Her fiance has been offered quite a sum of money to rebuild something at a far off estate. It’s odd, but you both want to get married and he takes the job. Off he goes, but it’s been sometime since you’ve heard from him. You do the only sensible thing, you go find him.

What did I think?
Well, that is a complicated answer. I liked and hated this game. It is gorgeously done, the graphics are great. I like the story concept and they added in some great touches. There is a lot to like about the game.

However, it felt disconnected. It lacked fluidity. You were given random puzzles with no inclination of what you were supposed to do. The clues were non-existent. It felt like dumb luck that I figured some things out. There were plenty of instances that it took me longer than it should have to get it, my fault. There were also plenty of times that I was using the hint button over and over because I had no idea what I was supposed to do.

At one point, you need to make a freeze potion to freeze the fountain. Unless I’m the only person who’s never seen an alchemy machine, I was lost. The lack of fluidity made me more frustrated than I would have liked for such a relaxing game. I found myself roaming around trying to figure out what I was supposed to do next. I really wanted to love this game, but I walked away from an anti-climactic ending feeling… meh.

It’s only $5 on Steam so give it a try if you want, but it isn’t one I’d recommend.

Watch Crymson’s stream of Cursed here:
https://www.twitch.tv/realwomenofgaming/v/111729543

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Review: Slayaway Camp

Posted on February 1, 2017 by Crymson Pleasure

Dev/Pub: Blue Wizard Digital
Medium: PC

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My inner horror nerd was squealing with gore-filled joy when I received this game. Of course, I fired up everything and started playing the game. The interior of a 1980s/90s video store popped up in my view. My first thought was, No Shit, well done! I haven’t seen a video store in nearly 10 years and it brought back that nostalgia of going to Blockbuster on Fridays with my parents to rent some VHS tapes for the weekend. Everything from the shelves, the tube tv in the corner playing previews to the cheesy overhead music was amazing. I’m pumped and I haven’t even started playing.

So what is it?
It is a 1980s horror puzzle where you control the killer. Your first killer is Skullface and you have to move around the board and slaughter teens at the summer camp you may have died at. Sliding around leaving bodies in your wake before disappearing into a demonic portal.

What did I think?
OMG THIS IS AWESOME.

The pixel graphics are only making this game more awesome for me. Not only that, it’s hard and easy at the same time. The game itself is easy to understand. Even when they add more elements in, those elements are easy to understand, yet hard to master. Not to mention, there are different types of deaths to be had! Sometimes, when you slide over to that annoying teenager about to have premarital sex, there pops up a cut scene and you are shown a comical and brutal scene THAT YOU PICKED.

You earn coins throughout the game so that you can buy other murderers and ways to die. I haven’t unlocked a lot, but I love the ones I have and am excited to see more. However, sometimes you just slide over and put a butcher knife in their forehead. Clean and classic. I appreciate the simple murders as much as the cut scenes.

It gets super creative. From using bookcases to murder unsuspecting teenagers or just to block the way so you can redirect your murder to his exit hell portal.

I’ve only played through 3 movies and have unlocked very little but I’m not stopping anytime soon. This is provides me with endless entertainment and it’s less than $10 on Steam. I can’t say enough good about this game. Actually, stop reading this and go buy the game and murder some teenagers yourself.

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Review: The Ritual on Weylyn Island

Posted on January 18, 2016 by Vanri The Rogue

Dev. by: zemaGamez
Platform: PC
Release Date: Dec. 4, 2015

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This horror game came out just last month and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. The Ritual on Weylyn Island combines the idea of Slender: The Eight Pages with black magic rituals, creating a scary story of epic proportions.

What’s it about?
The Ritual on Weylyn Island follows Moira, a 22-year-old woman who travels to Blessed Island to help her remaining family members settle the death of their patriarch, her grandfather. When she arrives, however, the house is in ruins, with strange symbols on the walls in blood, and her family is nowhere to be found. Your goal is to find your twin sister, Rowena, and get off the island.

What did I think?
This game is absolutely terrifying. I would say it’s even worse than Slender: The Arrival and you all know how that game affected me. The mixture of a dread-inducing score, gut-wrenching graphics and horrifying whispers leaves you on the edge of your seat.

Instead of finding notes, you find tapes for a walkman you pick up in the beginning of the game. This is a nice change from finding notes in other horror games because you don’t have to read anything. You can continue to explore the area or meet your objective while the information you need is being told to you.

The story itself is interesting, too. It’s Moira’s goal to become close with her sister once more, but when Rowena is nowhere to be found, Moira has to brave the unknown to rescue her. Along the way, we get little snippets of what’s happening on the island with some jump scares peppered in.

Do I recommend it?
Oh, yes. If you liked being scared out of your wits, this is the game for you. The graphics are good, the story is interesting and the concept is very well done. You can find The Ritual on Weylyn Island on Steam.

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Review: Until Dawn (2015)

Posted on December 23, 2015 by Vanri The Rogue
Review: Until Dawn (2015)

Developer: Supermassive Games
Platform: Playstation 4
Genre: Horror

Okay, okay. I’ll admit it. I didn’t play this game because I don’t have a PS4. BUT! I watched a ton of gameplay on YouTube. Now, I will admit that watching someone play a horror game and actually playing it are two completely different things. That being said, please note that all of my comments are based on watching gameplay from YouTubers such as JackSepticEye and Markiplier.

What’s it about?
A group of friends go to a ski lodge owned by their friend Josh Washington exactly 1 year after the death of his sisters, Beth and Hannah. These friends are subjected to horror after horror almost immediately upon arrival. It is your goal, as the gamer, to keep all friends alive until the end of the game.

What did I think?
This game plays out like a horror movie. A group of friends go to a secluded cabin in the woods to drink and take part in all sorts of debauchery. Everything in this game is a horror cliche, but it’s fairly self-aware and actually scary in a lot of parts.

I really enjoy the graphics and the motion capture. I like that the characters look like their actors and it’s not just voice acting. I’m very impressed by how realistic it all looked.

Until Dawn is the kind of game with multiple endings, which I always love. You make decisions throughout the game that determine the outcome. Different decisions can kill off characters, cause you to overlook items or make you miss huge chunks of the story.

Watching the game being played felt a lot like watching a horror movie with commentary. It made me laugh, but, best of all, it made me jump. And cringe. Until Dawn is actually quite scary and incredibly fascinating. I tell you, if I had a PS4, I’d definitely buy this game.

Would I recommend it?
I can’t say much about what it’s like to actually play the game. According to JackSepticEye, it’s really fun and challenging to play. All I know is that it was fun to watch, so I’m going to say yes. I would recommend at least watching gameplay on YouTube. And if I ever get a PS4, I’ll buy the game and update you all if I change my mind.

-Vanri the Rogue

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Why I Love Horror Games

Posted on December 21, 2015 by Vanri The Rogue
Why I Love Horror Games

You all know that I absolutely love doing my weekly Wanna Don’t Wanna broadcast. Any of you that have watched me play know that I’m just riveted by games like Slender: The Arrival and Layers of Fear. But, did you know that I played my first ever horror game just a week before my first broadcast?

It’s true. My first horror game was The Park and I played it just a week before you all watched me play it, in order to see if I could handle our show idea. I found that not only could I handle it but also that I’d become addicted to horror games.

Before, I stayed away from horror video games. I always thought that playing was worse than watching because you’re more engaged and it becomes more real. Now, I watch horror Let’s Plays on YouTube, I’m always looking for new horror games to play on Twitch, and I spend my days combing through YouTube channels for new game ideas. I can’t get enough of it.

Playing horror games is different than watching horror movies or horror gameplay on YouTube. Not only are you more engaged, so you’re more likely to jump or scream, but also, when it’s finished, you really feel a sense of completion. At the end of a horror movie, I’ll see the villain defeated (most of the time), but I’ll still have trouble sleeping that night because I can’t help but think, “But maybe it’s still alive!” When I play a horror game, however, I play a roll in defeating the villain, so I leave the game knowing that I’m okay.

Also, being a huge horror movie fan and the co-writer of 9th Circle of Horror’s 15 Rules to Survive a Horror Movie, I have a sense of comfort knowing that I’m able to control the actions of the main character. If I’m in control, things are more likely to turn out okay in the end.

Not to mention, I get a huge rush from the jump scares. Yay, adrenaline, right?!

-Vanri the Rogue

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Review: Layers of Fear (Part 2 – ENDING)

Posted on December 16, 2015 by Vanri The Rogue
Review: Layers of Fear (Part 2 – ENDING)

Yesterday, I finally finished Layers of Fear. After just over 2.5 hours of playing, I was not disappointed!

**This Review Contains Spoilers!**

What’s the second half about?
In the second half, you’re trying to find the remaining items you need to finish your painting. Since the game is not finished, there are only 4 items to find. In the first half, I found skin for the canvas and a vial of blood for the paint. In this half, I found a bone, which was to be ground up into dust for painting and priming, and a lock of hair for the brush. This half of the game featured dolls pretty heavily, since the final items both had to do with the main character’s daughter.

What did I think?
This game is absolutely stunning. The graphics are amazing, but I was most impressed by the constant changing of the house. In the first half, we saw that going through the same door may not lead to the same results. In this half, they stepped it up a notch. They were changing my surroundings while I was turning around, sometimes to the point where looking out the window allowed the whole room to be changed around me.

The jump scares in the second half are even scarier than the ones in the first half. You’re turning around to find dolls, ghosts and all sorts of scary things behind you, above you or beside you. You’re opening doors to find massive doll heads blocking your way. It’s absolutely terrifying.

The ending was nothing to get excited about, since the game isn’t finished. You’re basically walking down a hallway and the game cuts to black and lets you know that that’s all there is right now. I can’t wait for more updates. I can’t wait for the game to be finished.

Would I still recommend it?
Oh, hell yes. Buy this game. Play this game. Scream at this game. Just play it. It’s absolutely amazing. I’m not ready for it to be over and I can’t wait for more content.

Watch me play it here, here, here and here!

-Vanri the Rogue

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