As you know (or don't), Steam is ripe with [i]simple[/i] and janky, indie horror games. Games that bank on the atmosphere to do the heavy lifting with low-quality assets obscured by the darkness, shielding them from our judgemental gaze. And [i]Final Recurrence[/i] is one such game, the first of its kind I indulged in.
But, to understand why I enjoyed it, you also must know my likes when it comes to two things — [b][i]how[/i][/b] and [b][i]where[/i][/b] the spook is delivered.
So, let's start with the [b][i]how[/i][/b].
Just like being able to pleasure myself, I want to do the scaring myself, for the most part. I don't want my eardrums ravished by those irritating loud jump scare fests many horror games like to reduce themselves to nowadays. Oooooooo, loud noise goes brrrr, and that's horror because I jerked (off). Just...no. But, like any professional of the night can get me to salute them, not all do it with grace. Warm butter spreads better, as they say. So, entertain my brain. Allow it to go on its own horror-infused daydreams, sprinkling some more proactive segments here and there. Don't just splash gruesome pixels on my screen, followed by loud shrieks that make me question my desire to keep my hearing and call it scary. [b]It's not scary — it's just lazy.[/b]
Thankfully, [i]Final Recurrence[/i] passed this test with flying colours, handing the reins over to the environment, audio and lighting, letting them deliver most of the spook. And I'll shamelessly admit, I got my hair raised a few times. Where? Everywhere! It's the effect of these three gents playing nice with one another; a forest enveloped in darkness, an eerie squeak here, a lively shade there, and a whole lot of spook everywhere. So, despite a few poor segments, my overall impression wasn't stained, with much of the game effortlessly delivering quite an unpleasant experience.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2882629495
And, as [b]horror is subjective[/b] ([i]thank you, smort friend[/i]), what gets my juices flowing might make you dry, and vice versa. So, besides liking to do most of the work myself, specific criteria for the game's setting has to be met, so I get wet (#rhyme) — [b]realism.[/b]
And no matter how weak the link to the waking world is, if my brain goes, "[i]Could I find myself in similar circumstances?[/i]" It's game over, man! Irrational? Indubitably. But I too have access to a forest wrapped in darkness, abandoned buildings, schools, etc. So, during the day, when the sun is out, dousing everything in light, my super-rational brain laughs ([i]HA![/i]) at the mere mention of paranormal activities. But come nighttime, a different song is sung — [i]Who let the ghosts out?[/i] And who is to say I won't find myself stuck in a mansion, deep inside the woods, with a hulkish plague doctor overcome by the munchies, and tonight's special is me?
But, just like it's impossible to eat a banana without a banana, so too can't a horror game exist without segments involving you evading the boogeyman. And I'm not totally opposed to them. [b]They provide tension by tasking players with completing objectives with something lurking in the same room, privy to your location if the slightest sound is made[/b]. If done right, it delivers a great adrenaline rush, with you simultaneously trying to solve puzzles and escape your pursuer without being a head short. Sadly, it isn't an uncommon sight to see this trope overused, and worse — have the gameplay loop just copy-pasted from previous encounters. You see, just as fighting the same boss bloke in [i]Halo 5[/i] was boring, so too is trying to sneak past the same monster using the same shtick but in different scenery. Variety is the spice of life, as one spice merchant once said while trying to boost his sales.
And as [i]Final Recurrence[/i] is a horror game, it has spooky monsters that want to nibble at your badonkadonk. But there are no stealth segments here. There are a couple of simple, bare-bones, linear running away segments. Thankfully, they were scarce. Not great, but not terrible. So, let's meet in the middle — [b]okay-ish[/b]. I did like how the devs tried to do something new by asking you to use a microphone as you play. While optional, I recommend trying it out, so the few monsters in the game can hear your beautiful voice. Sadly, it feels more like a proof of concept than something concrete. [b]The segments that use it don't really build tension by using this feature.[/b] It's just there.
The game also has puzzles blocking your progress. Not the best in the business, but not the worst. Average, at best. The majority were based around a number sequence, and felt dull. So, don't expect your grey matter to sweat. There is also a sanity meter. Depending on its fullness, you'll bear witness to additional paranormal events, with the monsters becoming faster and you slower. So, keep yourself sane and [i]stay in the light, ah, ah, ah, stay in the light![/i] Or you can also nibble on some [i]completely[/i] safe pills left behind by someone or something.
But to stay in the light, you need light. Thankfully, our protagonist Paul hoists quite a meaty flashlight around as he trots on his little quest to find a missing child. To power it, some thicc AA batteries are required. Sadly, 'tis all for show. The area of effect isn't as grand as its size and power source would make you believe. Never judge a flashlight by its buldge, I always say.
But thickness aside, I should probably say a few words about the story. It's present... I remember a kidnapping, and Paul and his mates lived in an orphanage. This was dumped on me at the start, after which I promptly blacked out, and everything after was just white noise, with a [i]twist[/i] I saw coming from a mile away.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2882630025
Another issue is the complete absence of emotion from Paul. Giant plague doctor shrieking while chasing you down the hall? Just another Tuesday. Apart from exposition dumps, he is silent. Here is an example. After entering a room, Paul, my Brazilian and I were all greeted by the same sight — [b]giant levitating balls[/b]. Yet only the two of us reacted with shock, while Paul started having weird flashbacks, zoning in and out, dumping exposition on us. Like, dude! Giant balls!! Or was it a brain? Eh, same thing. Still, you get my point. He is completely stoic, offering no reactions to the bizarre stuff going on at Shepard's Hill. I expected at least a naughty word. [i]Nothing[/i]. My disappointment was immeasurable, and my day was ruined.
But, unless I'm playing a narrative-driven game, the story's quality isn't paramount. Sure, a good one will enhance my experience, but a bad one will slightly stain it, never completely ruin it.
In short — [i]Final Recurrence[/i] didn't dazzle me with its graphics, high-quality storytelling nor melt my tiny slav brain with its "ingenious" puzzles. And yes, the gameplay is quite simple, as this is essentially a walking simulator and a jogging one a few times. So, the gameplay isn't really that great either, with very little on offer besides changing how fast your non-existent player model's flashlight moves through levels. But, it's a horror game first and foremost, and it did what it should — deliver an (un)pleasant spooky experience. And it did that by relying almost exclusively on its atmosphere to do the heavy lifting.
The game also has a demo. So, trying before buying is an option. Should have probably started my review with this. Woulda, coulda, shoulda! No point in dwelling on the past, as future people like to say.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2879528291
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