Grouls

It might deliver basic indie horror experience, but at least it does some things right. The game begins with the typical horror game premise: you wake up in a cellar. You don't learn anything about who you are or what's happening. There is a bed in one corner, as well as a lighter that will allow you to see more clearly. The lighter is good and provides more light than some flashlights in similar games. It also comes with unlimited fuel, which will be a welcome respite for anyone who enjoys playing horror games often. It will occasionally switch off, but you will automatically turn it back on. Depending on how much you play this genre, you'll instantly recognize the house and its layout. It has been seen before, which means it is either a free or really popular asset. That doesn't matter if you're new to this. A lot also hinges on how well the game incorporates its own unique touch. Camera view might be considered one of those. Besides the flashing “camera” word that might become annoying after a while, there’s also a cool time and date in the lower corner that show your exact time. It’s a small detail that adds a lot to the experience. Gameplay doesn’t stray away from the usual formula. You slowly walk through the house, experience events, and occasionally find some item that will open a path forward. Except for the first problem, which requires you to move items to a defined area in order to exit the basement, the rest just require you to locate the correct codes. Progress through the house is linear. This means you need to examine something or go somewhere to trigger a sound or event. Most common are mannequins and an ugly mutant baby showing up and disappearing as you walk around. There are only a couple of jumpscares that are thrown into your face. The atmosphere is built more on sound and unusual noises. Important items get a white circle when you get close so you don’t have to wander around. The only real bug is that items don’t always have the right description. So when I interact with an axe and then try to interact with a note, the note will still have an “axe” description. There’s also one number of a code written twice so you need to brute-force the last number. Overall, a standard horror experience that lasts around one hour and doesn’t come with any bonuses or achievements.