[code]Curator page here-->[url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/37670120/] DaRevieweD #70[/url]<-- [i]New review every Sunday[/i][/code]
[b]Head Worms (HW)[/b] is Adam Jaber's/GMP games' proper debut into the horror genre. I phrase it as "proper" because his 2016 game [b]Horror in The Asylum,[/b] to which he has admitted was his self-perceived failure. Although, I can't deny/agree as I haven't had the pleasure to play the latter. I can say this much; the setting, gameplay and horror style appear to be similar... So, think of HW as his way of redeeming himself and the negative reviews he got in the past.
Now, I usually have a sense for mediocre things, a gauge if you will (only 50% accurate though) and the minute I laid eyes on the game- it was telling me, don't! I even had to consult my acquaintances, the dev himself and my inner self in helping me decide! Finally, I did eventually give in and as heartbreaking as it is to say- I was right. But, not entirely... I'm still very mixed right now and in spite of it being a -ve review, it's not gamebreaking or terrible to any degree. Before you change your mind, let me at least tell you why~
[h1]"It's Just In My Head...Right!?"[/h1]
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2410156060
[u]The Gist:[/u]
You regain unconsciousness as an unnamed protagonist in a cell room... somewhere. Then things become fuzzy soon thereafter and you end up in another undisclosed research facility. You don't remember much except for one thing- which is clear as day, the torture is far from over!
[spoiler] ! What a puzzler of a title. [/spoiler]
[h1][+] PROS;[/h1]
[b](a) Worm Your Way Out[/b]
The goal is to escape wherever it is you're being held. You must look around the disorganized environment for keys, tools like crowbars to get to said keys and of course where to use them. There are no obvious objectives laid out and likewise, even the dangers are left for you to uncover; patrolling enemies, some slow and others crazy quick! You do have indicators that reveal if you're in hiding, making noise and the draining battery bar.
[b](b) Skin-Crawling!![/b]
The places you encounter are unbelievably dark, quiet- suspiciously so. There isn't any music to set the tone for you until you get seen, or a chase ensues. Most of the time, you're greeted by auditory cues that give you a head start to impending doom like snarling and loud footsteps. No scares are ever used twice and it keeps you on your toes!! Contrary to the trailer, there are no jumpscares whatsoever~ ;)
[b](c) Keep Your Wits About You~[/b]
SCARY: One, the whole scenario is your standard abduction thriller you've watched a dozen times, at least in the beginning. But when you think about it, the fact you don't know the location, history or what they(?) want with you is bloodcurdling! At least in those films, some overseer gives you instructions, taunts you... Here, there isn't anything! Just you and your ticking sanity.
Two, the story remains a sordid mystery but there's great significance behind the title! So, are we talking literal worms/parasites in your head or is the [spoiler]chemical[/spoiler] kind that either way can result in some messed up things? There's a hint in the game very early on, that shows perhaps your ability [spoiler]to perceive of things[/spoiler] is jeopardized.
[h1][-] CONS;[/h1]
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2410161784
[b](i) Mind Over Matter[/b]
The stealth is disappointing, and no, I'm not a difficulty masochist or anything like that. Stamping around, whether your lights are on or opening cabinets didn't seem to alert him at all. And when you get to the third open field, the hiding in bushes is unreliable- with the slightest jerk leaving you potentially exposed, even if your body is still wholly immersed. Funnily enough, standing in it and completely rendering myself visible doesn't make the enemies even blink twice. So, it's like teabagging~
I must also point out, the darkness is overbearing! And if you're not one to conserve your battery- when you do reach the "crawler" area, evading them is such a pain when you can't even see yourself except for their bright red gem-like eyes. Which begs the question, how can they see you anyway...?
[b](ii) Wriggling Beyond.. Control...[/b]
Then the worms, I mean "bugs". Say when you're hiding in the cabinets, you can still toggle on/off your flashlight and so you signal in morse code to the enemy "I'm here" but not really, because they don't react to light anyway. There's also a strange bug, where during your traversal interactions; crawling underneath something. Pressing "E" will cause the camera angle to reset over and over until the action is done.
[b](iii) It'll Get to You~[/b]
A big letdown, however, would be the price. Almost $9 for a game that's beatable in an hour and a half, tops. I'll do you one better, a bigger sigh moment is that there isn't a story- not even notes, documents to keep you invested, though I suppose that's more realistic. Because who would leave those lying around!! You just have a cutscene at the beginning and another at the end (but it's so familiar...), with nothing in between except for filler puzzles and enemies. To me, it feels unfinished. I I am missing an achievement though, but I guess it's one to do with [i]not dying or a speedrun type dealie.[/i]
That said, the dev's been planning to address this by patching in a multiplayer mode. I'm skeptical but also intrigued... But may I suggest giving something more to the campaign? Also sprucing up these issues and nitpicks I mentioned. Like I can think of several other improvements like maybe a brightness setting and adding subtitles for the ending dialogue because they were present in the beginning, so what gives!? And I have to say, why can't I freely switch on the flashlight but instead there's a 2.5-3 second cooldown!!
[h1]"Until It All Heads Downhill."[/h1]
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2410193216
HW didn't do anything damning, awful or… unique. That's probably where it went awry. It drills into you an unnerving atmosphere and intro. But loses itself in its price, stealth and shallow "plot". The upcoming multiplayer could salvage it and add some replay value to it though who can say it will be without extra setbacks. The other amateurish slip-ups are easily fixable like the flashlight beam penetrating hiding spots or awkward enemy patrol routes.
The beginning portion does a remarkable job of ramping up scares and set up a foreboding, undying tension. It will throw at you curveballs in which you only learn from after stupidly falling for them. And yes, I feel betrayed by the abandonment of any coherent plot, but that said- the part(s) where you can wrap your head around are authentically disturbing.
So, before you comment "then why did you give a 6" and still be a [i]-ve review?[/i] It's because I see a diamond in the rough. I enjoyed my brief time with it and I'm dying to know as to what the multiplayer experience will offer~ But I cannot in good conscience recommend this, as it is.
[h1]6/10[/h1]
[b]I'm not a diehard fan of horror multiplayer but it's worth a shot.[/b]
[i]Thanks for hooking me up RP![/i]
