Like one of my other all-time favorite Lovecraft inspired indies called "The Darkest Dungeon", "Lovecraft's Untold Stories" really captures the essence of Lovecraft's lore. The very effects of insanity, and fear in a world haunted by the Old Ones. This time around the developer in question allows the gamer to experience the disorienting fright in the roles of a handful of unique individuals. Each with their own backstory, locations to explore, and mechanics based on a sort of twin stick shooter build. Initially you'll get to reprise the role of a named detective who finds himself, as most unfortunate Lovecraft characters do, searching for clues pertaining to a missing individual in a mansion. Through the shotgun armed detective you'll search for clues in the form of items with textual descriptions, and face off against cultist, and other Lovecraftian horrors as you try to solve the mystery at hand without completely losing your mind. Choosing the wrong actions in multiple choice situations can make things hairy scary though by inflicting an abnormal sanity status. Ultimately warping your perception of the world around you, and bringing you closer to facing the sum of all humankind's fears. Those fears being the Old Ones themselves. Fear inducing Old Gods such as Azataroth, Shubb-Niggurath, Cthulhu, Nyarlathotep, and Dagon. You will traverse various locales inspired by Lovecraftian lore including mansions, port city, hospitals, the jungle. and even the world beyond. Making rounds from area to area unlocking the mysteries through the roles of a detective, a professor, a witch, a thief, and even a ghoul. Each with their own unique play style.
The goal of each character playthrough is to eventually complete the chapters before you, and find all the secrets by 100% completing your navigation of all the areas within a location, and finding the key items/artifacts that will get you further along. You have a limited inventory space with which to collect said keys, and key items along with the riches, weapons, and health related items meant to keep you alive for the long haul. Obtaining these baubles will require that you search various pieces of furniture, and chests regularly. All while facing off against the occasional booby trap, hazard, or deadly denizen. Sometimes you'll even cross paths with boss-like servants of the old ones as well as the old ones themselves. Losing health, and sanity through damage received or the wrong choices made in optional situations will lead to your untimely demise. Either by self-inflicted means or outright through the carnage that ensues.
Between the traversal of the standard locales you will be able to visit a halfway house which includes stations to view items you've found with the characters you've played as as well as progress made against the five Old Ones. You can choose to revisit this location upon death, but in doing so you will lose all items from your previous chapter outing. Thus it is better to choose the restart option, and continue with your inventory intact. After having completed the detective's tale the other characters will unlock in order. By completing each, and every story, and defeating the Old Ones you will earn your endings along with several PSN trophies to boot. The best takeaway from the experience though is the well crafted story elements hidden away in the form of found items, and the true to Lovecraft feel of the characters' plight as they succumb to madness, and fear with each wrong decision. The game feels like a mixture of the "Silent Hill" series mixed with a little "Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem". It is that blend of impressively relayed feelings, storytelling, and indie design that make this particular Lovecraft inspired game awe inspiring. If you fancy a proper Lovecraft fix I'd say do not miss out on this game! Though the controls take a little getting used to, and the menu system as well once it clicks you'll enjoy seeing the world of Lovecraft come to life through this developer's vision. It gets the Inferno's fiery seal of approval!
An Additional Note (Presentation) ...
The visual presentation of "Lovecraft's Untold Stories" is a semi top-down isometric view with a pixel crafted design. It's simplistic yet detailed enough to be artistically impressive. There are special effects added in as well to distort the visuals when the insanity effects negatively effect a character. That along with the sometimes partially silent environments, and pulsing heartbeat sounds helps to drive the fear, and madness home. Seeing the players mutter incoherently about their state of paranoia, and fear through text above their heads also serves as a means to fulfill that Lovecraftian edge. It's a very well done indie in that regard.
The goal of each character playthrough is to eventually complete the chapters before you, and find all the secrets by 100% completing your navigation of all the areas within a location, and finding the key items/artifacts that will get you further along. You have a limited inventory space with which to collect said keys, and key items along with the riches, weapons, and health related items meant to keep you alive for the long haul. Obtaining these baubles will require that you search various pieces of furniture, and chests regularly. All while facing off against the occasional booby trap, hazard, or deadly denizen. Sometimes you'll even cross paths with boss-like servants of the old ones as well as the old ones themselves. Losing health, and sanity through damage received or the wrong choices made in optional situations will lead to your untimely demise. Either by self-inflicted means or outright through the carnage that ensues.
Between the traversal of the standard locales you will be able to visit a halfway house which includes stations to view items you've found with the characters you've played as as well as progress made against the five Old Ones. You can choose to revisit this location upon death, but in doing so you will lose all items from your previous chapter outing. Thus it is better to choose the restart option, and continue with your inventory intact. After having completed the detective's tale the other characters will unlock in order. By completing each, and every story, and defeating the Old Ones you will earn your endings along with several PSN trophies to boot. The best takeaway from the experience though is the well crafted story elements hidden away in the form of found items, and the true to Lovecraft feel of the characters' plight as they succumb to madness, and fear with each wrong decision. The game feels like a mixture of the "Silent Hill" series mixed with a little "Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem". It is that blend of impressively relayed feelings, storytelling, and indie design that make this particular Lovecraft inspired game awe inspiring. If you fancy a proper Lovecraft fix I'd say do not miss out on this game! Though the controls take a little getting used to, and the menu system as well once it clicks you'll enjoy seeing the world of Lovecraft come to life through this developer's vision. It gets the Inferno's fiery seal of approval!
An Additional Note (Presentation) ...
The visual presentation of "Lovecraft's Untold Stories" is a semi top-down isometric view with a pixel crafted design. It's simplistic yet detailed enough to be artistically impressive. There are special effects added in as well to distort the visuals when the insanity effects negatively effect a character. That along with the sometimes partially silent environments, and pulsing heartbeat sounds helps to drive the fear, and madness home. Seeing the players mutter incoherently about their state of paranoia, and fear through text above their heads also serves as a means to fulfill that Lovecraftian edge. It's a very well done indie in that regard.
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