Seduction - A Monk's Fate | PS4 Review

Parallaxed to Hell and back Koex Studio's 2D side-scrolling horror tale "Seduction: A Monk's Fate" aims to thrill, chill, and spill forth a narrative about love and lust from a religious and non-religious point of view.

As protagonist and resident monk in training, Lee, you find yourself a part of a monk managed monastery after having been dropped off as a child by your father. The father having been on the run over money issues, and those pursuing him over the debt. A father seeking refuge for him and Lee after having also supposedly been cheated on and left by his wife. Catching up years after said incident the left behind Lee is forced to face haunting visions of a pale faced lady as well as his mysterious past. That and his devotion to Buddha. Eventually phasing in and out of reality as he faces his demons. 

Narratively linear, but not so much in the puzzle solving department, "Seduction: A Monk's Fate" has the player controlling a now grown Lee as he goes about the monastery grounds, and a hellish hellscape to make sense of the visions of a pale woman he's been having. Lee can dodge, pray away tempting spirits, and use items he finds in order to progress. The items are used to ultimately solve and puzzles that involve environmental set pieces, and even the spirits of women who are transformed into horrific versions of themselves. 

The key theme throughout the given narratively driven story hints at temptation via the lust of women being bad in the religious context while flashbacks of past events show that there is also an element of love in relationships to women as well. Lee, as the protagonist, battles through temptation while coming to terms with his past, his father, and his absent mother. All while studying to be a devout Buddhist at the temple that acted as his saving grace. A temple that has it's own dark past to uncover. It is this setup that questions one's religious devotion in contrast to relationships said religion would deem as taboo. Helping the player to interpret Lee's journey as an awakening to a truth. A truth that says relationships aren't always about lust, and that love no matter how demonized it may be can be pure too. Even if it is with a woman.

Visually, the game is displayed as a layered 2D side-scrolling horror themed adventure with paper puppet-like animations. The stages are layered front to back with thematic details beholden to the location Lee finds himself in. Be it the monastery or the hellscape Lee transitions to. There's also highly detailed and varied textures adding to the haunting quality of it all. The soundtrack itself is complimented by the alluring chatter of female spirits. Playing into the seduction factor that the game leans heavily upon. Something that repeats, and resonates throughout the story being told.

The Verdict ...

Puzzle solving in "Seduction: A Monk's Fate" can be a trying ordeal. Finding, and using items can complicate the experience seeing as there is no sense of direction other than hints dropped of what it is you need in order to be able to complete certain puzzles. I found myself stumped early on not understanding what was required of me. Leaving me to wonder if the game was bugged, or if I was simply missing something. I found in my playthrough that the item menu was fickle about being used in a specific spot. Something that will no doubt keep players going back and forth as they try to figure things out. 

Other than that the game was interesting enough. Though I do believe it's the story that carries the game more than the visuals, if ever so slightly. The game is not really up to par with modern graphics engines, but it's stylistic design choices do lend credence to a properly artistic take. Sometimes it's not the graphics that matter so much as it is the delivery of the story or narrative. To that end this game does alright. It draws you in through curiosity, and keeps you invested with every event that unfolds in Lee's predicament. Leading to a moral conclusion that is not unlike a religious revelation. An epiphany about the dangers of seduction, and the difference between love and lust.