Without Escape (PS4, PS Vita)

EastAsiaSoft's budget indie "Without Escape" is a game that will either try your patience with it's many puzzles, or have you so intrigued by it's underlying mystery that you'll go to any length to finish it. At it's heart it is a point and click horror indie that places you in the shoes of a kid whose parents are supposedly off visiting with their own parents. You arrive to an empty home late at night, have a cheap lasagna dinner, and go to bed thinking that all is right with the world. At precisely 2:45am you wake up to an odd noise suspecting a burglar, but find instead a house in slight disarray with a new mysterious painting that gives off odd vibes when you look at it. From there you point, and click your way through each room, and it's contents looking for items and information to get you to the next point in your search for explanations. Your immediate area of interest is small with blocked off entrances, and things that require other things to get into. The more you discover, and unlock the more the world around you changes, and morphs. Ultimately taking you, the character of the story, on an otherworldly journey into a Lovecraftian horror situation. What lies in wait is anyone's guess ...

Injection π23 - No Name, No Number (PS4)

Do you miss that old school Silent Hill fix? That psychological horror that makes you question your sanity while delivering pulse pounding puzzle solving investigations involving pop-ins from the paranormal? Well, Abramelin's "Injection π23" might just fill that void of wanting. Might being the keyword. Taking inspiration from games like Silent Hill, and Slenderman this indie nightmare, in all of it's sensory overloading glory, drags the gamer kicking and screaming back down retro gaming's memory lane where a certain disturbed individual finds himself in a world filled with macabre mystery. While utilizing tools found in the various haunting landscapes, and finding clues among the gore plastered scenery you'll need to mind your health, stamina, and noise making as you unlock rooms, and locations that hide various key items meant to get you to the end of hellish world you find yourself in. A goal that will either free you from the madness therein, or make you realize the futility in your running of errands.

Home Sweet Home (PS4)

Going into this review I was a little on edge, and reluctant to start. Though I'm a horror movie fan from way back, and have seen some of the most horrific movies known to man I always felt like games of this genre were a bit more frightening. They seem to be more immersive, and actually feel like they place you in the shoes of the protagonist who is trying desperately to escape whatever nightmare they might be a part of. I've seen countless live streams of horror games make even the most bold of gamers jump, and scream out loud. I've also noticed developers' ability to make the games more atmospheric, and more seemingly real than ever before. Thus is why I was hesitant.

I know a lot of questions are likely going through your mind reading this review. You are likely wondering how scary is "Home Sweet Home". Does it live up to it's horror theme? Does it do anything different? What you need to know in regards to this is that it is indeed scary. I'm not talking just about jump scares. There are mounting moments of tension, and a haunting atmosphere that only heightens the fear. The fear factor itself is more akin to the Asian horror genre as it deals with pursuing gory apparitions, and other Thai horror myth monstrosities. The added realism of the environments, and the accompanying noises such as heartbeats, and eerie chattering make your stealth trek back home all the more frightening. As far as doing something new the game doesn't really innovate outside of offering gameplay compatibility for the PSVR. It's mostly akin to games like 'Outlast', or 'The Evil Within' where you'll be using stealth elements to hide from the various haunts, and move about as you collect items, and solve puzzles related to said items.

The Coma: Recut (PS4)

I hate comparing games to past releases, but something struck me as being very familiar in Devespresso Games' Korean survival-horror game, "The Coma: Recut". There is unmistakable similarities between this game, and Well Bred Rhino's story driven creations such as that of, "All the Bad Parts". I'm not implying that it's copycat material, but more so that the gameplay structure is very much like said games. You have basic 2D platforming stages spread across multiple floors and rooms, and must make your way through each of the areas as an animated cartoon cutout of the protagonist upon given story cues to unlock previously locked areas until you can complete the game's outlined plot. Not only that, but you'll be searching environmental objects for useful items as well as picking up left behind clues, and even buying supplies from school vending machines using coins (won) that are hidden throughout the multiple areas of the designated location. As far as further similarities go you have a protagonist in a school who awakens to a mysterious world inhabited by alien creatures. In this case those alien creatures turn out to be ghastly shades who rule an alternative reality built upon negative energy. That realm being known as, "The Coma". In this story the protagonist Youngho encounters Sehwa High's dark past through a sleep induced traversal. One caused by studying late into the night for the next day's exam. In the topsy-turvy world he awakens to he finds possessed students, suicide victims, a pursuing malevolent version of his teacher, and a twisted plot involving a student named, Seho. The jump scares are plentiful, and the chasing spirit that haunts you on your way out a neverending threat.

Darkest Dungeon: Crimson Edition (PS4)

Darkest Dungeon is a brilliantly orchestrated video game love letter to all things Lovecraft. Taking into account H.P. Lovecraft's intertwining worlds of psychological horror, and that staple style of storytelling the developer known as Red Hook applies every possible detail in accordance to said source material to make the game's journey into delirium all the more genuine. Every choice you make in relation to your outgoing party's descent into the abysmal estate grounds that they find themselves treading underfoot is so crucial that the experience at hand becomes quite the task from the get go. From the intense battles to the trek through the growing darkness you will witness your hired characters losing their sanity as they fall victim to every physical, and metaphysical threat imaginable. Their only comfort coming from rest, and restoration at a nearby hamlet. A place where the sins of the flesh, and a visit to the sanitarium can cure all of their ills. Of course this all comes with a price, and it is through your increasingly difficult adventures that you will not only stave off the unwelcome denizens of the damned to relieve your family's curse, but also loot the residence for what it's worth. With an eerie atmosphere amplified by blood red visuals, and a dark theme filled with voice-over talent befitting of a 'Triple A' game release this challenging ordeal that awaits you will no doubt intrigue even the most wary of gamers despite any issues they might have with hardcore gaming experiences. That I believe.

Hobby Highlight Archives (MAY 2017)

HORROR

Horror. It's a word that conjures up feelings of fear on various levels for many people. Whether it be nightmares, violent unmerciful deaths, or even the fear of the unknown mortal man has in his own way adapted to and dealt with the many horrors of life through the ages. While horror, and the fear inducing panic thereof has no definitive origin it has followed humanity like a plague throughout history. Through tales of terror, religion, imagination itself, and real life encounters mankind has always been afraid of something. A primal instinct embedded within us, and for good reason. Some of us develop phobias in our lifetime, or fears of certain things while others embrace it's darkness in the form of entertainment that mimics, and plays down the real threat of being mortal in the presence of so many life ending possibilities.

Weekend Blog Log (Oct. 3, 2015)

It is Saturday, or rather late into Saturday of October the 3rd. I've mostly sat on my ass today tweeting to friends on Twitter via the old PC, and have spent a lot of the extra time off playing Destiny. Despite my lingering complaints about the game it is one those gaming experiences that has kept my undivided attention. I think most of that can be attributed to my friends' love for the game, and my return love for gaming with said friends. I have to admit that I do value what little time I have with my friends each evening in Destiny. It's a friendly conversational opportunity that I'm not afforded very often outside of social media text chat. Though my contribution to said conversations consists of mostly out of place exclamations, singing, and a lot of "dude" talk I still get to speak my piece about gaming, which I enjoy greatly. The one-on-one sessions with my friend 'Trouble' always gives me the opportunity to open up even more about my day, hobbies, and gaming passions. In return I also listen to her about her day, and her thoughts on things. It's a friendship that I couldn't do without, and one that I'm truly thankful for.

Wolf Creek 2 (DVD)

For those of you who have watched the first "Wolf Creek" film you'll be very aware of it's torture gore nature, and the man who does the death dealings therein. In "Wolf creek 2" racist outback serial killer 'Mick Taylor (John Jarratt)' returns once again in all his primitive glory to cleanse his Wolf Creek paradise of foreign invaders. This time around a pair of authority abusing cops, a German couple, and a British man who just so happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time get caught up in the grisly carnage that ensues. Paul (Ryan Corr) plays the unlucky lad who gets drawn into the fray shortly after the first three killings of the movie as he stumbles upon a female victim who is trying to escape the grasps of Mick. Through an intense, and sometimes sarcastically humorous cat, and mouse pursuit Mick trails his target through the desert like a master hunter with his prey caught in the center crosshairs of his trusty rifle. Sometimes the chase takes place while Paul, and Mick are in their separate vehicles, and other times it's an on land struggle in which Paul tries to outwit Mick with his cunning.

Daylight (PS4)

I love horror. Cinematic blood, guts, gore, and scares is all I need in order to be properly entertained. Nothing more, and nothing less. In fact while growing up I've spent most of my teenage, and adult life watching scary movies, and scary television shows for the sole purpose of the thrill it provides. Whether it's a movies about ghostly hauntings, sick individuals, or creatures that nightmares are made from I always find myself returning to them for the scares that they offer. Nothing quite gives you the proper jump start to the heart like a Hollywood horror flick. When it comes to scary video games the same thing could be said. Very rarely does a proper scary video come to fruition though, so you'll understand my anxiousness when I heard that Zombie Studios, and ATLUS were going to release a gaming horror experience that was ever changing.

Being the horror enthusiast that I am I was totally psyched for ATLUS's upcoming randomly generated horror game. Not only do I have a mad love for ATLUS releases, but the thought of them publishing such a game had me anticipating the potential gaming greatness incorporated. The hype was built up from the moment the game was announced, and even I helped build that hype on my blog as well as through various social media outlets. I'm sure some of you even took note of this hype. Building up hype can be a dangerous thing business-wise though. If you build it up too high everyone will expect an "AAA" title, and will not give it mercy when they experience if for themselves. Such is the case of "Daylight".

Basement Crawl (PS4) - "Screenshots"

If you have not watched the trailer for Bloober Game's upcoming horror hybrid game "Basement Crawl" you really need to do so. While it reveals little about the actual gameplay I can tell you that it does incorporate 'Bomberman" style arcade action and "M" rated horror themes. The mixture is definitely interesting, but seeing as it's a next-gen title I believe it will be worth a look. I recently contacted Bloober Games in hopes of securing the game for review purposes. Thankfully I'm now on the list, and will be able to provide that review for you. In the meantime I'd like to share with you a few screenshots of actual gameplay, so that you can get a proper taste of things to come. If you are a fan of horror, or multiplayer arcade style experiences I hope that you'll give this game a fair chance when it is released. You can always wait for my review if you like though.

Doctor Sleep (BOOK)

If you are into Stephen King books, and movies as I am you'll have no doubt read, or watched his older masterpiece, "The Shining". The Shining, which got it's name from one of the main character's special abilities told a horrific tale of a haunted hotel getaway in which the Torrence family lived out a truly terrifying ordeal. There were plenty of ghastly guests to keep the family of three on their toes, and the fact that Jack Torrence (The Father) was growing madder with each passing day made the otherworldly predicament all the more dire. Aside from Jack Torrence his young son Danny, and his wife Wendy also took on major roles as guests of the haunted hotel. In the end, and through many nerve racking encounters Danny's imaginary friend gave the family enough warning to enable Mrs. Torrence, and her son to make a proper getaway. It is also this imaginary friend known as Tony who allowed them both to witness the more horrific haunts contained within the confines of the massive hotel during their earlier days there. Both Daniel Torrence, and his Mother Wendy Torrence eventually make a narrow escape leaving Jack to be forever lost amongst the ghostly apparitions of the Overlook Hotel. That of course is where "The Shining" ends, and "Doctor Sleep" picks up.

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Dead Block (XBLA): "A Rock & Roll Zombie Survival Game"

Many of the gamers I've grown up with, and have made friends with have enjoyed some type of zombie game. My own obsession started with the old horror movies from back in the day, and was later rekindled by the introduction of the Resident Evil series. From that point on I have enjoyed many zombie games on many different consoles. Nowadays you can find the inclusion of zombies in about every form of media there is. On July 6, 2011 Digital Reality Ltd., and Candygun Games released a Zombie game that brought back that wholesome zombie goodness that had sparked my interest as a young lad. Their game which is titled 'Dead Block' takes old and new zombie survival elements and combines it to make a video game creation that pays tribute to to all that is zombie. I was extremely excited when they told me I was going to be able to do a review on the full game. Once I got the code from them I didn't hesitate to get started.