We were able to do our first steps in Iraq with House of Ashes, new stem from the horrific histories of The Dark Pictures Anthology. What jump once or twice exploring an ancient Sumerian temple where no one has heard us shout ...
It is the third episode of a series that should count eight in total. Dark Pictures Anthology House of Ashes succeeds Man of Medan and Little Hope. Change of frame but no kind with this title that looks like a horrifying interactive film. The Supermassive Games English Studio is -Depuis Util Dawn published in 2015- A specialist of gender. Expected for an exit on October 22nd (PS4 / PS5, Xbox One, Series X / S, PC), within a few enclocations of Halloween, the new title of the British studio takes us to Iraq in full war.
With the new opus of this little anthology of horror, Supermassive is inspired by classics of cinema like The Thing, Alien, The Descent or Predator. I saw something, it was not human, loose one of the characters at the beginning of adventure. The tone is given while a group of American and Iraqi soldiers discover an old Temple Sumérien following an earthquake. Torch by hand, the different groups explore this maze innénébrate ... in which they are not alone ...
Helmet screwed on the ears, the traditional Jump Scares still work as well. Difficult not to jump when one of these strange creatures suddenly appears. The Dark Pictures formula remains faithful to itself. The effects remain classic, situations too, but with this episode, supermassive intends, beyond the terror experience, to draw human portraits.
The best stories always have a human aspect. The best movies and horror games never speak only of fear, thus explains Will Doyle, Game Director of the game. They examine the human condition by addressing the themes of mourning, impotence, madness, of the love . House of Ashes thus attempt to overcome some cinematographic codes dated with less manichean and more current writing. If the player follows the progression of a group of marines, he accompanies Salim, an Iraqi soldier (Arabichone) also lost in these underground.
Nick, Jason, Eric, Rachel and Salim will have to ally try to survive in this former Temple of Pazuzu, an ancient Sumerian daemon. We thus pass from one character to another according to a narrative which, on the first hour, remains classic. The dialogues are basic here, revealing a little more each character by tempting him an essential soul supplement so that the recipe works.
In horror stories, fear consists of placing the characters in situations they are not prepared and they are unable to manage, details Will Doyle. For it to work, you must sympathize with the characters and understand their motives. It is therefore important to build the characters well. If you do not think the character on the screen is afraid, you will not be afraid yourself.
a cinematographic experience
Between two exploration scenes and discussions, action scenes require the player to press a button at the right time (QTE), while it explores the labyrinth by finding information about the place and its history. House of Ashes remains, from what we have been able to see during this first hour of play, a title before any cinematographic. The actions of the player are rare, but also often decisive for the rest of the adventure. We also find the presentiments, objects that give an index (often abscons) on a coming scene when the player will have to make a choice.
Because houses of ashes retains the same structure as the precedents of these horrific stories: it takes, at times, make choices that will guide history in a specific direction. If the main frame remains unchanged, the means to arrive at the end of the narrative are variable. Each character can die ... or not. It is up to the player to make the right decisions which, in full panic, is not always obvious. The regulars of the series go very quickly (too much?) Find their marks.
It is hoped that the rest of the adventure will surprise the players.
After an hour of play, we recognize the formula The Dark Pictures Anthology in a different setting. The formula seems to remain the same. A change of form more than from substance even if it is necessary to recognize that Supermassive knows how to put an atmosphere. It is hoped that the continuation of the adventure will surprise the players by offering, for example, new gameplay mechanics. One way to renew the interest of a series that, even if it remains unique, varies so far quite little episode to another.
If we had to at the end of these first steps in House of Ashes to send a supermassive request, probably would she hold in these few words: surprise me! The basis of all good horror game. THE DARK PICTURES ANTHOLOGY: House of Ashes, Bandai Namco, on October 22 on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X / S and PC.
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