There is still something about the slow, grimy, and mysterious older entries in the series that makes them special. There is a particular mood that comes from the steady pace, rough graphics, and convoluted puzzles that make the games stand out. Rose-Engine's Signalis is a modern release that channels some of the best parts of series like Silent Hill.
At the beginning of the game, Signalis puts you in the role of Elster, a synthetic worker who awakens on a wrecked spaceship. She made her way to an underground facility, knowing little more than she was looking for someone. The rest of the game is about figuring out who Elster is as well as the truth behind the horrors of the facility she is investigating.
If you've played any of the horror games, you'll feel like you've been playing a long time. Elster doesn't have the famous Resident Evil tank controls but she still explores slowly and aiming can be difficult.
This makes it even more frightening when synthetic machines are after you. Many of the enemies in Signalis can feel like zombies because of the glitched out remnants of an underground worker colony. You can only hold six items at a time, limited resources, and many doors that require cryptic key cards make Signalis a survival horror game. Less punishing save points and a map that is packed with just the right amount of useful information are some of the modern touches.
The game looks like it. While Signalis isn't a 32-bit game, it often looks like one, with blocky visuals and frequent glitch that make you feel like a synthetic being that's slowly losing its mind. The rooms are small and cramped, adding to the tension, and the enemy designs are simple yet menacing. There is a real analog feel to the game, with puzzles that involve lots of big switches and dial, and the ability to look at the objects in your inventory up close, like they are real objects.
The dread is steadily increased by Signalis. It is mostly lonely when it starts. Most of the facility is locked up and you are alone in it. The terror increases as you go deeper into the underground. From searching through bland, dark offices to stalking through medical facilities and eventually, extremely gross horrors that I won't spoil, you go from searching through bland, dark offices to stalking through medical facilities and eventually, extremely gross horrors that I won't spoil The old notes and diaries are used to tell the cryptic story, which starts out with a simple description of the facility before it spirals into madness. The kind of game where you open a note and just say leave this place.
There are places where the old-school feel of Signalis can feel dated. A few of the puzzles were too complicated and forced me into trial and error, which temporarily stopped the game. I broke out a pen and notebook to solve some of the puzzles. It is annoying that I have to store my items in a safe box until I need them, even though I appreciate the small inventory and how having to make hard choices about weapons and healing items can make things scarier.
The moments can add a bit of tedium to the experience, but they don't detract from what Signalis is. This style of horror is so effective because of it. It's so well crafted that Signalis isn't shy about its influences. The game has a distinct identity by the time it is all done, and plenty of ghastly horrors to haunt you.
Signalis is available on a number of platforms.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
