Free from political limbo Devotion has returned. A first-person horror-game.
HIGHS:
- This is not Layers of Fear. Despite the seemingly jumbled presentation it has a clear tangible story that is grounded in a real-life setting and era. The characters are realized people and not abstract metaphors. I fecking hated Dear Esther and the walkings-sims it inspired, and this is a breath of fresh air by comparison.
- The horror is not some arbitrary heebie-jeebie from beyond. The horror is grounded in real human behaviour and irrationality. What's worse than having zombies at the front door? Your friends and family leaving you because you ruin every good thing you touch.
- The middle act of the game is non-linear and has some light puzzle elements. The more Resdient Evil a game is the better.
LOWS:
- One or two jump-scares stick out as unnecessary given what the real horror is. The same goes for a brief chase sequence in the middle.
CONCLUSION:
Devotion is a three-hour trip that I never want to play again but I'm glad to have experienced it. This is not a remotely happy story, but a very human one worth recommending.
VideoGame Not a spook-athon, not a walking-sim, but a masterpiece of story.
Free from political limbo Devotion has returned. A first-person horror-game.
HIGHS:
- This is not Layers of Fear. Despite the seemingly jumbled presentation it has a clear tangible story that is grounded in a real-life setting and era. The characters are realized people and not abstract metaphors. I fecking hated Dear Esther and the walkings-sims it inspired, and this is a breath of fresh air by comparison.
- The horror is not some arbitrary heebie-jeebie from beyond. The horror is grounded in real human behaviour and irrationality. What's worse than having zombies at the front door? Your friends and family leaving you because you ruin every good thing you touch.
- The middle act of the game is non-linear and has some light puzzle elements. The more Resdient Evil a game is the better.
LOWS:
- One or two jump-scares stick out as unnecessary given what the real horror is. The same goes for a brief chase sequence in the middle.
CONCLUSION:
Devotion is a three-hour trip that I never want to play again but I'm glad to have experienced it. This is not a remotely happy story, but a very human one worth recommending.