The horror video game genre has had its fair share of rough spots over the years. After the immense popularity of Amnesia: The Dark Descent in 2010, the market became flooded with a host of half-baked knock-offs that relied on jump scares and gore to deliver thrills, and while IPs like Soma and Darkwood would occasionally bring some glimmer back to the genre, truly horrifying experiences would prove few and far between.
It's this over-saturated genre that Scorn has suddenly arrived in, and while opinions are divided on the presentation, there's a definite level of enthusiasm going around. Check out the first gameplay trailer below:
According to the game's Kickstarter page, Scorn is an atmospheric first-person horror game "set in a nightmarish universe of odd forms and somber tapestry" - and if that description hasn't already hooked you then we don't know what will. Jokes aside, the developers have taken steps to ensure that Scorn will deliver a particularly unique experience devoid of tooltips and tutorials. The game is described as being built around the idea of "being thrown into the world" that players will explore in a non-linear fashion.
Other features include:
Environmental storytelling - All the storytelling happens in-game, with no cut-scenes to distract you from the grisly reality of the world you're in. Remember to keep your eyes open - the game won't show you any sympathy if you miss something important on your uneasy travels.
Creature behavior - Denizens of Scorn have their own twisted lives and personalities. They can be curious, afraid, hostile, neutral and anything in between. They will react and adapt to your actions and the changes you bring to their environment
Fight or flight - The game has different rules that you have yet to learn if you want to survive. You will have to think about when to fight and when to take cover and how your actions affect everything around you.
Inventory and ammo management - Defined and limited, it plays a big role in keeping the player in an even greater state of awareness throughout the whole game. Different play styles will be needed to advance.
Full body awareness - Players will experience better immersion being aware of the character's body and movement. Interaction with the environment is realistic - objects are picked up with your hands, machines and instruments are operated by grabbing the controls and every action takes time.
Contextual puzzles - A few things will look familiar, as strange machinery merged with organic forms fills the scenery. Discover the secrets of this odd technology so you could progress further. Everything has a reason and purpose - you just need to work out what it is.
It's worth noting that this is actually the second fundraising attempt for the game. The developers unveiled the Kickstarter page alongside the above trailer, citing a need to "polish the game and really make it shine" before releasing a playable version. All backers will receive access to a Demo later down the line, as well as a wealth of wallpapers, shirts, figurines, and more.
Scorn has only been given a vague launch date so far, with a promise that it will release sometime in 2018 through Steam as a "DRM free download." You can find more information about that on the game's official Steam Greenlight page.
