Playing Repose, I wasn’t sure what to expect from the game, other than perhaps a hint of nostalgia due to the aesthetic. It feels as if pixel graphics in horror are more common than ever. While some may feel that a horror game cannot be scary with pixel graphics, Repose will be sure to change your mind.
REPOSE
Developer: Bozó Attila Bertold
Price: $7.99
Platform: PC (reviewed)
MonsterVine was supplied with a Steam code for review
As you start the game, you are plunged into the deep end, having to explore with just the direction keys, a light, and an axe. On the way, you are tasked with finding oxygen tanks. However, everything is not quite as it seems. The employee before you was killed off, and it’s being hidden as to how or why he was killed.
Once I first interacted with Cynthia, I knew something was up. She gave me the details of the task at hand, and I was plunged into a dark and unforgiving world. Every step I took needed to count, as I had a limited number before my energy depleted, and I would have to start again. Luckily, energy can be replenished by sleeping. Even with sleep as an option, I often explored further away from the bed and ran out of energy more times than I could count.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from Repose, but the atmosphere is heavy and thick, and the music really does the game justice. It gave me the impression that everything I did was high stakes, and it was a fight for survival and answers. I was very aware of how many steps I had remaining at all times, and found myself wondering if I’d have enough to get to the next checkpoint.
A lot of Repose is trial and error- you have to explore and uncover the path ahead, while getting into tricky combat situations. This often led to me dying again and again. I was okay with that, as every time I died, I had new information that would help me on the next journey. It’s a repetitive cycle, but I liked it a lot. It tested my memory and allowed me the chance to try again.
It’s not as easy as just walking and killing enemies, though. While the task at hand is to collect oxygen tanks, there is also the struggle of setting off traps, which can hinder your exploration.
While I loved the art style, the music, and the game’s general theme, I found the exploration part disappointing. A lot of the scenery looks the same in places, and I didn’t feel encouraged to explore off the beaten path. This was predominantly because a lot of the time, there was only one path to take, aside from the maze that you are warned about entering.
The music and sound effects really helped bolster the nostalgic aesthetic of the game and massively enhanced the atmosphere. This kept me on edge, as it wasn’t the graphics or monsters that scared me, but the sound design prevailed and kept me on my toes.
The Final Word
Overall, I really enjoyed my experience with Repose and felt challenged by the enemy encounters. Especially since a lot of the time, you had to be quick with the inputs to kill the enemy, otherwise they’d kill you first. Then you’d have to make your way back to the area and hope that you beat them to it the next time. The story was curious and had my interest piqued. Despite that, I didn’t see it as a game that I would play long-term. It is unique and has a lot of charm, but it doesn’t have enough to bring me back for more than a few hours.
– MonsterVine Rating: 4 out of 5 – Good
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