Tormenture - Gaming IS Evil (Spoiler-free)
It gets pretty toasty when you're playing with demons.
Developer: Croxel Studios
Publisher: Billete Cohete
Socials: Billete Cohete’s Twitter, Croxel Studios’ Twitter | Croxel Studios’ Website | Billete Cohete’s Discord
Price: $14.99
Developed by Croxel Studios and published by Billete Cohete, Tormenture is a horror game that has you assuming the role of a child in the 80’s, playing 8-bit game, where the horrors come to life.
Altering Perspective
Tormenture’s dual perspective was engaging and well-mimicked gaming’s past imitations. The first hiccup occurs after trying to defeat the dragon, when the game suddenly “glitches,” prompting you to take out the game cartridge, blow on it, and put it back on to get the game working again. That was the first instance I understood what Croxel Studios was going for.
While the top-down 8-bit game is the main focus, it mixes with the 3D first-person “real world.” The game’s map is the protagonist’s notebook’s note, in-game occurrences affect reality, secrets are unlocked with triggers from the real world, such as playing a song, and many other things.
There were many things I had to figure out, as there is little direction except that you have to get the four relics. It’s through exploration, logic, and observation, that you can figure out what you need, where to go, and what to do. For people who need direction, this game probably has many bumps on the road.
I will shamelessly say that I had to look up one answer throughout my whole playthrough, and how to unlock a specific ending. In hindsight, they were simple or obvious solutions, but experience may vary by the player’s willingness to explore and think.
The four zones in the game, though with graphical limitations they’re mimicking, feel distinct enough, and some creepier than others. Each zone has its boss, its tunes, its items, and overall, its schtick. I cannot emphasize more how important it is to look at the map and your surroundings, as sometimes it took me minutes to find out that I had walked by an unexplored location.
The perspective switch is quick and painless, which is great because I had to triple-check if I was going in a straight line, and the real world feels like a child’s room. Toys you can interact with, under the bed, and the slightly opened closet looked scary. All the horror happens in the real world, much like our real world. Sounds will be heard, creepy puzzles will be solved, and equally creepy revelations will happen in your room.
Were My Grandparents or Parents Always Right?
There was a time when people thought video games, even Pikachu, were either the devil or created by the devil. I mean, there are still people out there, but Croxel Studios asks, but what if they were right? As I said I wasn’t going to give out any spoilers, I will say that that question is answered. I didn’t read the description or finish the trailer, I only played the demo and was convinced, so seeing how the story unraveled was entertaining, even if cliché.
Tormenture doesn’t take itself too seriously, as you interact with the real world and find clues to what’s happening, you can find a receipt for the in-game “Tormenture,” and it costs the child the evil number $6.66. It’s cheesy, kind of cliché, and very charming. Tormenture’s narrative is something that should be enjoyed, just be immersed, and imagine you are a child in this scary situation. If you do so, and it’s easy to do as Tormenture nails the atmosphere, you will be able to enjoy each twist and turn, even if silly or expected.
Is The Game Within A Game All That?
The demo convinced me and the full release showed me the wait was worth it. While I was somewhat hoping to get a more serious story with a little bit of depth, understanding that probably wasn’t the focus, more so, creating a nostalgic and cheesy experience that simulated a nightmare I had for playing too many games when I was a child, created an enjoyable experience I would recommend to many people.
I Recommend
This game to people looking for a light horror game that’s nostalgic or has a retro concept, with a perspective twist that will not hold your hand, but with an unserious story that comes off as fun.
Was this game on your radar? What do you think of it now? Do you think this narrative has been explored enough? Let me know!
Loved the demo and need to pick this one up! Great review.