Cry of Fear

Starting out life as a mod, Team Psyskallar developed Cry of Fear became its own standalone game in 2013. The mod was first released in 2012 to positive acclaim and talk quickly revolved around the development of a full game. Like many mods from the era, it offered enough of a gameplay loop to help people stick around and eventually demand more in terms of games content.

So that would arrive in 2013, when the standalone version was released. How good, though, was Cry of Fear when it was taken out of the relatively comfortable confines of Half Life 2 modding? Was it able to live up to the hype that had built up around its potential?

Atmospheric, engaging setting

With the fact that it could be built around the rules that already existed within the Source engine, Cry of Fear came to life quickly. It offered players the chance to engage in a very interesting and engaging world. The majority of players liked the atmosphere and its unique, interesting setting. Like many Half Life 2 mods, Cry of Fear managed to use the slick gameplay to help create an engrossing world that felt plenty of fun to stick around.

The game puts you in charge of teenager Simon Henriksson, who wakes in an alleyway after being struck with a car. You need to make your way through the city, dealing with all manner of puzzles, challenges, and combat situations with strange monsters. You normally find yourself dealing with a city that is quite normal, but the “nightmare” levels soon inject you into something that can feel reminiscent of something like Silent Hill.

The gameplay mechanics are very much like Half Life, but the atmosphere and survival challenge are definitely more akin to Silent Hill.

An engrossing thriller of an experience

With minimal inventory space and the need to be smart about what you carry, Cry of Fear forces you to be smart about every decision you make. You are forced to utilise items in combination with one another, and you also need to carry enough morphine to keep yourself healed up. Use too much, though, and your vision becomes blurred and limited – not great for the eerie atmosphere!

Pros:

• Outstanding atmosphere and city development for its time
• Engaging story that can take more than a few intriguing turns
• Great gameplay loop that always forces you to think with clarity

Cons:

• Can feel a little dated if played in 2021; lacks some polish