Rise of Insanity

It's a bold move to name your game as generically as Rise of Insanity - because players will expect several 'insane' moments. The bar has been set high for this horror-based walking simulator. If we don't see any insanity rising, we won't be a happy bunch of people. As indie gamers - we rarely are anyway, though!

All expectations aside - there is some profound intrigue about Rise of Insanity. Every horror game tries to make itself a harrowing experience - but even from the beginning, it seems like it was created to scare you into therapy. The VR incorporation almost guarantees that you'll be frightened at one time or another. So let's see how terrifying this 'insane' game can be?

Take a Walk on the Wild Side

Rise of Insanity is clear from the get-go that it's capitalizing on the popularity of walking simulators. They are minimalistic in mechanics and focus on telling an immersive story through a visual and interactive medium. While many games in this genre tend to be as minimal in assets as possible, Rise of Insanity makes arguably detailed visuals to enhance the horror experience.

The game looks like it fits the part with the dark color palettes and eerie transformation of environments. It supports the narrative of a psychologist delving into his past. A man slowly descending into insanity through a series of jump scares and tense movements. As the game is story-focused - we'll leave the rest of the detail there.

There isn't much in the way of obstacles and challenges. That is not how the game is manifested. It is an almost railed walkthrough showcasing the abilities of the game's artists and VR prowess. Rise of Insanity does have its terrifying moments, as it says on the tin - so there's no argument about its insanity levels.

What doesn't quite register is what this game is trying to achieve other than scare you. The tales told aren't as immersive as one would hope for - and being elementary in mechanics - you would want some twists and turns to keep you engaged. It really only presents itself as a horror demo for VR capabilities - you don't feel any connection with Rise of Insanity at all.

What is Insanity?

There are two questions to be asked. One is if walking simulators should even be classified as games. Two, is this a good experience regardless of its category? The answers to both are no. Rise of Insanity serves more as an interactive avant-garde film than a game. It doesn't really hit the mark, considering it should deliver an intriguing visual novel.

Pros:

• Visuals fit the horror scenes and deliver a tense atmosphere
• Plenty of jump scares to appropriately fit into the genre

Cons:

• The game is short
• The narrative feels a bit bland where it should be the most significant aspect
• The whole experience feels non-sensical at times