The Abnormal Place

As a genre, we don’t think it’s a stretch to suggest that the horror genre is stuttering, with several indie titles flattering to deceive. However, games that have embraced dark and gritty settings while actively distancing themselves from the bracket of ‘horror game’ have enjoyed a great deal of success. The Abnormal Place is another game of this ilk that uses a strange, peculiar world as a backdrop for a compelling open world adventure where you will have to guide Abigail through this land, searching for her voice which will grant her a one way ticket home.

In terms of gameplay, this game plays rather similarly to games like Pumpkin Jack, Alan Wake, Little Nightmares and Alone in the Dark. However, in terms of theme we would compare it to just about anything that Tim Burton has ever signed his name to. This game is a very ambitious project but does it have the potential to be a peculiar smash hit? We find out in our review of The Abnormal Place.

No Vacancy, No Escape

So, let’s begin with the story for this title. This game will see the player play as Abigail, a new resident of a spooky hotel that is chocked full of monsters. From what we can tell, this game will not see you battle with these monsters. Instead, you will have to talk to the residents, solve puzzles, explore the creepy world and uncover the mysteries that will grant you passage to your homeworld and leave the monstrous hotel. It’s a great premise and if the developers can add more substance to this title throughout the run, this could easily be a strong narrative experience.

The story is potentially super but it has to be backed up with a wonderful visual array, which is something that this game does in some respects. In terms of the world that has been created, the textures, the monsters and the overall theme of the game, the title nails the presentation. However, some aspects don’t sit right with us. The animations are very unoptimized, the worlds feel quite empty in areas and some models feel a little askew. In short, the game is very hit and miss when it comes to visuals.

Then lastly, we have gameplay. This game plays rather like a dialled down, text-based adventure version of resident evil. Where you will have to collect items and use them within the context of the world to progress. We have to admit, while the format does suit the game in question, it isn’t exactly revolutionary and it isn’t exactly exciting. It means that this game will be defined by its story and we can only hope that it lives up to the promise.

The Verdict

Overall, we believe that this game has potential, provided it can shed its ‘my first Unity project’ vibe. The visuals are good in some respects and then the premise is very strong as well.

Pros

• Strong textures and some great landmarks within a creepy world
• The central premise is interesting

Cons

• Animations are poor
• World feels largely empty
• Gameplay is far from impressive