The Quarry

The first shocking thing about The Quarry is how much the game costs at release. Since when were new games released on Steam at this price point?! We'd hope that this survival horror thriller game will be one of the most refined, captivating, and well-crafted offerings. The game already looks incredible visually.

There are a couple of preconceived notions about The Quarry that may justify its price point. First, the game's spiritual predecessor was an excellent entry into the survival horror genre. Second, the game has all the earmarks of a fully-fledged, Hollywood-esque production. So there's only one last thing to do to see if The Quarry will live up to that surprising expense - play it.

Down Into the Quarry

The developer behind The Quarry is getting pretty good at making cinematic horror games. We're already excited that we could be in for another thrilling offering full of emotion, frustration, and all that living room terror. There's a lot of effort being thrown into this offering with the massive production value.

The Quarry's visuals are laden with realistic, eerie next-gen models and environments, voiced by an all-star Hollywood cast. We can already see why the game is so expensive at release. The title is heavily inspired by teen slasher flicks, where a group of camp counselors has to survive a night at Hackett's Quarry. It's a dark location infested with nearby residents who want nothing but your dead.

The narrative is much richer than that elementary premise, but explaining it would take away from the heart of what makes this game. Yes, we'll say that the storyline is pretty gripping and full of emotion and thrills, as we've expected from Supermassive Games. So, where do gameplay mechanics fit into this high-end film-style production?

Gameplay roots into the story where you'll be making choices, interacting with quick-time events, and doing a little exploration here and there with different characters. Input feels a bit more minimal than the game environments suggest. Still, players would be more interested in the narrative and choice outcomes anyway. It's safe to say that we're all very impressed with the production value, but could you call this a game?

Run, Run, Run, and Jump

Many of these games are more like interactive films than traditional video games. Still, the level of interactivity in The Quarry justifies it as a playable title. A lot can be different through interactions, and the online elements certainly add to that game feel. Although that title has some merits, you'll feel slightly more satisfied than other games like Heavy Rain.

Round-Up - Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Magnificent production value with immersive visuals and voice actors
• A narrative that will spook you as much as it does grip
• Fantastic replayability potential

Cons:

• Player interactions are limited