The Town of Light
a game by | LKA |
Platform: | PC (2016) |
Editor Rating: | 8/10, based on 1 review |
User Rating: | 9.0/10 - 2 votes |
Rate this game: | |
See also: | Open World Games, Psychological Horror Games, Walking Simulator Games |
If you are looking for a rather tragic tale to work your way through, then you might enjoy The Town of Light. This is a game that tells you the story of a girl called Renee, who suffers from a mental illness. Stuck in the confines of a 20th century Italian asylum, you need to try and work through a harrowing tale. The names are changed but the story is based on true events. The fact it is based on a real-life location helps to add an extra level of detail and scope to what is happening.
With that in mind, you might want to think about giving The Town of Light a try if you are looking for a horror experience. This is a walking simulator in all but name. In the game, you return as an older Renee as she tries to piece together the events that took place while she was a patient. It’s a harrowing, thematically deep game that is sure to have people drawn in from the moment they start.
Horrifying authentic, with enough atmosphere to absorb you
While some will want to compare this to everything from a Silent Hill title to something like FEAR, The Town of Light really does work on its own thinking. You piece together broken memories that are found as you work your way through the asylum. As you move through the asylum, you will be told stories and the narrative shifts and shares around you. Exploration is somewhat limited, and The Town of Light is probably a bit too linear for its own good. However, as you move through the game, you are told a shocking story and have the chance to interact with various items. From old documents to strange currency, you can learn more and more about the asylum and its dark, cruel history simply by playing on.
There are some collectibles to find, that help to further complete the theme and the story of the title as you go. You’ll learn about the challenging lives that were led bin Volterra, and some of the scandalous decisions which were made by those who were supposed to care for those involved.
A brave take on a very complex subject (8/10)
While talking about mental health is more common today, the early 1900s were a different story. Volterra, then, is a product of its time; a place that feels totally out of sync with the idea of helping people. How many people like Renee suffered thanks to being put into a place like this?
Unlike many other games like this, there are no hidden endings and the story caps out at around three hours. Sadly, the story loses the run of itself at times, and the writing can go through peaks and troughs where it feels a bit out of sync with the story that it intended to tell.
Overall, though, The Town of Light is a haunting and harrowing walking simulator that is worth exploring – even if you only do it once.
Pros
- Stunning visuals that line up well with the storyline and aesthetic.
- Easy to play through and learn the full story that is told in-game.
Cons
- Confusing dialogue that is inconsistent in its quality.
- Obscure references and writing variety can make the story hard to follow.
Download The Town of Light
System requirements:
- PC compatible
- Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP