Scorn Review
Honestly, when reviewing the game Scorn, I'm not entirely sure what I just played, but hold on, it's not what you might think. The game's inherent complexity and ambiguity make it mysterious and intriguing. While I might not fully grasp everything that Ebb Software has woven into Scorn, damn, it's a truly visceral and bizarre horror experience.
The game is set in a mysterious, nightmarish land akin to hell. Players wake up here and embark on a truly unique journey. There's absolutely no dialogue in the game, which means the story unfolds entirely through the environment. When you enter this world, you have only one choice: survive and uncover the truth.
The game's intention is to evoke a sense of horror, discomfort, and anxiety as the landscape is teeming with fleshy, bio-organic horrors. In the game, the main character navigates through various areas via puzzles, and this is how the game's story is unraveled.
An industrial civilization has fallen into decay and ruin. This hellish world is constructed from bio-organic materials, a grotesque fusion of flesh and machinery. Here, a dormant creature lies beneath, and naturally, it doesn't want any strangers disturbing its slumber.
In reality, even after completing the first few puzzles, I'm not entirely sure what's happening. My mind is filled with basic questions like where am I, and who am I. Despite this haziness, I'm certain that something is amiss in this world, and I must continue forward if I want to survive this desolate place.
The in-game structures and environments might be trying to convey a message, but it appears that they're intentionally vague. The game lacks a HUD displaying a map or mission names, clearly indicating that the developers want players to feel lost and afraid. This is a positive aspect of a horror game. Despite being lost, I don't find it frustrating. On the contrary, it naturally instills fear in the player. It's vastly different from facing jump scares prepared in advance, which can sometimes feel forced in other horror games.
In the game, the environment is both horrifying and strangely lifelike. It evokes a sense of life, albeit in the form of grotesque and filthy bio-organic creatures that are intertwined with the environment. Blood and gore are prevalent, clinging to everything it can.
It's no exaggeration to say that Ebb Software drew clear inspiration from Swiss artist H.R. Giger and Polish artist Zdzisław Beksiński. Therefore, it's no surprise that the world of Scorn feels so intimately tied to flesh and machinery in a bio-organic form.
Overall, if you're curious about the storyline of Scorn, be prepared to accept that everything in the game is ambiguous, and it will take some time to fully comprehend it all. Since I also couldn't grasp everything the game conveys, I can't provide a deep commentary on it. However, this unusual storytelling approach aligns with the game's environment and the studio's intentions. It creates a feeling of fear, confusion, and intrigue.
In Scorn, we all know the main character is an anonymous individual isolated in a desolate, gruesome place where bodily biomatter oozes and clings to surfaces. The surroundings, as well as the twisted, helical shapes, give the impression of a symbiotic, grotesque coexistence of creatures and machinery, all oddly natural. Consequently, the gameplay relies more on the environment than the main character. As a result, players always feel insignificant in this world, and as a result, there's no such thing as fast-paced shooting.
While the game is indeed designed as a first-person shooter, puzzles and exploration take precedence. Additionally, being a psychological horror game, it doesn't rely on cheap jump scares. Instead, as I mentioned earlier, it fosters a sense of anxiety, and you won't have to wait long for tense puzzles to arrive. They come quickly, and they make you realize that these puzzles are the true stars of the game. Some of them are so eerily quiet that you'll have thoughts in the back of your head that someone might be lurking behind you, waiting for an opportunity to strike.
That is indeed an aspect that elevates the horror experience, foregoing outdated jump scares but still managing to make players feel fearful. Even in a literal sense, I've encountered creatures while solving puzzles, and if I were to abandon the puzzle midway, these creatures would continue to pursue you. This sensation may not be enjoyable, but it's definitely intense and thrilling.
The highlight here is that the puzzles in the game are genuinely creative, fully integrated into the game's environment. Sometimes the puzzles involve grand structures and enormous machinery, while other times they're small but intricate lock mechanisms. The diversity of puzzles keeps the game from feeling monotonous. It also provides motivation to delve deeper into the game, eagerly anticipating more engaging puzzles in subsequent areas. Ebb Software has done an excellent job designing these puzzles. Due to this variety, I never found the game to be boring. It also encourages me to keep pushing forward, always expecting that the next puzzle will be intriguing. In this regard, Ebb Software didn't disappoint.
So, what about combat? The game provides you with very few weapons, ranging from a gun that functions more like a melee weapon to a shotgun and a rocket launcher, to name a few. All of these weapons are attached to your body and can change states as needed. Scorn was designed to emphasize the main character's vulnerability in this world. So, it's the complete opposite of a game like Doom. Even with weapons, you can't confidently assert that you're safe. The game penalizes you for poor decision-making, as a single misstep can cost you your life.
Despite having weapons, this isn't primarily a first-person shooter. Every encounter requires careful consideration, especially since ammunition is extremely scarce. I wouldn't hesitate to advise you that if you spot a creature, the best course of action is to run and try not to let them see you. What you need to do is escape, not confront them. AI enemies, while not highly aggressive, can be relentless in tracking you down. Even if you manage to evade them, they may return to search for you. So, my advice is to stay vigilant, keep an eye on your surroundings, and avoid drawing their attention. You won't want to teach them a lesson; survival is your top priority.
Ebb Software has successfully recreated a gruesome and immersive atmosphere, and the gameplay of Scorn effectively serves this purpose. It's a slow-paced game, but you always need to stay alert because everything in the environment could be a clue to help you escape. I genuinely appreciate this style of game design because everything has a purpose. Thus, exploring the pre-existing symbiotic relationships and understanding how the various biomechanical elements are interconnected becomes a key tool in your quest for escape. All this results in smooth and logically challenging gameplay that's almost surreal.
Scorn is not just a visually stunning game; its artistic design is nothing short of exceptional. I can't help but applaud the dedication of this studio that spent nearly a decade creating this game and only released it when it was truly ready. It's evident that every aspect of the game's environment has been meticulously crafted, akin to skilled sculptors in the realm of horror. Every structure evokes a sense of grotesque beauty. They are disturbing yet oddly fitting. From blood-soaked machinery to egg-like chambers, wheels, or walls made of flesh, these structures in the game feel as if they are observing you and have something to convey. The eerie and visceral atmosphere in the game is neither entirely living nor entirely dead, creating a hauntingly uncanny feeling that resonates deeply. I believe many aficionados will appreciate this style.
In terms of visuals, Scorn shines brightly. However, what about the audio? Since the game lacks spoken dialogue, sound effects become crucial, and I can confidently say that the audio effects have been executed very well. The ambient sounds, like the heavy winds, the eerie echoes of the decaying industrial landscape, or the squelching and oozing sounds of the monstrous creatures, all feel incredibly authentic. The footstep sounds in the moist, blood-stained areas are particularly effective. These audio elements draw players deeper into the experience, and I couldn't help but wonder how insane the game would be if it had a VR version. The audio-visual experience in Scorn is exceptional, and there's hardly anything to criticize.
VERDICT
In conclusion, regardless of Scorn's ultimate purpose, it is a high-quality game. It has brought a breath of fresh air to the horror genre. With its incredibly unique art style and logically constructed gameplay, Scorn has created a captivatingly gruesome world. While the game's storyline may be esoteric and challenging to grasp, it is not a drawback when it's clear that this was the intention of the developers. Scorn wasn't created to be a game for everyone; it doesn't have mass appeal. It's here to make a difference, and after nearly 10 hours of gameplay, I believe it's a worthwhile experience, especially for those who appreciate the biomechanical style in this eerie and peculiar horror atmosphere.
