Game On: Scorn Review A Haunting But Tedious Ode To H. R. Giger
After nearly nine years of development, released on October 14, Scorn is a first-person horror game that takes players into a terrifying world. The entire world consists of organic technical structures and mechanisms inspired by GR Giger, the late artist best known for creating xenomorphs in Alien.
Skorn's unique style is his greatest strength. The entire time I was playing the game, I marveled at the strange and unsettling aspect of everything around me. Throughout the campaign, not a single item or structure isn't twisted strangely and in a terrifying way. Also, the player character cannot be considered a human, only a human.
Unfortunately, I think this is where Skorn's virtues end. The game itself is an absolute must as players have to solve all kinds of tedious puzzles to move forward. I love puzzles, but the skorn shows are neither fun nor challenging. Several times I thought I had just lost, long before I realized I had asked a riddle. My patience was tested far more than my problem solving skills.
The combat starts with contempt about halfway through, but the mechanics are heavy and downright terrifying. It seems that the attacks of the enemies cannot be missed, which undoubtedly facilitates the inability of the player to attack properly. Meanwhile, your weapons are very weak.
In games like this, it's a form of gameplay that encourages players to find ways to avoid or circumvent enemies. But the Scorn has no stealth mechanics and very few alternative methods, so the best you can do is fight or "fly", and by run I mean sprint at a fast pace while a biomechanical monster bites your ankle . funny things
On the other hand, it should be noted that Scorn is an indie game developed by a very small team - the graphics alone are amazing for an independent project. Again, this is a video game and not an art gallery, and should be treated accordingly. The Steam store page promises that "all storytelling takes place in-game, with no distracting cutscenes." Excuse me, where is the story?
I'm no stranger to the storytelling on offer: Icewind Dale and Left 4 Dead, two of my all-time favorites, use environmental cues to fill in the gaps left by their seemingly simple plots. There is no story about contempt anywhere: they are thrown into the world without explanation or motive.
This lack of motivation is deeply problematic. The first scorn puzzle allows you to taunt a defenseless creature to move on. It was a visually disturbing experience, but I felt much more guilty for less serious crimes in other games.
Despite Ebb Software's apparent efforts to sink the player, I didn't feel at all because there's no story, no stakes, and no apparent point. Although from a first person point of view I was the fly on the wall. Contempt isn't scary, it's just overwhelming.
So far, reviews of "Contempt" have been mixed as expected, but I'm ultimately surprised it's gotten so much attention. I'm not sure who will enjoy the game: horror fans will hate the combat, puzzle gurus will find it ridiculously simple, and fans of immersive storytelling will feel left out by the lack of a true story.
A much better experience in dystopian organic technical horror is the 1996 game I Have No Mouth and Must Scream, based on the Hugo Award-winning short story of the same name. The graphics are a big step up from Scorn, but the story is quite engaging and disturbing if that's what you're looking for.
Despite all my criticisms, I would say this: Contempt is remarkably polished and works exactly as expected. I didn't find a single flaw in my game, and in 2022 that was a rare feat. Thanks to Ebb Software for taking their time every nine years instead of releasing a half broken product and fixing it later like so many others.
Riordan Zentler can be contacted at riordanzentler@gmail.com.
