Asylum

[radiofloyd]

This is a game that I backed on Kickstarter back in 2013, after loving their previous game, Scratches. The kickstarter campaign successfully ended on March 1st, 2013. I even mentioned it on this forum as a game that I was looking forward to most in 2014.

 

Well, 12 years later, it finally released.

 

I’ve played about 80 minutes so far. It’s very similar to Scratches in many ways, in terms of gameplay and atmosphere. In this game, you are exploring a closed down mental hospital, the night before it is scheduled to be renovated and reopened, trying to piece together information about the past, and your past. It mostly involves you interacting with the environment, looking for clues to solve puzzles. There is a horror element to the game, but it is more of a haunting atmosphere than just strictly scary. Scratches was like that too.

 

Anyway, I’m glad that the developers persistence paid off and that the game has seen the light of day.

 

[radiofloyd]

About 5 hours in now, still enjoying this. There isn’t much to add to my opening thoughts. It’s very much Scratches in a different setting, albeit with a slight lick of paint (probably more than I realize).

[radiofloyd]

Finished, after about 10 hours. Short and sweet.

 

Overall, it probably wasn’t quite as memorable an experience as Scratches. I remember being blown away by how good Scratches was. The ending is definitely a let down. But it’s still a solid 8/10 adventure game that I enjoyed 90% of, the puzzles are intuitive and the game is short enough to not outstay its welcome.

 

Senscape definitely have a winning formula so I hope their next game doesn’t take a decade to make.