A Frightful Funfair or a Flimsy Fright?
What is it about funfairs that makes them great locations for horror?
They are meant to be places of fun, loud music, frequented by kids who can laugh their way through smelly rides. But there is also something dark about these places; something that can’t be ignored as you wonder who is operating these huge hunks of metal from the shadows.
Death Park: 4k Remaster is a shiny update from the original 2021 release and we got to experience the horror once again.
A Clown’s Pursuit
There is a small nugget of a narrative here in Death Park: 4k Remaster, but, really, it’s all about the survival horror scares in this short and fun horror experience. You play as an unnamed person who starts the game in bed, awaking in a room. It looks like a normal one and it feels cosy, but a presence is outside and about to come in. You hide under the bed, watching a pair of oversized shoes pounding around the room. Who could that be?
As the presence leaves, you wander around the room and find a key to the door. But open it and you’ll find yourself somewhere unexpected – a creepy foggy amusement fair with broken rides and a strange atmosphere.
Hunting you in this place is a horrific, creepy clown, and if it catches you as you explore and try to escape, the game starts again in the bedroom. That’s the story and the narrative arc behind how Death Park: 4k Remaster works, something that very much feels like a lot of games in this genre, where the horror and survival aspects tell the tale, rather than loads of cutscenes and exposition.
Escape the Big Top
The gameplay is in the first person, allowing you to run and explore while interacting with items and puzzles. Right at the beginning of the game, you can choose your difficulty level too, letting you dictate to an extent how that clown behaves in spotting you and giving chase.
There are a lot of games out there in which you’ll be left to do something similar; trying to get out of somewhere whilst being pursued, but Death Park: 4k Remaster tries to do it in a different way. There are objectives to complete and different areas to unlock, and so you find yourself not only trying to survive but collecting items and trying to solve some puzzles in the process. The puzzles themselves are not that challenging but are good fun, although a certain maze section certainly provides a bit of a headache.
The thing is, much like in others, when the clown captures you in Death Park: 4k Remaster it’s terrifying at first. But then, after the tenth time, it does lose its impact somewhat.
4K Scares and Multiple Endings
Death Park: 4k Remaster will take you around an hour to complete the first time, but there are multiple endings to uncover here, giving completionists something to get their teeth into.
As the name suggests, Death Park: 4k Remaster is the 4K remastered version and it certainly looks updated from the original game. The textures look fine and it plays well. But, if you’ve played the first version, I don’t think you’re going to be blown away by this new version.
The soundtrack is very good though, with some brilliant creepy effects that are so important for a game like this. The ‘chase’ music for when the clown spots you is a brilliant heart-racing bit of soundtrack.
A Brief But Spooky Amusement Park Thriller
Very cheap on the wallet, Death Park: 4k Remaster will provide some fun for survival horror fans. Yes, it’s very predictable and it lands in a genre that feels a bit oversaturated, but the atmosphere, the updated visuals and good creepy soundtrack means it’s a decent way to spend an hour or two.
If you like your fairgrounds scary, and can’t stand candy floss, Death Park: 4k Remaster could well be for you.
Important Links
This Ain’t No Funfair! Death Park: 4K Remaster Delivers Upgraded Nightmares on Xbox – https://www.thexboxhub.com/this-aint-no-funfair-death-park-4k-remaster-delivers-upgraded-nightmares-on-xbox/
Buy Death Park: 4k Remaster on Xbox – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/Death-Park-4k-Remaster/9N9NR1CKFC64
