The Golden Age of Frustration
What is it about us, as a culture, that makes us constantly want to look back to the past? We have a tendency to view things gone by as ‘glorious times’ and the ‘best of worlds,’ longing for a perceived simplicity.
But do we sometimes view these past times with rose-tinted glasses, conveniently forgetting the frustrations that came with them?
There is a definite movement in the industry where people keep wanting to “make games great again,” longing for the golden eras of the ’90s. But when pressed, they are often not sure what that actually means in practice. Personally, I like where games are now and the incredibly high production values they have achieved; the medium is not perfect, but truth be told, it never was. However, it is great to see indie developers being influenced by the limitations and styles of old-school games and then making something entirely new with those specific tools.
Greek Tragedy is a prime example of that.
Authentic Friction
Greek Tragedy is a short, fixed-camera puzzle adventure game that unapologetically uses the marmite of video game mechanics: the tank control system. At the start of the game, you even get asked how extreme you want these tank controls to be, so for those sadists amongst you who crave the authentic friction of 1996, you can go fully hardcore.
Story and Setting
The story is set somewhere in the nostalgic haze of the 1990s, specifically within the grounds of Southern Michigan University. You play as Amy, a student on a creative writing course. Her quiet academic life is interrupted when she gets a cryptic and alarming message from her boyfriend, Kurt. He says there is immediate danger and tells her to meet him in the common room. Soon, she is embroiled in an engaging conspiracy thriller that combines elements of survival horror, strange cults, and a cast of great, quirky characters.
I enjoyed the story a lot, and it reminded me of watching a particularly long, intense episode of The X-Files or Buffy the Vampire Slayer. There is some genuinely good writing on display and some fun character interactions, all while perfectly nailing that specific retro ’90s vibe. To add to the replayability, there are multiple endings to unlock with different story outcomes depending on your actions.
It doesn’t take itself too seriously, and in terms of narrative delivery, Greek Tragedy really does hark back to those classic PS1 games, narrative-wise.
Riddles and Robed Hunters
In terms of gameplay and it didn’t take as long as I thought it would to get used to the third-person tank controls again. However, whether I actually enjoy this old-school way of playing anymore is purely a matter of opinion. The developers execute this style very well, perfecting it so it feels exactly like the old way of playing, warts and all. But for me, personally, it’s just not my taste anymore. I can appreciate the love and craft poured into recreating it, so I won’t dwell on it too much, but be aware of what you are signing up for.
The fixed camera angles generally work well throughout to frame the action, and there were only a few times that the sudden shift in viewpoint annoyed me or disoriented my movement.
It all works as a mixture of exploration and puzzle solving, primarily. Exploring the university world is atmospheric and good fun, but the puzzles are the real meat of the experience, ranging from the simple and obvious to some more head-scratching brain teasers. Some of these puzzles require you to follow a complex chain of clues and actions as you go from one area to another, gathering items and information. Some of the answers to these can be a bit obtuse too – relying on that classic “adventure game logic” – but they are nevertheless well thought-out.
I found that some of the more riddle-based puzzles were my favourite ones, offering a satisfying mental challenge, rather than the more mundane fetch-quest types where you just run items back and forth.
You won’t have time to truly sit back and think too much about these puzzles, however, because this is a survival horror game, and throughout the experience, you are being hunted. Students dressed in long, dark robes and wielding extraordinarily long knives or swords are slowly hunting you down as you try to complete your busy work. Running away from them is where the combination of tank controls and fixed cameras doesn’t work so well. The panic sets in, and suddenly the controls feel like an obstacle. Sometimes the knife range of the enemy feels a bit too strong and unfair as well, and I got hit a few times when I was sure I was out of range. Controlling Amy accurately in these high-pressure moments does become a chore rather than a thrill.
Palpable Dread
To defend yourself, Amy eventually gets a taser with limited ammo, but this isn’t particularly fun to use. It’s just another old-school mechanic that feels a bit too cumbersome and clunky for my modern tastes. Worse still, there’s a specific section where you have to shoot drones; that nearly finished me off in the frustration stakes. There is also a boss battle at the end, which, thankfully, I enjoyed a lot more than the standard combat encounters.
Be warned, there is a limited save system as well, adding real stakes to your survival, so be prepared to lose progress if you aren’t careful.
The visuals employ those low-resolution PS1 polygon graphics, complete with jittery textures, and the developers utilise this aesthetic very well indeed. There are some dramatic, cinematic camera choices that work brilliantly with the action, framing the horror perfectly, and there is some great use of lighting to hide dangers in the shadows. What you think of this visual style choice is entirely up to you. Again though, much like the rest of Greek Tragedy, it could all boil down to a marmite decision. For me, it was effective, though sometimes a bit too dark to see clearly. The soundtrack and audio design are excellent as well, setting the mood perfectly.
For Retro Horror Fans
This isn’t a game for me, ultimately, but it could very well be the perfect game for you. There’s a whole demographic of gamers out there who absolutely love the old-school gameplay loops, retro visual style, and, of course… tank controls. The developer delivers all of this with confidence in Greek Tragedy; it knows its audience, and they will probably love it. For me, it frustrates more than it impresses. But there is loads to like here, with its clever puzzles, atmospheric lighting, and engaging story.
So, if you want to play an authentically old-school survival horror, then prepare yourself for a Greek Tragedy.
Important Links
Greek Tragedy is a PS1-Style Survival Horror – https://www.thexboxhub.com/greek-tragedy-is-a-ps1-style-survival-horror/
Buy Greek Tragedy on Xbox – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/greek-tragedy/9NSVWSQLRQWT
