A Fever-Dream Finale for a Solo Horror Odyssey
Trilogies are often considered the holy grail of storytelling. In film, we have giants like the original Star Wars trilogy, The Lord of the Rings, and Indiana Jones (ignoring the later entries, of course). Games have their famous examples too, with the original Halo trilogy, Uncharted 1 to 3, and the original God of War series all considered true classics.
However, there are smaller games that have also tried to place themselves on this esteemed list. One of these is the Injection π23 series, which has now released its third and final entry, ‘Tabula Rasa’.
It is an indie take on survival horror, and it weaves a dark tale once more. Let’s find out more.
The Abramelin Legacy
This is the final entry in the Injection series, which began 11 years ago, created by solo developer Abramelin Games – an impressive feat in itself. The developer comes from a music background, a fact that is clearly reflected not only in the sound design but also in the pacing of the gameplay.
The influences here are undeniably those of old-school survival horror games you would have found on the PS1, such as Silent Hill and Resident Evil. It presents a tale full of intense imagery, fast cuts, and film overlays, almost resembling a music video for an indie metal band.
For those who have played the first two games in the series (Injection π23 ‘No Name, No Number’ and Injection π23 ‘Ars regia’), there are narrative payoffs here in terms of answers – and perhaps even more questions. Even if you haven’t played the previous entries, or don’t remember them clearly, it doesn’t matter; this third game can be played as a standalone experience.
Fractured Reality
Injection π23 ‘Tabula Rasa’ is set in a version of a town that the developer knows very well, having once lived there. However, in-game, it is a distorted, monster-riddled version of this town that feels both real and unreal in the same breath.
The story is more of an experience than a straight, linear narrative. It features characters, cutscenes, and threads of plot, but the presentation is more akin to a fever dream than anything you might find on the BBC on a Sunday afternoon. There are themes involving cults, hidden societies, and rituals, but the anchor that keeps you grounded is the relationship between the protagonist and his dog, Joy. This is the emotional backdrop that pops up in all three games. Half the time I didn’t know exactly what was going on, but I kind of loved that ambiguity, and it always kept me completely engaged.
Navigating the Distortion
You play Injection π23 ‘Tabula Rasa’ primarily in the third person, but if you want an even more intense experience, you can swap to a first-person perspective. The gameplay loop consists of exploration mixed with puzzle-solving, stealth, and some combat. In terms of that exploration, you are traversing a confusing, semi-open world; a world forever changing and distorting, as you run around familiar yet confusing areas trying to map the environments in your mind, as you do not have an in-game map to rely on. You will find yourself lost a lot of the time, but I think that is done on purpose; the game wants you to feel disorientated.
When it comes to the monsters you encounter, I felt avoidance was always the best option. There is a meter on the screen that shows you how aware any foe is of your presence and I spent half my time in Injection π23 ‘Tabula Rasa’ filling that meter and then running for my life, mostly because the combat is cumbersome and slow. This isn’t one of those games where you can just take every enemy out. It is about moving in and around the horror instead of facing it head-on.
The puzzle element is by far my favourite aspect, featuring that old-school complexity to the solutions. I found the tests in this one to be challenging, but also entertaining, with a good variety of different problems to solve and work out.
A Brain-Melting Audio-Visual Mash-Up
As I mentioned earlier, Injection π23 ‘Tabula Rasa’ is a visual mash-up where, at times, you feel like you are inside a music video. Video footage is mixed with graphics and quick cuts that appear suddenly across the screen; just as you try to find the meaning in one image, another takes its place. It can be quite brain-melting at times, but it is an amazing artistic feat full of imagination.
The same can be said of the soundscore; finding out the developer makes music came as no surprise. There are some amazing effects, and the voice-over work, delivered in its original language, works well.
A Fitting Conclusion for Hardcore Horror Fans
Injection π23 ‘Tabula Rasa’ marks the end of a trilogy made over many years by one person, and that is worth a massive round of applause right there. I liked what the game achieved, and I appreciated the commitment to old-school survival horror.
Some might find the non-linear approach to storytelling a bit confusing and the slow gameplay a bit hard to take. However, there is something engaging and creative about Injection π23 ‘Tabula Rasa’, with enough about it to keep anyone intrigued until the end.
Important Links
Injection π23 ‘Tabula Rasa’ Brings A Chilling Survival Horror Trilogy To Its Conclusion – https://www.thexboxhub.com/injection-%cf%8023-tabula-rasa-brings-a-chilling-survival-horror-trilogy-to-its-conclusion/
Buy from the Xbox Store – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/injection-%CF%8023-tabula-rasa/9mxzhk71bm6r
