A Claustrophobic Co-op Horror Maze
Spooky season is well and truly upon us, so what better time to turn out the lights and get scared silly. Labyrinthine has made the jump from PC to consoles, and the survival horror experience looks to be the perfect candidate to get pulses racing.
Labyrinthine – Console Edition tasks you with navigating a series of mazes, which are claustrophobic and sprawling. The path to the exit is never obvious and there are a series of intricate puzzles which need to be solved before you have any hope of reaching it. There is, however, something of a spanner in the works.
Ears Over Eyes
Unfortunately you’re not alone, as one or more of a variety of monstrous creatures will stalk you through each maze. Being observant is crucial, in particular paying close attention to notes and audio recordings which offer clues on how to survive the hideous creatures which are hunting you. As you may have guessed, you can’t do much else but hide, or leg it.
There are over 30 of the bleeding things, each with their own distinct characteristics. For example, one can be temporarily stunned with your flashlight, giving you a brief window to escape. Another can be avoided entirely as long as you don’t look at it directly. Learning how to survive each encounter by trial and error is both intriguing and absolutely terrifying.
Above all else, your ears are the best survival tool as the use of sound in Labyrinthine is wonderfully utilised. You’ll often get advanced notice that something is nearby, giving you a window to take evasive action. Hearing each monster approach is genuinely tense, as is turning a corner and being immediately spotted, usually indicted by a blood-curdling scream.
Terrifying Takes
It’s worth saying that if Labyrinthine’s main aim is to scare, it’s mission accomplished. You’ll have a properly terrifying time with plenty of jump scares (those pesky little ghosts for one), thanks to an effective use of light and sound. My heart almost stopped a couple of times when I made out a rough silhouette shambling through a hazy mist in the distance. Oh, I had a similar reaction when I happened upon a tea party in the forest…
You don’t have the luxury of a map in Labyrinthine, instead needing to make use of a series of items to help track your route through each maze. Glowsticks, spray paint and even a compass will go some way to prevent you circling around the same route over and over again.
Story Mode and Case Files
There are two main ways to play Labyrinthine, the first being the story mode. This plays out across six levels, beginning where you are recruited to help set up a town fair. Seemingly just a few steps behind a fellow employee called Joan, you discover secrets and horrors linked to an eerie property nearby.
Otherwise, you can dip into case files; procedurally generated mazes which gradually grow more challenging. You can create your own, share them with friends and even tackle the hardcore options. These also offer cosmetic items as rewards.
The main draw with Labyrinthine is having the opportunity to bring some friends along on your hellish journey if only for moral support. The game supports online co-op for up to eight players, as well as cross-play for a slicker matchmaking experience. So if you don’t fancy going it alone, help is often at hand.
Pacing and Flaws
It’s at this point I feel obliged to offer a word of caution. As authentically frightening as Labyrinthine is, it’s a slow, unforgiving game. Not only will you struggle to keep track of where you are going, you’ll often be stopped in your tracks by the marauding monsters. Progress is hard earned, and often accidental. You could easily find yourself wandering around, aimlessly hunting for key items despite your best efforts to track your routes. It’s also very easy to miss something, as the aforementioned key items don’t obviously stand out against the dark, murky environment textures.
There are modifiers to help you out, such as infinite glowsticks and the option to increase the amount of lives you have. Mercifully your progress will be saved as you tick off your objectives, but in the event you are viciously murdered, you’ll respawn in the warm glow of the nearest cabin. A much needed breather from the unending dread, I think you’ll agree.
A Gripping Horror for Patient Players
Once I got through the barrier of the first hour or so of Labyrinthine (and figured out what I was doing), I came to appreciate how effective it is as a horror game. There were some brilliant segments of play, such as exploring a house soundtracked by a haunted gramophone, which kept me interested despite the path ahead often being dauntingly unclear.
In Labyrinthine patience is largely rewarded with a gripping, bone chilling horror experience which can be “enjoyed” alone or with friends. Just remember to keep an ear to the ground.
Important Links
Ready to Face the Darkness with 7 Friends? Co-op Horror Labyrinthine – Console Edition is OUT NOW! – https://www.thexboxhub.com/ready-to-face-the-darkness-with-7-friends-co-op-horror-labyrinthine-console-edition-is-out-now/
Buy from the Xbox Store – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/labyrinthine-console-edition/9PC5HG8PDJSV/0010
There’s a Supporter’s Edition too – http://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/labyrinthine-supporter-edition/9N10D7FKRM76/0010
