Why is an old house so scary? Add a lightning strike and a strange figure in the window who then disappears, and you’ll have me quaking in my gaming shoes. It doesn’t help that I feel like I’ve been exploring these types of houses in games for decades. Locked doors that require keys found in strange compartments, puzzles that demand careful exploration and clever solutions, noises behind me, and when I look around, nothing is there. I’ve seen it all before, but it still scares me, and I love it.
Lunacy: Saint Rhodes has all these elements, and it does a great job. But when stealth elements get added to include a hunt, it’s more of a worry…
Lunacy: Saint Rhodes is a first-person survival horror experience. You play as a man named George Rhodes who begins the game by being informed that he has inherited a large house. The person who informs him is a shady detective, and George heads there, finding himself in an abandoned village called Rhodes Village. As he walks through the village towards the house, there are some scares and odd things, like artifacts in outhouses. As you reach the house, you begin to learn secrets and build a family tree of the Rhodes family and all that they reveal…
The story and ghostly atmosphere are the highlights of the game. Strange world-building and intriguing stories unfold as you gather clues to solve a great mystery. The writing is strong, and it works brilliantly. It doesn’t feel hugely original, but it does a great job of embracing the classic tropes and delivering a genuinely chilling experience.
The gameplay mechanics are very straightforward. You play in the first-person and perform the usual actions: running, walking, and crouching. You pick up objects, add them to your inventory, and find solutions to puzzles throughout the game. Nothing feels particularly unique here; it’s all comfortable and familiar.
The puzzles are quite straightforward too, although you might find yourself backtracking a bit. The strangest and most unique mechanic found in Lunacy is that George has to clean his glasses every now and again. This might be due to rain, dust, or cobwebs, but it’s such a strange inclusion that I grew to love it.
Rooms change and maps morph, which is a great device as the game progresses. There isn’t any combat, but you will have to run away from an entity, cower in the darkness, and use stealth. This was the least enjoyable part of the gameplay for me, as I was completely immersed in the first hour of the game, and then this extra element was introduced, which didn’t quite harmonise with the rest of the gameplay. You can stun the enemy later in the game, but this seems to enrage them, leading to a chase that you’re destined to lose.
Graphically, Lunacy: Saint Rhodes is strong. The environment and the lighting are very good, and exploring the house with all its details is entertaining. The jump scares are well done, with a highlight being a section where a ghost appears from different viewpoints around a corridor. The glass cleaning effect looks very good as the map and room change from one reality to the next.
The sound design is superb, with excellent attention to detail in the noises and effects that keep you constantly on edge. There are moments when creaking floorboards and distant footsteps in Lunacy: Saint Rhodes are more effective than any musical score that may be found in other games.
Lunacy: Saint Rhodes is a solid horror game. I loved exploring the environments and taking in the jump scares. Unraveling the mysteries, taking in the puzzles and piecing together the story bit by bit was engaging. But I really could have done without the stealth mechanics and light combat elements.
Horror fans will love Lunacy: Saint Rhodes. If you’re curious, this house is worth a visit.
Lunacy: Saint Rhodes Brings Psychological Horror to Xbox and PlayStation – https://www.thexboxhub.com/lunacy-saint-rhodes-brings-psychological-horror-to-xbox-and-playstation/
Buy Lunacy: Saint Rhodes on Xbox – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/lunacy-saint-rhodes/9pgw2355h077
