A Fixed-Camera Dive into Surreal Survival Horror
There is a sense from some, perhaps those who adore open world Triple-A gaming experiences, that the fixed camera angle in games only exists in retro adventures. Resident Evil, Alone in the Dark, and Silent Hill championed this style decades ago, utilising it to brilliant effect, enhancing the horror and narrative beats. It also helped developers who were playing with limited hardware resources, as they controlled what any character was seeing and doing.
Post Trauma is a game that has fixed cameras and survival horror aspects, much like the 90s retro ones. Does it feel like it’s doing something new or treading old ground?
Waking Nightmare: Story and Setting
A small team of developers has made a survival horror game based on the old favourites from that genre. Post Trauma has combat, but it also has puzzles, and they are certainly the key ingredient here, as you are left to try and solve them.
The game starts with a shocking beginning, but then puts you in the shoes of Roman, a middle-aged man who wakes up in a disused train carriage. He has no idea how he got there, and is upset and confused. From there he ventures out before realising that the world he is walking around has strange laws and almost surreal twists on reality. Creatures stalk the underground, and portals open to other realms.
Unraveling the Weird
As you progress, you meet other survivors, and the story opens up a bit. It really reminds of games like Silent Hill; games that hold back any answers, leaving the player to guess at what has happened to Roman and why the place has gone so weird.
It’s a game that feels familiar and – in a strange way – quite cosy, as you go moving through this world and its evolving narrative.
Mind-Bending Challenges: Puzzles and Progression
The gameplay takes place in the third person, focusing on that aforementioned fixed camera. From the start, you are placed into a puzzle, all as you try and remove yourself from the train carriage. It’s not a simple one to begin with and involves exploration and the understanding of your surroundings, hunting clues to a combination lock.
As you progress through Post Trauma, the puzzles will get harder, ramping up in difficulty until you get near the end of its 4 to 5-hour running time. Honestly, by then, you might be struggling. I am not afraid to admit that there were points of Post Trauma that needed an online search.
Slow and Strategic
There is combat to take in too; some old school stuff that feels pretty slow in its actioning. It’s all about dodging the attacks and then going in for the kill, but that does mean it feels repetitive after a short while. You may consider just running past enemies to avoid any fight if possible.
And as you would expect of a game of such ilk, there are save rooms to head to when time is short. I’m not overly keen on such elements in this modern gaming world that we find ourselves in, but it is all fine if you like that type of thing.
From there, expect a few boss battles, as the developers go all-in to create something of a homage to those games of yesteryear. Again, some of it feels slightly redundant in modern gaming spheres.
Modern Fear, Retro Roots
Visually, Post Trauma takes things into the modern age, with the camera being the only thing reminding us of its retro roots. The shadows and lighting are fantastic, with some good environmental design throughout. I like the creatures on offer and the little touches that make it scary as hell at times. Roman’s look is different from normal heroes too; a slightly out-of-shape middle-aged man with heavy breathing. He’s someone many of us can relate to!
The soundtrack is very good too, and again, you can feel the influence on the composition from those early horror games coming in. The effects are excellent, and I enjoyed the voice-over.
A Thoughtful Homage with Modern Polish
You’ll enjoy the story and exploration side of Post Trauma, perhaps more than the combat sections and latter puzzles. Just be sure you understand that the tests of mind that are in place in Post Trauma will not be simple to solve.
Post Trauma honours those games of the past, all while trying to do something entirely new.
Important Links
All Aboard To Witness The Horrors Of Post Trauma – https://www.thexboxhub.com/all-aboard-to-witness-the-horrors-of-post-trauma/
Post Trauma is a Resident Evil-like slated for 2024 release on PC and consoles – https://www.thexboxhub.com/post-trauma-is-a-resident-evil-like-slated-for-2024-release-on-pc-and-consoles/
Buy post Trauma on Xbox – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/post-trauma/9p3k5n1h0p08
