Eclipsium, developed by Housefire and published by CRITICAL REFLEX, is a first-person psychological horror game that focuses on dealing with some heavy issues regarding human life and the meaning of it all. Players will have fun interpreting the game’s themes of horror and its use of psychology in identifying key problems that have occurred in the modern era. The gameplay can be surmised to be a walking simulator that heavily relies upon horror and psychological themes. So, a major portion of the gameplay will be how the player will process the information being presented in the form of puzzles or processing the themes of the game. As for the music of the game, it is more or less an accompaniment meant to enhance the overall experience and tone of the game itself.
The gameplay itself can be surmised into a walking simulator with puzzles to just spice up the gameplay and prevent the player from getting too bored. The puzzles are quite simplistic but convey a deeper meaning related to the overall tone of the game itself. By designing the gameplay this way, it really showcases the importance of the narrative taking a firm grasp on the game, seeping into everything. Moreover, this showcases that the developers really wanted players to really think about what they are experiencing as they play and what is going on. If critical thinking was an option for gameplay, this game has it down, as there are moments in the game that will leave the player stupefied. This will then allow the players to think more critically as to what the game is trying to convey to the player in regard to gameplay. These are expressed through the puzzles and the environment, but taking a further look at the puzzles, there are some moments in which people will need to think just a bit harder to scratch that itch of some much-needed gameplay. To go into the real meat and potatoes, the game design and narrative really are the cornerstoneby which the game was built around.
Narratively this game focuses on horror psychology to an extreme, and that can be both good and bad, as it can alienate people from playing the game, but for those who truly enjoy those themes, it will be a treat. Moreover, any player who has a passing interest in psychology will benefit from playing the game and examining the levels and design of the game from an artistic viewpoint. There are some psychological references in the game tied in with some classical Greco-Roman undertones that help reinforce some of the horror issues at hand. This is to help those who are experienced in those topics fully comprehend what the player-controlled character is going through and experiencing.
The game itself is quite the solid psychological horror thriller and really plays into that aspect exclusively, which is a smart move by the developer. As if the game went into another genre, the thematic elements will not hit as hard as they should have. So, the developer Housefire should be proud of their work, as not too many games nowadays really delve into those aspects in the direction they took the game into with the background of a walking simulator. Yet, there might be some players who might not be so inclined to the lack of action, so this game is really not meant for everyone, and that is okay, as all this game needs is to find the right audience, and they have more than earned their intended audience.
Eclipsium is a solid 9/10 game for trying to break the mold and really put an emphasis on horror psychology.
Eclipsium is available for PC via Steam.
Related: Reviews by Kyle Manila
I would describe myself when interacting with games as a strategist with a pension for stealth and loud explosions.
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