APPARITION Preview on Steam Early Access

Introduction

              A chilly night, the dark road you parked your vehicle on is dead silent, save for the crunch of the gravel underneath your feet. Taking tense steps down the road, you head towards a faint light in the bush. A Ouija board waits by a dim fire, which you use to contact the spirit that remains in the area. A faint footstep could be heard on your right, then silence. Then another footstep, a little bit closer this time. You refuse to look up from the Ouija board, and then those footsteps are suddenly a presence, so close you can feel it on your neck. This is how Apparition, developed by MrCiastku and published by Fat Dog Games, begins the game. A horror-survival game, you are a paranormal investigator looking into a new case, attempting to find evidence of the supernatural.

Gameplay

              When entering the game, the first notable thing, gameplay wise, is a shop where the player can spend points in order to purchase better equipment in order to capture evidence of the spooks running around Green Creek (where the game takes place). In game, the player has to perform tasks in order to summon the demons and take photographic evidence, granting points. The run ends when the monsters eliminate the player. Using a journal to keep track of information, the player can collect pieces of paper that have questions to ask the Ouija board. A neat feature of the Ouija board (if Ouija boards can be neat) is the ability to type in a question. This mechanic affords the player to ask any question, immersing the player in the role of an investigator. The player can use various devices, such as motion sensors and audio devices to anticipate the arrival of a demon, where they then have to photograph the monster while attempting to run and stay alive, making it back to their car. 

Lore/World Building

              Before the player reaches the main menu, a cinematic detailing the protagonist’s life as a paranormal investigator plays. The cinematic explains how the protagonist has quite a bit of experience in the field, and was on his way to examine Green Creek. There had been reports of strange activity and people gone missing in the area. As the player progresses through the game, they discover more and more items and clues. These clues lead to an explanation of the underlying reason why Green Creek is infested with demons. Admittedly, it is a bit difficult to piece together the mystery of Green Creek when a demon is constantly chasing after you.

Aesthetic (art style/soundtrack)

              Art style wise, the game does a good job of laying out the landscape and using the low light sources to enact that sense of being lost in the woods. After being chased by a demon, it is easy to get disoriented in the woods. When walking through the forest, you can only hear the sounds of the devices, your own footsteps, and the footsteps and noises of whatever is out there, adding to the atmosphere of tension and heart racing fear that persists throughout the entire game.

Overall

              Capturing evidence of the supernatural occurrences in Green Creek and making it out alive to tell the story is the name of the game in Apparition. The lack of a soundtrack and the high presence of audio cues of movement around the player add to the running and hiding from the demons that traverse through the woods, creating a mood of fear and tension. Although the plot is difficult to follow at points, it does add a reason to continue deeper into the game. The most attractive factor the game, however, is the sheer thrill and one feels when you start hearing footsteps behind you.

Apparition releases on Halloween for PC via Steam Early Access.