I never played this game before but something about “DreadOut: Remastered Collection” felt like there’s a comforting nostalgia to it, reminding me of other games I enjoyed back in the day, it was like flipping through an old, worn photo album but you can’t help but notice the creases and faded edges. Originally released in 2014, “DreadOut” offered a haunting experience rooted in Indonesian folklore, and this remastered collection attempts to bring those chills to a modern audience. While it succeeds in reintroducing the original game and the standalone expansion, “Keepers of the Dark,” its exclusion of “DreadOut 2” really stopped this package from actually feeling like a collection.
“Keepers of the Dark” is a cool addition though, filling in narrative gaps that enrich the main story. Dare I say I liked it even more than the main game. So, what is this game? The story begins with a group of high school students who find themselves stranded in an abandoned Indonesian town after a detour gone wrong. What starts as a harmless misadventure quickly turns into a fight for survival as supernatural forces close in. At the center of it all is Linda Meilinda, who discovers she has unique spiritual abilities. These newfound powers become her lifeline as she battles otherworldly entities to protect herself and her friends.
At its core, “DreadOut” is a third-person horror game that seemingly wears its “Fatal Frame” inspiration proudly. Instead of an old-school camera obscura, Linda wields modern gadgets like a smartphone and a digital camera to capture and confront terrifying Indonesian ghosts. These tools are also used to uncover clues and solve puzzles scattered throughout the game’s eerie environments. When Linda meets her demise, she enters a Limbo-like realm, a candlelit void where a distant light represents her chance to return. After repeated deaths push that light further away, which I’ll admit adds some decent amount of tension to the already nerve-wracking gameplay. While the premise is intriguing, “DreadOut” stumbles in its execution. The level design is often its Achilles’ heel, with sprawling, lifeless environments that can feel like a chore to navigate. Act 1, which takes place in a decrepit school, is particularly frustrating. I honestly almost gave up on the game right there. The lack of clear direction turns exploration into an exercise in trial, error, and lots of frustration. Which left me to wander aimlessly until I stumbled upon the next objective. It’s a shame because a bit more guidance could have elevated the experience significantly. Something I feel a remastered title could have easily worked to enhance, but I digress.
The game’s dual control scheme allows you to navigate through environments in third person but seamlessly switch to first person when using the camera. Ghost encounters are recorded in Linda’s “Ghostpedia,” an in-game journal that not only catalogues the entities but also builds out the lore. Additional notes and articles scattered throughout the game flesh out the backstory, adding to the lore and my collectathon mentality in games. Visually, the remastered collection doesn’t stray far from the original’s rough aesthetic. Even back in 2014, “DreadOut” wasn’t exactly a looker, with its dated textures and awkward animations. The remaster doesn’t do much to address these issues, leaving it feeling very underwhelming by today’s standards. This mostly feels like a port rather than a proper remaster. That said, the ghost designs remain a highlight, their grotesque and inventive appearances injecting much-needed personality into the game’s visuals.
The voice acting, while undeniably amateurish, has a campy charm that borders on endearing, but I can tell you right now most players probably won’t be as forgiving about it. It’s one of those “so bad, it’s good” situations that somehow adds to the game’s character. The atmospheric audio and soundtrack are serviceable but unremarkable, doing just enough to support the tension without standing out. Ultimately, “DreadOut: Remastered Collection” is a mixed bag. On one hand, it’s a nostalgic trip (even though I never played it before) through a uniquely Indonesian horror tale, complete with creative ghost designs and an engaging story. On the other hand, its outdated visuals, clunky level design, and uneven sound work show that time hasn’t been entirely kind to it. For fans of the original, it’s a chance to relive the scares, warts and all. For newcomers, well, I’ll be surprised if this game finds any.
6/10
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Related: Reviews by Nick Navarro
Gaming since I was given an original Nintendo as a kid. I love great storytelling and unique ingenuity. When both collide in a single game, I'm a happy gamer. Twitter/IG @NickNavarro87
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