Developer: DreadXP
Publisher: DreadXP
Steam Deck Compatibility?: Playable
Rrp: £7.19 (Humble and Steam)
Released: 13th April 2021
Available on: Humble and Steam
Dread X Collection 4, Shooter edition, with a horror twist of course. In this compilation there are seven horror themed first person shooters. Unlike in previous years the developers weren’t given any kind of prompt just that it needed to be a Shooter, they were also given double the development time, going from ten days to twenty.
It should be noted that there are a few things that should be kept in mind with these games;
- They’re all very short experiences.
- Due to the speed they were created in they are going to be rough around the edges and even have a few glitches etc.
- Again, due to the speed of development they aren’t going to be the prettiest games.
All the games launch through an interactive world (developed by Redact Games) that is itself a game that happens between and after the other games. Interestingly it seems that David Szymanski co-produced this collection, if that name rings a bell it’s because he developed Dusk and Iron Lung.
The Fruit
Developer: Christopher Yabsley
This was the first game I tried from the collection and I have to say this was a damned good start. I’m not sure exactly when this game is set but I can definitely say it was during an era where rifles would use a breach loading system and only fired one at a time (I’m no expert on guns so I’m sorry if the terms are wrong). An interesting thing about this was that the reloading process of the gun was a multi step process which meant you needed to be certain about your shot because you likely won’t get a second chance.
The only downside was that the weapons all felt a bit ‘clunky’ and slow but I can forgive that since this was created so quickly. The story is interesting, if very simple and even has two endings.
Uktena 64
Developer: Akuma KIRA
You play as Jeb, a hunter who takes on a job for the CDC to hunt down animals that are infected with something and then photograph the bodies. This game very quickly ratchets up the horror aspect introducing new mutated animals with each level. I do like that the game keeps a somewhat jovial feeling as you play such as Jeb making stupid statements as you take photos of the creatures you kill.
When you finish the game it gives you a cheat code and an ‘expansion pak’ I haven’t been able to work out what the expansion pak does.
Black Relic
Developer: Torple Dook
Torple Dook have been in every Dread X Collection so far and each time they always come up with something a bit different. In this case they were the only developer to make a third person shooter. In this game you play as a monk charged with the holy duty of protecting the Black Relic, but while under your watch it goes missing and it’s up to you to return it.
Once again Torple Dook have made a game I absolutely would love to play a larger and more fleshed out version of.
Axis Mundi
Developer: Philip Hesseelbäck
This was an interesting take on the FPS idea, instead of a gun you have a camera that takes time to charge between shots. You use the camera to defeat ghosts as you find out why a newly built shopping mall is being haunted.
While I’ve never played Fatal Frame I have seen some gameplay of it and this game reminds me of that a bit. I would definitely play more of this if they expanded on it, but failing that I may have to just get Fatal Frame.
Rose of Meat
Developer: Mr. Pink
I… don’t know what to say about this game beyond its very surreal. I wouldn’t call it horror, nothing about it was scary, not even unsettling.
The thing is I can’t even decide if this game is good or bad, it’s just strange.
The House of Unrest
Developer: Dan McGrath
In this game you play as a priest coming to perform an exorcism, however unlike the priest in the movie this priest came with a cross and a gun. This game apes the graphical style of the Playstation One, I think this is in part to give a retro feel to the game but I also think that the somewhat muddy graphics add to the horror on display.
This was a pretty short experience but a fun one. I may have to check out what else Dan McGrath has created.
Seraphixial
Developer: Vidas Games
Another surreal game, not quite as surreal as Rose of Meat but still pretty out there. At least in this one I understood a lot more of what was going on, which if I boil it right down is a father trying to rescue his daughter from a cult.
This one actually made me jump, yes from a jump scare but it was a well done one. I definitely didn’t see that coming and usually I can tell.
