Reviewed on: PC
Welcome stranger! Today we’re talking about hallucinogenic drugs (yay), and an empty asylum (if only) that’s locked (with you inside). Deluded Mind is a first-person horror game that will make you crap your pants in some moments and in others too.
The game follows the magic formula of horror – dark place, confused ideas (with the help of crazy chemistry), a grim story and a big nasty always lurking around the player. The setting is well worn for the theme, from film classics, series (American Horror Story) and other games in the genre, not bringing that ecstatic “Whoa, this shit is gonna be wild” feeling but rather “Hmm… who would’ve thought, an abandoned asylum”. Fine, a cliché setting, but one that, in its proposal, keeps a very good mood and manages to convince; now let’s move on to the story.
You are a special agent investigating a very complex case who wakes up inside a psychiatric hospital that has been closed for 5 years (who hasn’t), this being the setting for the adventure of Deluded Mind, a scary place, with scary paintings in terrible taste for a hospital, dirty and defective walls, dark and decrepit places. Such a charming spot for a picnic with friends. NOT!
The use of shadows and lighting effects (lack of it) in the setting is convincing: it looks really good and gives you the heebie-jeebies when entering some areas of the game, that feeling of “I’m going to turn the corner and the devil will jump on my neck” (and it will…); this build-up convinces you because in many moments you get tense and end up getting several scares.
Besides the setting keeping you in constant tension, the puzzles and problems to solve create an atmosphere of tension and semi-terror: you wait for the scare and it doesn’t come when you expect it, which is cool, but when you let your guard down, here it comes.
The story is nice and well told through documents and accounts you’ll find as the game goes on, whether more abstract clues or even notes with insane messages detailing the place’s troubles. Often this material is essential to move forward in the story.
The game is short, the story is tightly tied to its average gameplay of 5 hours, being small compared to many games in the genre, but it was essential to close the story arc in an almost satisfying way. If you’re a casual player of the genre, this game is a good one to start with.
Gameplay
Nothing complex, nor innovative, the classic (w,a,s,d); the gameplay is satisfactory and doesn’t frustrate the player, with no bugs or getting stuck in parts of the scenery. A constant problem was the hitbox of items; many times I needed to position the character’s view right on top of it to pick up a measly key, a difficulty and time sink that can frustrate the player.
Sound
The soundtrack is very good and polished, one of the game’s strong points and essential for games of this genre; it was the factor that helped maintain immersion in the title. The noises and voices are very believable and can even scare you, hearing their echo in our heads.
Verdict
The game from Pixton Studios UG gives us a hallucinogenic trip between the real and the illusory, a very good trip, only the trip is quick, leaving a taste of wanting more. A “safe” trip and good for beginners, I recommend it to newcomers to the genre, and we await the studio’s next title.
MECHANICS – 8
NARRATIVE – 8
AUDIOVISUAL – 8
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eW93eTwTP8&w=853&h=480]
PC version
Max Xavier
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