Starting in an empty diner, with no other people in sight, Silver Pines immediately grips you with an atmosphere reminiscent of Silent Hill and a sense of dread that Alan Wake would write about in one of his books. Especially during this spookily festive time of year, I sometimes find atmospheric tension more enjoyable than jump scares. Silver Pines delivers that fear in droves. Don’t believe me? Well, give it a try now that it’s cheaper than ever.
Taking beloved horror experiences and twisting them into one of the most memorable metroidvania games in recent memory isn’t a simple task. It requires taking elements from beloved genres and contorting them into something unique. Silver Pines does just that, with a dash of Twin Peaks thrown in for good measure. You play as private investigator Red Walker as he searches for Eddie Velvet, a missing musician who has seemingly vanished.
Like many small American towns (in media, of course), Silver Pines is home to plenty of mysteries and a dark atmosphere that you can only truly appreciate by playing the game. Or, well, watching the trailer and realizing that there’s definitely something wrong. The visual design really emphasizes that feeling, and the game feels smooth as butter as you wander deserted roads and explore empty buildings.
Of course, it’s not all about investigating. Eventually, you’ll have to fight creatures that look like they were pulled directly out of Konami’s horror franchise, but Walker isn’t some mercenary who’s skilled with every firearm. Combat is challenging, and with limited inventory space, every shot matters. Reloading your revolver, for example, requires well-timed button presses to load bullets into the chamber, making every fight more intense.
Horror is about much more than gory monsters or jump scares. That dread that fills your veins as you play a game or watch a movie is, in many cases, the epitome of a great horror experience. Silver Pines delivers that tension in several ways, with gorgeous visuals and puzzles that feel just difficult enough without becoming frustrating. In many ways, it’s one of the most exciting entries in the genre in years, and you can experience it for yourself for just $18.74 / £16.49 at Fanatical. That’s a 25% launch discount, just in case you needed another reason to investigate.
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