Horror fans out there should all be well aware now of STAIRS a kickstarted psychological horror game in which you’re armed with nothing more than a camera. In fact over the past 2 years we’ve been given two very solid and terrifying tech demos. Unlike other psychological horror titles that use constant heat-attack inducing jump scares as their key appeal (Slenderman), this game takes the alternative route of building tense, nerve rattling gameplay. So two years on from the early student project demo that got horror gamers so excited we now have the finished product but how does it stand up?
Chalgyr's Game Room writes:
Stairs does an excellent job of setting the stage and creating an atmospheric first-person action/adventure game that relies on smart use of tension and does not fall back on cheap jump scares all of the time. The end result is an interesting narrative with some good puzzle mechanics that remind us that it is in fact horror season.
Horror games have seen a big uptick in quality in recent years with the influx of indie titles that have challenged the dated formula of big budget action. Stairs is the latest indie horror game to slow things down and get back to the basics of the genre.
"While at the start of the game i had my camera put away so that I could run, by the end of the first story i was clutching onto the camera to make sure I didn't miss anything!" - Blast Process
Dear god it sounds terrifying. Must check this out
Sounds like an interesting game. The focus on the camera reminds me of the Fatal Frame games, love the concept of solving puzzles by taking pictures or using the flash. Shame the story's end doesn't quite work out, though.
The last time I saw this game, I swear it was half an hour of going down stairs. Glad to see that there's more to it now! :D
Sounds brilliant, but also sounds like the kind of game that I won't be able to play by myself
*shudder* Sounds like a really freaky game. I like that it doesn't lean on jumpscares for a reaction and it sounds like it builds up the tension really well.