Tormenture [PC] | REVIEW

We’ve seen a few video games run with the whole ‘play a spooky game inside a spooky game’ idea over the years, with titles such as Pony Island setting the foundation, and more recent releases including Suffer the Night and Inscryption building upon it. Now, with Tormenture, the idea has taken a retro-inspired twist to the era of Atari, with its Adventure-influenced horror escapade blending together in-game puzzling with real-world terror.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Ok, that might sound a little confusing if you’re unfamiliar with the Atari era, but it’s a simple idea that’s executed effectively. Players are put in the role of a kid who is hooked to a game that’s ‘cursed’ (which is also called Tormenture), with the developers supposedly making a deal with the devil whilst making it. I mean, it’s plausible, especially after hearing SO many urban myths about haunted video games when I was younger, but this time around you actually get to play the game. Things seem pretty normal too, until… they’re not. Strange and disturbing things soon start happening, and with those leaking over into the real world, you soon realise that this is one game that you should have left in the store.

Tormenture is split into two different experiences: your time spent playing the game, and your time spent in the real world.

When it comes to the game itself, it’s CLEARLY inspired by the classic Atari title Adventure, all the way from the aesthetic to the style of gameplay. If you’re unfamiliar, this means exploring top-down 8-bit environments, all whilst utilising simple controls and mechanics as you solve puzzles and defeat the occasional enemy. I was pretty impressed by the mix of ideas it implemented as you progress, with additional mechanics and items introduced along the way to ensure the experience is varied and enjoyable. It would’ve been easy to see the game you play as a minimal aspect that’s simply used to progress the story forward, but honestly? The effort made to ensure players will actually enjoy playing it is impressive, especially since it maintains a retro vibe that feels believable for the era.

The only thing I will say is that its puzzles can be VERY cryptic, with little guidance offered as a means to progress through the game. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t stumped on more than a few occasions, and whilst a lack of hand-holding is synonymous with that era of gaming, a nudge in the right direction would’ve been nice here and there. Don’t get me wrong, there are little nuggets of information to guide you, but there were a few times where I felt clueless as to what I needed to do next. When you do solve a puzzle, though? It feels good… until you get stuck again.

“Tormenture is an enjoyable horror experience that has some cool ideas on show with its blend of retro-styled adventuring and real-world horrors.”

Where Tormenture gets especially interesting is when the real world comes into play. Whilst you don’t get to fully explore your bedroom, there are plenty of items in your immediate vicinity that’ll come into play as you progress. It might be an old toy, it might be the game cartridge itself, or it might be your notebook with maps from the game jotted down, with the player interacting with their surroundings in some clever ways that plays into the whole ‘meta game’ aspect of Tormenture in a creative manner.

If anything, I’d have liked to have seen the ‘real world’ utilised more, because it’s where Tormenture really shines. Whilst the game is split between both, it predominantly takes place within the video game, which is certainly enjoyable but doesn’t stand out as the greatest strength of Tormenture (it is inspired by a 44-year-old game after all). However, when the ‘real world’ comes into play, everything feels more inspired, with some really cool moments taking place that’ll certainly keep players on the edge of their seat.

It’s also where the scares of the experience are the most unsettling, with the horrors of the video game bleeding into the ‘real world’ in some unique and clever ways. I don’t want to spoil anything here, but when you start to see your surroundings get affected by the actions on the screen, it’s hard not to find yourself completely immersed in its sinister setup. Old toys can be creepy anyway, especially in a dark room that’s mainly lit up by an old CRT television, but when they start doing spooky stuff in tandem with a horror game? It’s really cool, with some genuinely eerie moments catching me off-guard when playing.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Tormenture makes for an enjoyable experience then, but it does lack the scope and polish of similar titles. Whilst titles I mentioned earlier such as Pony Island or Inscryption offered some engaging mechanics that really brought something unique to the fray, Tormenture rarely expands upon the formula and plays things a bit safe. You could also compare it to Amanda the Adventurer, and whilst that focuses more on a haunted TV show, it uses a lot of the same ideas seen here – albeit in a more expansive and elaborate manner. It doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy my time with Tormenture, nor does it mean that it’s not a unique experience… it just would’ve been nice to see its ‘play a spooky game inside a spooky game’ idea fleshed out that little bit more.

It’s also probably worth noting that it’ll be most appreciated by those that enjoy retro titles or are familiar with the source material. The Adventure-inspiration is clear and stands out as one of the strengths of the game, but if you’re completely unfamiliar with it, the nods will go over your head. And if you don’t like retro games to begin with? Tormenture might not be for you.

But if you do like retro games (and especially Adventure)? It’s definitely worth your attention, especially this Halloween season. Like I said, Tormenture doesn’t do anything you wouldn’t have seen in the genre before, but it still offers a solid retro-inspired adventure with some genuine scares. Add to that the multiple endings on offer as well as the secrets to discover, and you’ll quickly find there’s a lot of meat to its bones.

Developer: Croxel Studios
Publisher: Billete Cohete
Platform(s): PC (Reviewed)
Website: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2545220/Tormenture/