Horror is a subjective genre that is a hard sell for many, and that is especially true for games. I spent years avoiding playing any horror games in my youth because I was (and still am) a coward. So, how did I become the horror enthusiast I am today? Well, I played a lot of games and heard tales of Jill Sandwich, master of unlocking and mansions.
So, The Horror at Highrook was obviously going to be on my radar, especially after some
hands-on time with the demo. The game is a unique blend of eldritch horror and tabletop games that felt fresh at the time. However, can this unique style of gameplay stay engaging, or is it best left in the unknowable realm of the old gods?
Welcome to the World of Horror
The Horror at Highrook follows four investigators: Scholar Vitali, Mechanist Astor, Atticus Hawk, and Doctor Caligar, who set foot into Highrook manor to investigate the disappearance of its owners. This disappearance happened under mysterious circumstances, which are revealed to involve some otherworldly beings. Now, the team has to survive the mansion and save the family before it’s too late.
The story does have a slow start, with the first chapter feeling like a prologue to the mansion and the mystery. This part is the full demo and works as the perfect introduction, as the story never changes much from its contemporaries in eldritch horror. In fact, for most of the duration of the story, it felt as if I was reading a book.
So, yes, you will need to do a large amount of reading with absolutely no voice acting. This is a little disappointing, as voice acting can add to the atmosphere and tone of the setting. Instead, you will be reading dialogue as if straight from a book, especially when you are reading an in-universe book. This normally wouldn’t be a problem, but there is also the lack of a text log to contend with.
My brain isn’t what it used to be, and I would need to put down the game for a few hours. A text log would really help in these instances, and when the characters are exchanging barbs with each other. Additionally, recalling certain points or reading back to pick up on subtle cues from the characters would be much easier.
For instance, Mechanist Astor has an affinity with Sophia, the matriarch of the lost family, which I had forgotten about five minutes after the reason was told to me. I could surmise after a few hours that Astor feels a kinship with Sophia due to both of them being women in science. However, the use of a log would have let me refresh anything I forgot. Especially since I felt like I was missing information that would be mentioned later in the story.
Despite this fact, the story is still very fun, and I found myself hanging on the edge of each word. The characters feel real talking to each other, and their wants even clash with each other. Yes, I am controlling them and can decide what side-quests we explore, but each one feels like a complete character. This feeling is so strong that I wanted to complete all their quests and read about their lives before the mansion, even if some of them come out slower than others.
I Play Pot of Greed
So, about now, you are probably wondering about how the game actually plays. Well, you are in luck, because this is where The Horror at Highrook shines brightest. The entire game runs in real time and will have you complete tasks that range from eating to summoning eldritch horrors. These are all represented with cards, and yes, this includes the playable characters.
These cards are integral for you to solve the mystery of Highrook and are separated into three types: characters, tasks, and implements. Characters are represented via stats that determine their skills, whether working in the lab or doing research. The additional complexity is that as time passes, the characters will get tired, hungry, or simply go insane.
As the game progresses, you will notice that a management simulator approach is used to balance tasks and character needs. These are done using the task cards, which allow the characters to use their skills, provided they are used in the correct room. For instance, Atticus can use the binoculars task to hunt for food and then use the meat task to cook it in the kitchen, as well as some other modifiers for other rooms.
This is the main gameplay loop: grind infinite tasks to get modifiers and more tasks, rinse and repeat. I truthfully thought that I would tire of this loop as it never varied itself through hours of gameplay. However, I found myself finding a rhythm that I easily lost hours of my time to; this management style of gameplay made me feel right at home, even getting sucked into the atmosphere and imaging halls I had never seen.
Survive the Horror
The Horror at Highrook is an experience that feels unique while indulging in the familiar in the horror genre. The atmosphere is there, even if the lack of voice acting might be a detraction for most people. Although I can’t deny that the game’s rhythm is very satisfying, especially if you are a fan of management simulation games.
However, there are times that it feels like the horror is implied, as there will never be anything truly terrifying in the game. At times, this is because of the pacing and the fact that nothing is ever shown. While this wouldn’t be a problem, I have noticed that the descriptions can be lacking. Still, I lost time to this title and plan to dive back in, ready for more horror, and I am sure you will too.
Disclaimer: Nullpointer Games provided Final Weapon with a PC(Steam) copy of The Horror at Highrook for review purposes.
