A House of Horrors, or a Haunted House of Clichés? – Tormented Souls Review

Introduction

Classic survival horror is back! Inspired by the original Resident Evil and Alone in the Dark series, Tormented Souls modernises with a fresh twist on the fixed perspective adventure – as Caroline Walker investigates the mysterious disappearance of twin girls in a terrifying mansion-turned-hospital. Is Tormented Souls a Lovecraftian nightmare brought to life, or a mere shadow of its gothic inspirations? Read on to find out!

A Symphony of Fear and Intrigue

Tormented Souls is a psychological horror game that plunges players into a nightmarish world filled with grotesque creatures, eerie puzzles, and a haunting atmosphere. Set in the desolate, rain-soaked backdrop of Wildberger Hospital, players assume the role of Caroline Walker, a woman with amnesia, as she unravels the former hospital’s dark secrets.

The gameplay is a blend of classic survival horror and modern puzzle-solving. Players must navigate the hospital’s labyrinthine corridors, solve intricate puzzles, and evade the relentless pursuit of monstrous creatures.

The story, though linear, is rich in lore and filled with unsettling twists. As Caroline delves deeper into the hospital’s history, she encounters a cast of disturbing characters and confronts her own troubled past. The narrative is delivered through a combination of environmental storytelling, found notes, and cryptic messages.

For anyone who has ever played any of the classic Resident Evil games, you will immediately feel at home stepping into Tormented Souls. You control Caroline by directing her around a fixed scene. The camera will occasionally follow her, but for the most part, the view switches whenever she reaches the edges. Admittedly, I had to spend a moment and really concentrate on getting my bearings on how to control her, but it soon came flooding back to me!

Another familiar aspect for those who are well-versed in fixed-perspective-type games is the saving mechanism. You are required to find tapes, which you must then keep in Caroline’s inventory, and can only use in a tape recorder (machine). The trouble is that these tapes are so rare, that you will almost certainly spend way more time than you would like dying and having to replay the previous section all over again from your previous save. Whilst the decision to implement this specific type of save mechanism is a clear nod to classic games in this genre, I can’t help but feel that perhaps an option to toggle tape-saving on and off would have been better. I have already alluded to the reason for this, and I often found myself feeling completely unmotivated after having just watched a bunch of progress that I had spent a long time on get completely erased due to my failing to save Caroline from an attack.

A Masterclass in Atmospheric Horror

One thing that is immediately apparent is just how damned good Tormented Souls looks and sounds. The visuals are stunning, with detailed environments, realistic lighting, and truly grotesque creature designs (seriously, they are horrific!).

The sound design is equally impressive, with haunting ambient sounds, eerie music, and spine-chilling creature noises. The moment you step into a room or corridor and hear a distant scraping of metal on the floor, the entire atmosphere suddenly changes. Speaking of the atmosphere, the best way to describe it is oppressive, but in the best possible way – it creates a sense of dread and unease regardless of what you are doing. This is mostly due in part to the fact that you always feel vulnerable and this is because you can only see what the game allows you to see at any one time. You can’t swing your line of vision around to try and see where a particular noise might be coming from – you have to go and find the source yourself. As such, every encounter almost always starts as a complete surprise, and this is really quite thrilling.

A Haunting Experience Worth Repeating

While the story is linear, there are multiple endings to discover, meaning that there is reason to return to Tormented Souls – to explore every nook and cranny of the hospital! Additionally, the challenging puzzles and hidden secrets provide ample replay value for those seeking a more complete experience. Another reason to return to Tormented Souls is because the audiovisual quality of the game is truly excellent and highly immersive.

Conclusion

Tormented Souls is a love letter to classic survival horror, offering a terrifying and unforgettable experience. Unfortunately, it can become almost infuriating at times when you lose your progress due to not being able to find a tape to save to before your character meets her doom. However, this is remedied with strong gameplay and fun puzzles to solve along the way. With its stunning visuals, haunting atmosphere, and challenging puzzles, Tormented Souls is a must-play for fans of the genre new and old alike. While it may not reinvent the wheel, it delivers a solid and satisfying horror experience.

Grade: 8/10