A Masterpiece, or a Mere Muddle?

Stygian: Outer Gods aims to thrust players into a first-person survival horror RPG where sanity is a fleeting luxury and every decision carries a heavy, existential weight. We’re invited to explore Kingsport, a forgotten settlement steeped in cosmic dread, unravel ancient mysteries, and confront unspeakable horrors. But does Stygian: Outer Gods truly deliver on its eldritch ambitions, or does it succumb to the very madness it seeks to portray? Read on to find out!

Through the Veils of Kingsport

Stygian: Outer Gods casts you as a former anthropologist and soldier, grappling with a deteriorating mental state and haunted by recurring nightmares and the unresolved disappearance of his father. A fateful invitation from a young woman draws you to Kingsport, a secluded, enigmatic port town that held a strange fascination for your lost father. What begins as a search for truth quickly devolves into a desperate struggle for survival as you become embroiled in a web of secrets, mysteries, and ominous schemes.

The narrative, inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft, expertly weaves a tale of obsessive truth-seeking, the constant oscillation between reality and illusion, and the menacing presence of strange, perilous creatures. Players are able to witness and influence the events preceding the apocalyptic “Black Day,” offering various endings influenced by player choices. The world reacts to your character’s development and mental state, meaning that your madness and chosen playstyle will affect how denizens and hazards interact with you. It’s a compelling premise that keeps you constantly on edge, wondering what new, terrifying revelation lies around the next shadowed corner.

While the narrative is linear, it’s so well-crafted and engaging that you’ll happily follow its every twist. There are several enemies and plot points to uncover along the way, and everything happens to look good too. There are also puzzles to solve along the way, which are simultaneously interesting and engaging, and this adds another layer of enjoyment to the overall experience.

The Descent into Madness

At its heart, Stygian: Outer Gods is a survival horror game with significant RPG elements. Resource management is paramount, with an inventory system reminiscent of classic survival horror titles where every bullet and item counts. The inventory is a grid affair, requiring you to slot each item into its place within said grid. You can rotate and reposition items to achieve a best fit, with larger items taking up more squares and smaller ones fewer.

Combat is a deliberate affair, far removed from the action-packed spectacles of modern shooters. Ammo is scarce, and enemies are both tough and formidable, often making stealth the wiser approach. Melee combat exists, featuring weapons like knives, axes, and sickles, with attacks draining stamina, as does blocking. As mentioned, combat is not fast-paced in any aspect, and timing is everything with regards to melee combat. If you are unable to block an enemy’s attack in time, you will suffer vast damage. After two or three hits, you will die. As such, time your blocks and only retort with a single blow when you get the chance. Otherwise, you will succumb much quicker than you expect and will have to restart from the most recent checkpoint.

The RPG mechanics allow for significant player choice. You choose your playstyle, unlocking new abilities and finding eldritch artefacts. Character creation influences Jack’s starting bonuses and faults, affecting skills such as Lockpicking and Occult Knowledge, damage resistances, health, and sanity. Stygian: Outer Gods offers multiple paths to progress the story and solve situations. For instance, a locked door might be bypassed with a high Lockpicking skill, or by finding an alternative route, such as climbing over an obstacle. Other skills, like the ability to speak with the deceased or stealth perks, can open entirely new ways to interact with the environment and avoid or approach encounters. Crafting is also a vital component, requiring you to scavenge for materials and recipes to create tools, medicines, and remedies to cope with the horrors and maintain your sanity.

There is voice acting for most of the NPCs that you encounter, however this isn’t consistent and is often immersion-breaking when it doesn’t happen. For example, I found myself able to interact with a deceased NPC because of my character’s ability to speak with the dead. At first, I thought that the option to interact with the late NPC had to be a glitch, because there was no indication that I was using an ability. In addition to that, the entire interaction took place via text dialogue only and was not voice acted, whereas other interactions with other NPCs were voice acted. As such, this broke immersion rather rapidly and it felt like a rather large corner had been cut in that respect.

A Glimpse into the Abyss

Visually, Stygian: Outer Gods makes a good first impression, with grim, detailed environments. The environment is rich with said details that effectively convey a sense of hopelessness and horror. Lighting and shadows are meticulously employed, playing a key role in generating a tense atmosphere; flickering lanterns in the fog and deep, oppressive shadows create a constant sense of menace. The aesthetic is dirty, bloody, and grimy, effectively interpreting occult themes. Character designs are good too, fitting the grim tone. However, while the initial scenes are visually striking, some later environments can occasionally suffer from a lack of intricate detail.

The audio design is good, with convincing environmental sounds aplenty. As mentioned in the previous section, the voice acting where present is good, but it’s a shame that not every NPC that you can interact with has been fully-voiced.

Echoes of the Past

There is a decent amount of replay value attached to Stygian: Outer Gods, which stems primarily from its roleplaying mechanics and the narrative choices presented. Player decisions influence events and can lead to various endings, encouraging multiple playthroughs to explore different paths and outcomes.

The character development system, allowing for different skill focuses and playstyles, also adds to the incentive for replaying the game. Whether you prefer a stealthy approach, focusing on lockpicking and evasion, or investing in occult knowledge to confront the horrors directly, different builds can significantly alter your experience and open up new avenues within the game world.

Conclusion

Stygian: Outer Gods presents a compelling Lovecraftian survival horror experience with robust RPG mechanics. It excels in creating a haunting atmosphere and providing meaningful player choices that truly impact the narrative. The deliberate pace and emphasis on resource management cultivate a constant sense of vulnerability and dread. Certain aspects, such as character animation and the lack of voice acting segments in some cases, let the game down somewhat as these are immersion-breaking. However, the core experience is engaging and deeply immersive. The level design is commendable, often offering multiple solutions to puzzles and obstacles. Fans of Lovecraftian horror and those who appreciate methodical, narrative-driven survival games will find much to appreciate here.

Grade: 8 – Very Good