I love dystopian horror games! I’m so happy that I have an option to replay games like the original Dead Space on my Steam Deck. But I also love the other side of horror, which can be found in SIGNALIS, which is more of the puzzle and combine genre. Yes, they are both survival horrors, but they take very different approaches. I’m working through the nightmare on my wrecked vessel, so let’s share our first thoughts, shall we?
History
Before we dive into the actual game – let’s address a bit of history of how the game came together. In 2014 SIGNALIS started as the first digital game that rose-engine started to develop. The prototype looked very different – it was a 2D side-scroller in a much lower resolution. After many iterations and a Bachelor’s thesis, it has evolved into a top-down third-person survival horror experience using low-poly 3D models and 2D sprites to create fluid animations blended with a pixel-perfect look. I love the pixel-art style as much as I love the dark esthetics of Deadspace, so this is a perfect combination of both worlds.
SIGNALIS is published by Humble Games. Thanks to them, both rose-engine members have been able to develop SIGNALIS full-time and from home starting in 2020 and during the COVID-19 pandemic. It even got featured by Guillermo del Toro at the 2021 Tribeca Games Spotlight digital showcase. But enough about that; let’s discuss the game a bit since that’s what you came for.
SIGNALIS
So, SIGNALIS is a classic survival horror experience set in a dystopian future where humanity has uncovered a dark secret. In this game, you have to unravel a cosmic mystery, escape terrifying creatures, and scavenge the corners of an off-world government facility as Elster, a technician, Replika searching for her lost dreams.
To give you a snippet of the story, you can expect; After her ship crash-landed on a remote, snow-covered planet, the Replika Elster is looking for her missing crew member. In her search, she wanders through the ruins of a seemingly abandoned underground labor camp, surreal visions of cosmic horror, and flashbacks to a past that isn’t hers. As the lines between reality and dream blur, Elster has to venture into the depths below the planet’s surface to learn what has happened to her and why – but mysterious encoded radio signals and a Replika with dark intentions are not the only obstacles she has to overcome along the way.
As I said, SIGNALIS features classic survival horror gameplay – Experience fear and apprehension as you encounter strange horrors, carefully manage scarce resources, and seek solutions to challenging riddles. It felt like a combination of Resident Evil and Deadspace x Pixels. Since the game is set in space, it’s time to suit up and explore cold and distant places. I’m currently exploring the dim corners of a derelict spaceship, delving into the mysterious fate of the inhabitants of a doomed facility, and seeking what lies beneath.
Love Letter to Horror
The developers describe the game as a love letter to the golden era of survival horror. Central to the game is its unsettling mood and multilayered story. To advance in the game, the player has to solve various puzzles by breaking codes, using radio signals, or combining objects. Combat is only a last resort since ammunition is scarce and enemies are not easily defeated, so players must carefully choose when to fight and run. So no more puzzling around your inventory to take more herbs and ammo! Yes, I’m looking at you, Resident Evil 4.
SIGNALIS is also a bit philosophical since you’re also delving into your dreams. You get to discover an atmospheric science-fiction tale of identity, memory, and the terror of the unknown and unknowable, inspired by classic cosmic horror and the works of Stanley Kubrick (The Shining), Hideaki Anno (Neon Genesis Evangelion), and David Lynch (Twin Peaks). What you get is a game in which you walk through a brutalist nightmare driven by fluid 3D character animations, dynamic lights and shadows, and complex transparency effects, complemented by cinematic sci-fi anime storytelling. I love the aesthetic since it feels like an Indie love letter to the Deadspace and Resident Evil genre (yeah, I know, I mention Deadpsace a lot, but that’s the best example I have of space survival horror).
Early Conclusion
SIGNALIS is shaping up to be an exciting indie survival horror. This is a must-play for fans of said directors when the game is released next week. The art is stylish and unsettling at the same time, the story is well-written, and the puzzles and gameplay elements are intriguing enough to keep you on your toes.
