Regarding Battra’s letter bemoaning the lack of scary games coming out; I recently took advantage of the ‘2 months for £2’ Xbox Game Pass offer for new signees, specifically to play Blair Witch… and I’m absolutely loving it. Had heard all kinds of horror stories about how it runs on Xbox and you can tell it isn’t the world’s best optimised game, not by a long shot – but what it lacks in technical polish it more than makes up for in atmosphere and that, to me, is the entire raison d’etre for this type of game.
The dog’s behaviour is wholly believable (even down to periodically cocking his leg up!) and it’s fair to say I can’t remember the last time I felt such a strong connection to a digital character. And if the graphics, though still pretty decent, aren’t perhaps all they should have been, the audio is incredible. Play this as it’s meant to be played – in the dark, headphones on – and you’ll be completely immersed.
Is it scary? I have to admit, for me, it isn’t, particularly. Nor is it especially challenging, though there are the odd moments where you find yourself wandering around, wondering what the hell to do next. But, in my opinion, as far as building a world and creating an atmosphere goes – and as a film adaptation – it’s right up there with the likes of Alien Isolation.
Slightly odd timing coming out in early September rather than around Halloween, I agree – but a solid and enjoyable horror game that proves the genre is still going strong and which I’d definitely recommend. Meanwhile, my son is blazing through the Gears 5 campaign and all for two – two(!) – English pounds. Thank you, Microsoft and Game Pass.
Karl S
