The graphical style is a little jarring at first as it’s late 00’s inspired visuals can look quite simplistic when compared to modern games and lacks the jagged-edged low poly charm of the PS1/N64 era. The way noise and light propagates through the city is a great touch too – gunshots will alert nearby guards and having a lit lantern on you is as good as painting a bullseye on your head. The city itself is very well crafted, with lots of different routes you can take through it. You have a cane sword for melee and stealth kills, and if you get caught in a tight spot a shotgun to the face will put anybody down – whether it be a Crowman or a Corpse Duster. ![]() You have guns, but they’re loud and bullets are scarce, so stealth is usually the best option. The game draws inspiration from 90’s/00’s survival horror classics and allows you to tackle the city in a variety of different ways. In Gloomwood you take control of a mysterious stranger as they attempt to sneak, slice and shoot their way through a cursed Victorian city. However, it's the distinctive visuals that help it stand out, and while of course, it could look better, the purposeful old-school aesthetic has given the developers a defined brief to work to, and that has resulted in a clear and logical visual identity that works within the setting.Gloomwood is a tense retro styled gothic survival horror FPS set in a Victorian city that’s plagued by an ancient curse. In true immersive sim fashion, you can crouch, creep, and lean around corners to see what's coming. Charged attacks are deadly against unaware enemies, so sneaking up on your targets is always advisable, although you can go loud with your pistol if you get in trouble, although limited ammo means this isn't the main focus of the gameplay. The oppressive use of light and dark only enhances the atmosphere.Īfter a couple of deaths, we'd opened up the environment and got the hang of the stealth traversal and combat. I got Dishonored vibes from the towering landscape and historically-charged vibes, although there's also something more primal about Gloomwood, a grittiness brought to life by creaking doors and a low guttural growl that you can hear almost constantly. Not long after you'll be equipped with a shotgun and a revolver (with a handful of bullets, most of which we found in drawers or dimly lit corners off the beaten path). They were also beloved by players because of their open-endedness, something that was lacking in the reboot.Ĭombat is stealth driven, and one of the first things you find is a short stabby blade, which you pull from the corpse of a guard down near a sewer entrance. Thief with guns is an apt description, and it certainly speaks to the oppressive and bleak atmosphere of the early Thief games, which were especially eery thanks to the sparse lighting and presentation of the levels. First up, this is one part survival horror and one part immersive sim. ![]() ![]() ![]() While the focus of Dusk was brutally fast FPS action of the vintage variety, the pacing is very different in Gloomwood. It's also worth noting that it's also the work of Dillon Rogers and David Szymanski, the latter of whom made visceral old-school shooter Dusk, a game we enjoyed playing in Early Access (alas, we never got around to reviewing it, but if you like classic shooters a la Quake, check it out). The re-direct link to the game's Steam page is, leaving no doubt as to the game's inspirations. New Blood Interactive sets its stall out early. Announced as part of PC Gamer's big E3-replacement PC Gaming Show over the weekend just passed, Gloomwood landed this week in playable form as one of a number of demos that have been released as part of Valve's Summer Games Festival.
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