My favorite horror movie is John Carpenter’s 1982 remake of The Thing. Carpenter is a master when it comes to creating a terrifying mood in the isolation of the Antarctic. Even after almost 40 years, the practical effects are still a sight to be seen. In movies like The Thing, the humans are but cannon fodder for the real star of the show; the monster.
The new game Carrion developed by Phobia Game Studios and published by Devolver Digital places you in the role of the monster. Imagine that you are an unknown biological entity in an underground research lab. You escape from your imprisonment, and desperately search for a way out. Along the way you gain new abilities, grow in biomass, and munch on your tasty human captors.
Carrion’s monster controls beautify. Its almost as if its floating while being guided softy by its tentacles along the way. There is nothing more satisfying than hiding in a dark corner and grabbing an unsuspecting human for a snack. Carrion is a very Metroidvania type of game that features lots of backtracking. This can be a bit annoying at times. Without a map, the backtracking can be a pain. It is not an deal breaker by any means, but it does impede the flow of the game somewhat.
Carrion is a very unique experience who’s pixelated graphical style lends very well in creating an exciting world to play in. This is one game that I keep coming back to. It exciting and calming at the same time. There is a certain serenity that comes with playing the monster when you are the only character on the screen (or level).
While it’s $19.99 price tag may seem a bit high priced if you just give the game a superficial look, please believe that it is well worth the price. It can be had on PC, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One. More importantly it can be played for “free” on Xbox Game Pass, aka the best subscription service around.
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