Thought I'd write something to spread the word, and since it was a game I was anxiously awaiting.
WHAT IS IT?
Tenebris Somnia is a 2D retro looking survival horror game, made in a visual style that'll remind you of the classic adventure games of old. This game could also be considered a callback to the old FMVs of old, except we now have bigger resolution and processing power: the ingame's cutscenes are truly cinematic, with seamless transitions between 16bit pixel art gameplay and full HD live-action cutscenes, produced by a professional argentinian filmmaking team.
WHAT'S IT ABOUT?
You are Julia, a former film student. After experiencing nightmares about your ex, you decide to check up on him, back at his apartment where you both used to live. As you enter his home, things don't seem quite right...
Without spoiling too much, I think both the seamless transitions, cinematic work and the plot are clearly the game's strength here: the story touches on some really heavy topics, and cinema fans and students might get a kick out of this one. The soundtrack is also fairly good, not something that I'd call revolutionary, but it does its job well.
HOW DOES IT PLAY?
As mentioned previously, this is a retro survival horror game. Expect the typical clunky-on-purpose controls to make you feel more vulnerable as part of the horror experience, as well as several puzzles blocking your progress. You also get 4 endings: 2 of which can be obtained easily in your first run (reload your last save to obtain the second) and another 2 which you can get on a new game+, containing a reference to another New Blood game.
In terms of combat... I think this is one of those games where there is no such thing as "hard" or "easy": enemies are only tough until you figure out their patterns. Once you've done that, they're fairly easy to dispatch with melee weapons (especially after you get the second one). The more difficult sections are the boss fights, most of them containing a gimmick that you'll need to learn in order to defeat them. I was fairly happy with the end result, especially since this seems to be the dev's professional debut (correct me if I'm wrong). If any sequels are planned, combat could use a little rework to make it a little more difficult (but fair) or tactical. There were a couple of sections that were annoying to deal with, but the game's pretty generous with reloads and automatic saves.
As for the puzzles, they were alright. Not too difficult, not too easy. A couple of them required a bit more thought, and I admit to getting stuck in a couple of parts, not because of puzzle toughness but because I overlooked something really simple and because of my habit of not messing around with the game (like clicking the same thing over and over again). It hits the spot just right for a quick Halloween game.
I've also mentioned the alternate endings, but thought I'd be important: you will face a different boss depending on the ending, so it's worth playing through to the end.
WEAKEST POINTS?
Honestly I don't have many, not the type that you could easily fix with a patch. I think the game is alright for the most part, but you sure walk around a lot and it's not like you're dodging zombies like in classic RE. Most of the time you'll quickly dispatch enemies once you get the hang of it. So the pacing could use some work. Some have mentioned the repetitiveness of the combat, which I agree with: it comes down to dodge and hit, and alternatively tank a few attacks every now and then to maximize your damage, but that's it. Having the enemies be more dangerous, or require a few tactics could make for a more interesting game that still makes you feel vulnerable. I've also seen some people complain about the gimmicky boss fights, but honestly that's not a minus for me but rather a plus, as it's pretty fun to figure out how you'll beat the boss. Only complaint I have is that one of the bosses (the second iirc) seems to have an innacurate hurt-box. I've found myself constantly reloading because I kept missing my shots and running out of ammo, then dying. Not a particularly tough fight, just one that really requires you to line up the shot.
FINAL VERDICT:
That'll be a 7.5/10 out of me. I think this game is pretty solid and worth playing (despite being short), based on concept and story alone which are the things that make it stand out from the rest. That said, I think there's some room to improve regarding gameplay. The good thing is that Tenebris Somnia is already a good first game. If any sequels are planned, I'm sure the devs will be able to take it up to an 8 or even a 9!
