It takes a lot to scare me these days. Maybe I’ve become accustomed to the gore and the fear through the countless horror films I’ve watched. That being said, I still can’t stop watching them. When it comes to games, there’s something that gives the horror genre life. Developers seldom try to recreate past titles, rather looking for new ways to leave an uneasy feeling in the pit of your stomach. While Holstin isn’t scary, it makes you feel uncomfortable. Something’s not quite right, and I loved just how weird it is.
Holstin takes place in a small Polish town in the early 90s. You’re looking for your friend while trying to uncover what has happened. A strange substance has started to grow around buildings and streets, consuming its people and turning them into vengeful versions of themselves. When the preview started, I met a scientist who was hellbent on putting a bullet in her head because she couldn’t cope with what she had done to this town. But what had she done? What is going on?
The characters of Holstin reminded me a lot of Twin Peaks. A cast that are almost spoofs of themselves. Weird and over-the-top, yet grounded in this unsettling world that developers Sonka has created. When you have a conversation with someone, they’re either grumpy and angry, or hysterical and childlike. There’s little in-between. This helps to make the world feel uncanny valley. You’ve seen this place before, but something has shifted, yet you can’t put your finger on it.
The pixel art is grim and dark, yet there’s plenty of detail in the littlest of things. Something I really liked about Holstin was how the isometric viewpoint can be spun around 360 degrees, allowing you to see every angle of the town. Not just that, but you can enter an over=the-shoulder viewpoint when trying to shoot these creatures or simply look around for clues. A lot of effort has been put into immersing you into its world, and I appreciated just how different it looked from the varying camera angles I could take advantage of.
There are environmental puzzles to solve. In one area, I had to find a crowbar. I climbed over boards and crouched under the horrid substance that was taking over the town. Once I’d found it, I had to shoot one of the demented people that filled the down. They had weak points on their body, and by shooting them, they went down much faster. It becomes intense during these encounters because they come at you with ferocity. You’re not a soldier, just an ordinary man. Like Joel in The Last of Us, you’re a normal guy just trying to survive.
The nightmare of Holstin constantly made me want to find out more. I felt anxious waiting for something to try and kill me. The people in the town were moments away from their minds breaking, and I had no idea who I could trust. Sonka has done something different within the horror genre and I love what I’ve seen so far. Despite having weapons, I felt helpless. I wasn’t sure who to trust or what was around the corner. All I know is I want to play more whenever it releases.
Holstin is planned for PS4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, and PC.
