Whilst I would never describe myself as a horror aficionado, I have been known to enjoy the written works of Stephen King, the cinematic genius of Zach Cregger & Jordan Peele or even endure a Cardi B album. However, when it comes to my beloved videogames, I’m the first to “Nope” out of there when anything even vaguely creepy comes along. The exceptions to the rule have been the Little Nightmares games which, bizarrely, I actually really love. With Reanimal, Tarsier Studios have once again dredged the darkest depths of human imagination and have pulled up yet another beautifully twisted fantasy, one that’s hard to tear your gaze from, even when things start to get messed up.
And believe me, they do. They really do.
Reanimal sets out its tonal stall right from the off. Dim red lights barely visible in the gloom. The lonely toll of a distant buoy bell. A growing sense of unease as you and your companion explore a world where anything could be hiding, hunched in the shadows waiting to spring out at any moment, a writhing blur of teeth and limbs. It’s in this, the unknown, where the magic lies, as you teeter on the edge of panic, never sure what abomination will be tearing after you next.
Reanimal adopts the same basic premise of its predecessors, having you explore this dilapidated world, guiding a brother and sister pairing as they work together to rescue missing friends on an island full of grisly inhabitants that would make even Isla Nublar look like a relaxing weekend getaway.
I’m going to skirt around the narrative beyond this, as even to hint at where the story goes is giving far too much away. Suffice to say, you’ll be drip-fed lore, mainly through environmental story-telling, as you creep, jump and outright sprint through the 6-8 hour run time. It had me hooked early on trying to figure out just what the hell was happening and I think that’s half the battle won for keeping even the most cry-baby players like myself engaged with something we’d otherwise put down after the slightest hint of a jump scare.
You’ll explore at the pacing that Tarsier wants you to, with attempts at rushing through these beautifully crafted locations often being punished, though not too harshly. A hidden pitfall or lurking enemy will have the screen fade to black but it’s not often that you’re pushed back more than a minute to try again. It’s this rather lenient level of punishment that makes for a sense of constant forward momentum, as you venture forth through the horrors. However, there are some sections that inadvertently suffer from this more deliberately controlled pacing. As you explore the further reaches of the shoreline, cutting through choppy waves with your prow, there’s a slight lack of direction that can lead to some confusion and unnecessary backtracking, contrasting with just how well the on foot exploration is handled compared to sections tackled in your trusty boat.
Around every corner you’ll find genuinely horrific creatures that would make even David Cronenberg do a little wee and, more often than not, you’ll find yourself running for your life as these terrors hurl themselves after you. Controls feel tight enough to execute sharp zigs and zags through the obstacles strewn in your way but with enough give to still feel human. As for the beasts themselves, they come in all shapes and sizes, slithering, scuttling and thrashing, all of whom are sure to leave an indelible impression on you. Again, I wouldn’t want to spoil anything, so I won’t get into any really detailed description, but if body-horror is your jam, Reanimal’s multi-limbed monstrosities will not disappoint.
Co-op play is available should you need someone to hold your hand and Reanimal’s simple puzzles can easily be solved via the application of two pairs of hands, rather than struggling alone. With both crossplay and a friend’s pass available, it’s easy to drag another through hell with you. Should you lack the prerequisite friend, then your computer-controlled companion will be more than capable of assistance when needed, be it to pry open a door or provide a cheeky leg-up. I think that this is a better experience alone, as Reanimal delights in keeping you on edge with flickering movements in dark corners or barely audible scratching sounds from the shadows, intricate details that I believe would be easily lost if chatting with a fellow player, dulling some of Reanimal’s edge.
Taking your time for exploration rewards players in the form of concept art to peruse at your leisure and new masks for our duo to wear, in what feels very much like a nod to Tarsier Studio’s heritage. With goodies tucked away in dark corners, it’s an opportunity to really immerse yourself in this disgusting yet intriguing world and adds further replayability should you wish to traumatise yourself even further.
Reanimal is Tarsier Studios doing exactly what Tarsier Studios does best. Tense, physiological horror with a (un)healthy dose of gore and body-horror, combined with a truly WTF?! narrative that will keep you guessing until the very end. I stand before you as living proof that Reanimal will appeal to both avid horror lovers and those of us who tend to hide behind a cushion at the mere mention of a Resident Evil game. Between the dusty, crumbling corridors and rickety wooden barns, the desperate chases through blind alleyways, the unseen terrors that haunt the edge of your vision, and the screeching, clawing, oozing freaks of nature that stand in your way, there’s very little that won’t find its way into your nightmares.
