There is no denying that there are plenty of horror games that keep on coming, bringing in something new to the genre whether it is a compelling story, jump scares, unique gameplay features and elements, or even art. Saturnalia catches the eye of the player with its hand-drawn style art that feels like sketches moving around in stop-motion capture. Though unique on its own, this brings more to the experience, making the gameplay look like a fever dream, and adding to the haunting features that await you. Having played Saturnalia on PC before launch, this review will talk about what you can expect from the game before you decide to get it.
Inspired and influenced by the folklore of Sardinia, Italy, the game brings a new look at the region that is usually known for its rich heritage, culture, and traditions. Transforming the tight alleyways of Gravoi into a labyrinth where you will be trying to figure out basically everything from scratch, right from the get-go. What you do know, however, is that there is a creature lurking around and you must do everything to survive, explore, investigate, and find a way out of the town.
When you first start the Saturnalia, you are given a small introduction to the creature and how it lurks around the alleyways of the town. Keep in mind its harrowing clicking sound though, as it will be your guide of the approaching creature actively hunting you. After the small cutscene from the POV of the creature, you will take the role of Anita, the first of the four main characters you will play as. Anita steps into the town with her own motif and finds people of the town hurrying to the church. When she doesn’t find a way in, she then tries to find a way around town which is already being taken over by the dark as dusk settles in.
Making her way to a villa where she is looking for Paul, this small section opens up the game and the story that is about to unfold. Anita’s initial mission is to look for Paul, another character that you will play in the story of Saturnalia. The four different characters, including Anita, come with their own special ability as each play the role in unfolding the mystery and share a common goal of finding answers and escaping the town and its rituals. As for the gameplay, there are various missions that you will take on, which include tasks like solving puzzles, helping out residents, and of course, staying away from the monster.
At first, it can be a little confusing to track down where you are heading and where you are supposed to go. The game does not give you a map that you can use freely, thanks to its survival horror nature, forcing players to find their own way to figure things out. When you do explore outside, you will come across layouts of the city on walls, where one look will make it seem very easy to navigate. But that will be easier said than done, as the path will likely end up becoming blocked by barriers, leaving you no choice but to backtrack and find another way. This whole tricky part with Anita is when you are trying to make your way to Paul at the mines, one of the first main missions.
While the mission is to restore electricity to the mines, this sets up the basics of how you will be solving puzzles to perform specific tasks. And while you will come across many types of resources, you will have to use them carefully as they are not that common in the area. Not to mention that the creature can be just around the corner ready to pounce on you. Having said that, you will eventually be caught by the monster, which is where you will switch to other main characters, and rescue the player taken away. If all your characters go missing, it is basically game over and the whole town structure will reset and change into something else.
Having to look for resources for specific items to progress is going to be one of the main challenges you will be facing. Whether it is a tool that you need to access new areas and unlock items, or you need consumables for boosts. The point is to let the player figure out and solve things themselves. If you feel you can’t progress further or can’t seem to find a way to progress, you can link up with other main characters to find out a solution from their end.
Saturnalia might seem a bit underwhelming at first, especially when you have to figure things out yourself. Don’t let this fool you as the gameplay becomes interesting with more characters, the survival horror aspects, and how missions and characters make things more fun. Players might actively look for weapon-type actions, but you really have nothing besides your matches to keep the dark away. Anything else is purely for tasks and missions that come in handy in most situations.
Final Verdict:
Saturnalia is a perfect Italian horror experience by indie studio Santa Ragione that comes at a perfect time as we approach Halloween. The unique art paired with the rogue-like and survival elements is what shines about the game. Though it may start slow, it will always have you on your toes, looking out for the creature that can come at any moment. And while you are trying to survive the creature, you also have engaging and intriguing missions, and goals. If you are looking for a challenging game with a linear story that forces player to figure things out themselves, Saturnalia is not a game that will disappoint. The game is available on Epic Games Store right now and I highly recommend that you consider trying it out after reading this reveiw of Saturnalia.
Final Score: 9.0/10
