VILE Exhumed is a throwback to the text-based adventures that people played in the 1980s. The upcoming horror title centers around its narrative as the player slowly uncovers the secret behind an adult film star’s sudden retirement.
According to the game’s Steam page, VILE Exhumed “has you piece together a story of obsession, misogyny, entitlement, and consequences” after the adult film star Candy Corpse unexpectedly retires. You investigate an old computer and uncover how someone’s obsession with Candy Corpse might have something to do with her retirement, and how there might be sinister forces behind her retirement. The Steam page promises “deeply disturbing, gruesome, narrative-driven horror.” However, it talks very little about the actual gameplay. So, what does the gameplay involve?
The game’s trailer shows someone typing through an old-fashioned black-and-white computer screen, giving us glimpses of gruesome, blood-covered photos of Candy Corpse, along with some grainy video. It tells us that this will not be an action-packed horror game or a game that has you wandering through a corridor awaiting a jump scare. Instead, you will be exploring a computer to piece together a mystery. The slower-looking pace might disappoint people who are expecting a more interactive, immersive experience, but the game’s focus will be the narrative, not the gameplay itself.
The world of indie horror games is an amazingly diverse place. You’ll find everything from bloody first-person shooters to horror farming sims. As such, even a game as niche as VILE Exhumed should be able to find its audience. If you think paging through an old computer to unveil a dark story sounds boring, there are plenty of other horror games you can play. However, if you’re looking for a story-driven experience that gives you chills through its use of narrative, VILE Exhumed might be worth a look. The game launches on July 22.
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