They Are Here: Alien Abduction Horror is a classic suspense-filled adventure title. What’s more, the snippet of gameplay that is available to test is full of wonderful jump scares. Accordingly, this shows signs of fine promise as well as plenty of familiar mechanics.
Developed and published by DEKLAZON, this is a spooky sci-fi horror title. Moreover, it has some fantastic lore and plenty of heart-racing moments. As such, this will appeal to a vast audience. However, if the action flies off on a tangent, it could easily lose its appeal. Consequently, the small development team must tread carefully if they want to appease a larger following.
They Are Here explores bite-sized chunks.
I loved the bite-sized elements of the prologue and the opening chapter. Each segment demonstrates the developer’s desire to create a suspense-filled endeavour. Additionally, the classic alien antagonists will make you shit your pants. These beady-eyed bastards appear from nowhere and make you jump out of your skin. However, this fear factor is what makes this so special. Therefore, I want this idea to form the backbone of every subsequent story segment.
You are a journalist who witnesses an alien abduction at the Greywood farm. Armed with only a flashlight and a camera, you must collect evidence of these outer worldly encounters. By collecting clues and reading notes, you’ll form a broader picture of the strange happenings. Yet, you must do this without being caught. This is no mean feat, as hiding from an all-seeing foe is easier said than done.
A game of hide and seek.
Though the prologue and the demo version differ slightly, the core gameplay is the same. Effectively, you must explore your surroundings without being noticed. Accordingly, this stealthy approach is nerve-wracking, to say the least. You’ll hear eerie sounds whilst exploring darkened environments. As such, you know that you are in trouble from the off. What’s more, the horrendous notes and weird pictures add to the madness.
I adored the drip-fed lore and the strange messages you discover. Each portion of the information is relevant, no matter how minute the detail is. Therefore, you must search every nook and cranny to piece together this sci-fi adventure. In its current build, it is hard to see how the chapters will blend together. However, even if the links are tenuous at best, it’ll still work. I’d like to see plenty of micro-stories intertwined to tell a complex and horrific understanding of the weird events. It would be fantastic to get flashbacks of each protagonist as you discover clues about them.
If the developers follow this path, the game will be deep, rich, and utterly terrifying. Moreover, it’ll incorporate other genres into the linear and stealthy core ideals. Furthermore, it’ll give you a greater insight into each chapter’s events without creating a tedious and repetitive approach.
They Are Here looks well polished.
The short playtime highlights the developer’s eye for detail. Additionally, the refined world is great to explore even though you are funnelled through set doorways and paths. Consequently, if you like a vast open world, They Are Here may frustrate you. Alternatively, if you prefer a directed approach that keeps you moving forward, then this will be right up your street. Alongside this, I enjoyed the handwritten notes and the weird photos you discover. What’s more, the use of darkness and shadow emphasises the horror element whilst making you uncomfortable throughout.
The audio was spectacular. The light but haunting music is horrifically juxtaposed by the ambient sounds and the ever-present aliens. Accordingly, the feeling of being watched and the suspenseful atmosphere are oppressive and uncomfortable.
Excellent controls.
Thanks to the excellent UI, you always know what to do. As such, you are never out of your depth and the gameplay benefits greatly. Whenever you must keep an item or interact with an object, the game gives obvious and helpful clues. Alongside this, executing any action is simple and the inputs are responsive and easy to understand.
At this moment, it is hard to discuss replay value and longevity. The prologue and the first chapter are both pretty short. Therefore, understanding where the game will go and what will happen is anyone’s guess. Yet, if the developers keep on the path they are going, I can see this being an uncomfortable but enjoyable endeavour.
They Are Here is on the right track.
I enjoyed my fleeting experience of They Are Here. Accordingly, I wanted to write this preview to highlight its credentials. Though it isn’t quite where it needs to be at the moment, I believe DEKLAZON is on the right path. With more chapters and a testing intertwined story, this could be spectacular. Consequently, I loved it and I recommend that you try it here! Can you uncover the truth behind the extra-terrestrials? Explore the farm, capture the evidence, and don’t get caught.
Summary!
They Are Here: Alien Abduction Horror is a great indie title that has been created by a tiny team. Subsequently, I was impressed with its depth and quality finish. Moreover, the audio is incredible, and the action could and should evolve to be captivating and unbelievably scary.
