Anthology of Fear is a strange title that will leave you confused. The lack of guidance and the often misleading moments cast a web of deceit and a fog of doubt. However, it is this sense of mystery that fans the horror spark. Though the action is slower than a snail and the gameplay lasts no more than 3 hours, there is enough here to capture your interest.
This horror experience was developed by OhDear Studio, GAMES and published by Ultimate Games. Furthermore, it is a single-player experience that intertwines many viewpoints. Accordingly, it can be tough to keep up, and it isn’t until the game ends that things truly unravel. This arduous approach will annoy gamers. The sense of confusion and the borderline insane pacing will put many people off. Yet, if you can stick with it and enjoy the creepy atmosphere, you’ll get plenty out of it.
Anthology of Fear twists and turns.
Horror requires a high sense of anticipation and an element of the unknown. In this respect, Anthology of Fear does a great job. Each character enters the fray and outlines their influence on the protagonist’s life. Yet, the lack of explanation makes the water somewhat muddy. Furthermore, the repetitive gameplay only adds to the confusion.
Your brother, Nathan, is missing. No one can explain his disappearance and hopes of finding him alive are fading. However, your hopes are fuelled when a mysterious phone call highlights a mental health clinic as a possible lead. Yet, this facility mysteriously closed as your brother disappeared. Is this a coincidence, or will you uncover the truth?
Corridor, corridor, corridor.
If you love endless corridors and empty rooms, then Anthology of Fear will make you smile. Every level of this odd horror title explores a small array of labyrinthine corridors. Furthermore, many of the rooms are empty and there are minor changes as the game progresses. Matters are made worse as new characters are introduced.
The thinly layered introduction of key protagonists enhances the weirdness. As rooms shift and puzzles are introduced, you have little idea of what is happening and how the story evolves. Moreover, a mysterious individual tries to help you, or not, depending on how you read the situation.
What is clear, though, is the sense of atmosphere. Though much of the action is slow, you expect to be scared out of your skin. Now, the jump scares are minimal, but they are timed perfectly so as not to outstay their welcome. Additionally, the odd puzzle breaks up the walking monotony even if the complexity is lacking.
What will annoy gamers is the sense of emptiness. I’d love to link this with Nathan’s mental state and a feeling of loneliness, but I think I may be overreaching. Either way, don’t expect Anthology of Fear to be action-packed or challenging.
Anthology of Fear looks great.
The action may have left me wanting. However, I adored the creepy atmosphere and the claustrophobia. The rooms are dark, eerie, and uncomfortable to explore. Furthermore, you are free to open doors, cupboards, and other storage items. This simple tool added to the anticipation as I expected creepy crawlies and ghouls to slap me in the face.
The minor changes to each level were interesting. Though the impact was minimal, it meant that you could focus on the new problems or the enhanced layers of fear. Furthermore, the introduction of sinister entities adds to the drama. As such, you never quite get comfortable.
The audio complements the atmosphere. The wonderful sound effects are daunting. Moreover, the hushed sounds and uncomfortable noises keep you glancing over your shoulder. In short, though there is little going on, you won’t be able to relax.
Simple controls.
Exploring a slow-paced world filled with edgy entities can be tiresome. Thankfully, the decent controls ensure that you can navigate the corridors with ease. Moreover, the responsive inputs and well-labelled items make each compact area easier to explore.
Sadly, another shortcoming is the sense of replay value and longevity. Anthology of Fear is far too short! Additionally, there are limited reasons to return once you reach the abrupt finale. Consequently, once you come to the strange end, you will not play it again.
Anthology of Fear won’t impress everyone.
There are plenty of fine elements to this horror experience. However, I believe the developer has tried to push the envelope too much. Their out-of-the-box thinking muddies the water and the lack of cohesion makes things tough to follow. As such, it doesn’t reach its potential and I cannot recommend it. If you are interested, more information can be found here! Will you get to the bottom of the mystery? Follow the clues, explore the clinic, and reveal the truth.
