Silly Polly Beast is an indie game that stands out from a sea of mundane and repetitive experiences. Furthermore, it has a pleasant old-school edge that reminded me of Resident Evil, Silent Hill, and Alone in the Dark. However, it has a nice modern edge that glues every element together to create a reasonably polished title.
This eerie and grim horror adventure was developed by Andrei Chernyshov and published by Top Hat Studios. It is a single-player game that uses a variety of perspectives to great effect. This artistic style adds flair and suspense. Additionally, it prevents the action from becoming predictable. It is this lack of predictability that leads to frustration, however. Not always knowing what you were to face and not being prepared for inevitable failure will make the average person scream with rage.
Silly Polly Beast sends you to hell and back.
I love an underdog story! Silly Polly Beast has this in abundance. A mute protagonist, a demonic being, and a missing friend make up the key ingredients for this sinister title. You play the role of Polly, an orphan who decides that her life will be better if she runs away. However, she is not doing this alone, as she wants to team up with her best friend Alice. Unfortunately, this plan failed as Alice failed to turn up. This leads Polly down a rabbit hole and on the road to purgatory. If she wishes to redeem herself and escape her dark fate, she must help a demon break his shackles.
The story is ridiculous but fascinating. Each cruel element has some minor twists and turns as dialogue choices help to guide the plot. Though these decisions have a minimal impact, you occasionally make a deadly choice. Thankfully, this matters not as the quick save facility spawns you back in and you live to fight another day.
Exploration and deadly fog.
Silly Polly Beast is all about exploration, fighting, and a wall of deadly fog. The fog keeps you on a reasonably linear path. Moreover, circular routes and simple dungeons guide you to your next location. This may seem a little basic, but it works exceptionally well alongside the brutal combat elements.
As you explore each area, you must tackle countless creatures. Eerie shadows, grotesque exploding monsters, and wolves line up to take you down. This isn’t a problem for Polly as she is armed with a magical pistol. Whenever she moves near light, her pistol reloads. This gives the hero enough ammo to tackle most tasks. Yet, it isn’t quite that straightforward, sadly. Ammo is still relatively tough to find, as light is scarce and fires can be extinguished far too easily.
On top of this, the dodge mechanics are very tight, and the skateboard melee weapon is linked with Polly’s minuscule stamina bar. Accordingly, you have to plan wisely before you unleash a skateboard on a monster’s chops. Another challenge is the lack of special items. Grenades and healing items are limited. As such, you can be in a bit of a bind as you become inundated with hordes of foes.
A brilliant story, but plenty of bugs.
I’m a huge fan of how Silly Polly Beast unfolds. The plot is great, and the storytelling is wonderfully paced. Although I found much of the action to be tough and frustrating, it is very rewarding when you get things right. Additionally, a little practice goes an awfully long way.
Despite the agonisingly tough moments, it was the bugs that frustrated me the most. The game would hang and crash for no reason whatsoever. This was super annoying, especially when it reverted your gameplay to an earlier save point. This issue repeatedly reared its ugly head, driving me crazy! The problems need to be ironed out if this is to reach its full potential.
Silly Polly Beast has a stunning edge.
I’ve mentioned the old-school appeal. However, visually, Silly Polly Beast has a delightful modern edge. The action is wonderfully dark and sinister. Furthermore, the sharp, comic book imagery delivers a punchy and dramatic undertone that cannot be avoided. The combination of different perspectives and styles should have been confusing, but everything flows nicely. Consequently, this is an attractive and eye-catching game.
The audio helps to create a daunting and sinister atmosphere that is spine-tingling. A lack of spoken dialogue should have been off-putting, but it wasn’t. Instead, the silence creates a horrible energy that matches the demonic theme and sense of impending doom.
Tight but challenging controls.
There are plenty of weapons to master and some tight combat to enjoy. However, timing your dodging mechanic can be a little tough. When navigating the world is challenging, this can lead to frustration. Furthermore, avoiding waves of enemies is almost impossible. Subsequently, it enhances the difficulty to an eye-watering level.
Although this has a linear design, there is plenty of replay value and longevity. The difficulty ensures that you cannot rush through it. Moreover, numerous achievements require plenty of luck and an inquisitive mind. Therefore, completionists will need to invest hours if they wish to complete Silly Polly Beast.
Silly Polly Beast is an excellent indie game.
I found this to be particularly challenging to play. Additionally, the bugs added to the madness. Though it almost broke me, this is an excellent indie game. Aesthetically, it sets a sinister tone that cannot be ignored. Moreover, the story is outlandish yet fascinating. Accordingly, it is a must-play game, and I recommend buying it here! Can you break those chains and save your friend? Enter the underworld, avoid trouble, and become the hero you are destined to be!
