Saborus is a game that is creepy, uncomfortable, gruesome, and somewhat outrageous. This combination of elements shouldn’t really work, but boy, oh boy, does this game do a good job of combining its core ideas. If you love stealth horror games with an unusual twist, I suggest you keep on reading.
This stealth horror game was developed by High Room Studio and published by QUByte Interactive. It is a single-player, third-person game that combines logical thinking, stealth mechanics, and puzzle solving. Moreover, it has some tongue-in-cheek moments that make you shake your head in disbelief. However, at its core, it is creepy, horrific, and just a little cruel.
Saborus proves that KFC is not good for you.
I love animals, and I hate animal cruelty. Accordingly, whenever I buy meat, I have to get it sourced from my local butcher. I despise the thought of caged chickens, cramped sheep, and ill-treated cows. Sadly, Saborus highlights the unfair treatment of poultry for human consumption.
You play the role of a helpless chicken. This poor beast has escaped its shackles and now has one desire: to escape. This is easier said than done as the factory is a deadly maze of blades, locked doors, obstacles, and heartless humans. If the bird can somehow avoid these problems, they have plenty of puzzles to solve. As such, this isn’t the chicken’s lucky day, and getting your head hacked off is likely to be the outcome.
Brilliantly balanced.
Many horror games try and fail to incorporate an array of different genres and mechanics. Luckily, Saborus delivers an impressive game that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Whether it is a chase scene, the use of stealth, collecting items, hacking systems, or leaping chasms, the hero chicken gives it everything to survive.
The balance of challenge and unique mechanics works perfectly. Subsequently, no one section outstayed its welcome. Yes, I struggled at times, but this was a me issue, rather than a problem with the game. I also admit to having to use a walkthrough in some of the trickier moments. This made me feel dirty, but I didn’t want to attempt my review without saving the poor chicken.
Saborus is dark and sinister.
We all know that slaughterhouses are horrible places. However, Saborus takes it to the next level. The use of dark colours, shade, and tight spaces makes the game feel claustrophobic and uncomfortable. Moreover, I enjoyed the third-person perspective and how everything looked from the chicken’s point of view.
The audio is phenomenal. The use of music and silence creates an eerie and uncomfortable experience. Additionally, the footsteps of the humans, the clucking of the chicken, and the pitter-patter of claws on metal work perfectly. In short, this is filled with suspenseful moments that make your skin tingle.
The controls were questionable.
For all of its pros, the controls are probably the weakest point. The camera angles do not help with the platforming moments. However, it is the lack of definitive movement that makes it difficult to navigate each platform. This leads to frustration and death. Alongside this, it can be difficult to navigate the maze-like world as gaps are not always as big as they seem. This again causes death and guaranteed cursing.
Saborus wasn’t as long as I expected. If you are good at the genre, you can plough through the action in around 4 to 5 hours. However, if you want to search everywhere and absorb the atmosphere, you’ll enjoy around 8 hours. As such, it offers good value for money.
Saborus is a good horror title.
Horror and December/January don’t really go together. However, if you want a break from festivities and would like to test your resolve, this is one game that should be on your radar. Despite the short game time and the problematic controls, it excels in most areas. Accordingly, it is an uncomfortable and grim game, and I recommend buying it here! Can this chicken escape its fate? Keep your head down, avoid the humans, and prove that chicken’s lives matter.
