Every so often an indie game comes along that just grabs you and tells you to shut up, sit down and play it. Tenebris Somnia, from Andrés Borghi and Saibot Studios, is certainly one such game, as it takes the classic survival horror formula and gives it a rather unusual twist by blending in some truly outstanding live-action FMV sections.
Playing as Julia, a young woman plagued by disturbing nightmares about her ex-boyfriend, a director, being torn apart by horrific creatures, you find yourself heading back to his apartment to check on him.
However, things quickly take a turn for the worse. What starts as a seemingly straightforward visit soon descends into a nightmare that blurs the line between reality and something far more sinister and cult-fuelled.
Scarecraft
It’s a tale that I won’t spoil here, but there is certainly more going on than first meets the eye. The story explores subjects such as relationships, memories and the darker secrets that can lie beneath the surface.
The tale builds the game’s bones, but it’s the gameplay that adds the soft, fleshy stuff.
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Tenebris Somnia takes its inspiration from classic survival horror games such as Resident Evil and Silent Hill, only with a retro 2D presentation that feels like something pulled straight out of the 8-bit era.
You’ll spend your time exploring locations, searching for useful items, solving puzzles and trying to survive encounters with more than a few nasty creatures. Resources are, of course, limited, so knowing when to fight and when to make a run for it plays a big part.
Adventure Scare
The puzzles are a highlight, with some clever ideas that require a little thought rather than simply wandering around until you stumble across the answer. However, some of the solutions are more than a little obscure at times, I feel, and the amount of backtracking required can slow things down more than it should.
Combat is another mixed bag. While the creatures look fittingly horrible, fighting them can feel just as horrible because it’s clunky, especially when things get hectic. Part of me thinks this is the game leaning a bit too heavily into its retro roots.
Look of Terror
Where Tenebris Somnia really shines, though, is in its presentation. At key moments, the pixel-art world gives way to live-action cutscenes featuring real actors and practical effects. This creates a wonderfully unsettling contrast between the two styles.
These sequences feel like something straight out of an old-school pulp horror film, and they give the game an identity, vibe and tone all of its own.
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Tenebris Somnia is a truly fascinating little horror adventure that doesn’t always get everything right, but its creepy atmosphere, intriguing story and wonderfully bizarre presentation make it well worth a look.
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