When two of my favourite genres come together, I am always going to sit up and pay attention. CONSCRIPT is a solo-developed game by Catchweight Studio blends the themes of survival horror and war into a throwback style. In an interesting move Conscript is a top-down game set in 1916 during the Great War.
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You play as Andre, a French soldier searching for his missing-in-action brother, Pierre, during the Battle of Verdun. And this is far from an easy task as you navigate endless twisting trenches and brave no-mans-land to find him.
No Man’s Land
CONSCRIPT is an uneasy and often oppressive title. The subject matter makes sure of that with Andre battling not just the enemy, but also the true horrors of war as you clamber from one mud logged hole to the next.
This vibe does take the edge off the survival horror tones a little, as you’re already on edge. And, when paired with the top-down view, you don’t get many traditional jump scares.
CONSCRIPT is more of a slow build of tension, as you search for weapons, ammo, or items to help you moving forward. And it’s in its loot and items that the real survival horror elements can be felt.
Inventory management is indeed a central mechanic in CONSCRIPT. Decisions on . what you take or leave can, and often do, result in life or death. Plus, there is a healthy number of puzzles to solve. And, you’ll be doing a good bit of backtracking and unlocking shortcuts.
Grabber Stabber, Looter Shooter
Exploration never feels like a waste of time though, as you often find kit and gear. Sometime, more interestingly, you’ll find notes that help to flesh out the game’s tale and adds some much-needed depth in ways to it all, so it’s worth having a good look around.
You’ll also come across a merchant from time to time. From whom you can buy items in exchange for the cigarettes you pilfer from the fallen. You can also buy upgrades for your weapons to give you the upper hand in a fight.
Time to Kill, Time to Die
Combat is a slow and methodical affair that’s also tense and heart pounding. When fighting with melee weapons, you don’t know if your next swing will be your last. And, when in a gun fight, the reload times force players into being extremely careful with their shots.
The combat of CONSCRIPT is a bit stiff and clunky. However, in the heat of the moment, you don’t notice all that much. When staring death in the face, hoping you can get one last attack in before you perish, you will feel the tension rather than the controls.
Puzzles, on the other hand, are a bit more traditional. You have to find items and keys, then work out which ones open the path ahead, or get into previously blocked off areas. The puzzle and progress system is classic survival horror in most ways.
Art of War
CONSCRIPT has a striking art style. From the top-down, look to the retro-inspired pixel style it uses to create a grim and bloody vision of one of the darkest chapter in human history. Sound is ok but nothing mind-blowing, though there are a few standout tracks.
CONSCRIPT aims at survival horror. It lands just a little short in some ways, but excels in others, offering up a tense and foreboding atmosphere, one where you are always on edge. CONSCRIPT doesn’t have much in the way of a ‘fear factor’, but instead carries a strong phycological vibe that haunts.