Omen Exitio: The Plague | PC Review
Omen Exitio: The Plague is the first chapter of a game-book hybrid series developed by Italian indie developer, Tiny Bull Studios. It draws inspiration from H.P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos, and combines his chilling tales with historical events in the late nineteenth century. When I began playing this game, it reminded me of the choose-your-own-adventure books that I enjoyed reading as a child. Every choice you make impacts the outcome of the story.
Lovecraftian Beginnings
Omen Exitio follows Dr. Huntington, a recent widower, who was unable to save his wife from cancer. He joins the army to leave his past behind. Haunted by the visions of his deceased love, he tirelessly performs his duties hoping to suppress the guilt consuming his soul. His destiny was changed forever when he receives a mysterious message. The message eerily reveals that his skills as a physician will be required on the journey that lies ahead. The message is anonymously assigned “a friend.”
Shortly after that, Dr. Huntington meets a beggar bearing a strange tattoo on his wrist. He eventually discovers that this symbol is the representation of a dark cult involving many of Europe’s elite members of society. Summoned on a reconnaissance mission in Africa, Dr. Huntington stumbles on villages filled with the stifling stench of death. His decisions determine which skills will help him find the cure to the plague. He learns that the plague is spreading from Africa, London, Polynesian islands, and more. He is the key to piecing together the clues of the disease. Along the way, he discovers why this cult is insistent on following him wherever he goes.
At The Mountains of Madness
I couldn’t wait to see what was in store for Dr. Huntington. Fear, doubt, and paranoia consumed each turn of the page. The game includes a journal that allows you to see what accomplishments you passed or failed based off of your decisions. It also gives you the ability to look back at the details for each character so you could adequately decide who to rely on or who to trust. If you make the right decisions, you can enhance Dr. Huntington’s skills that will only help as the saga unfolds. There are a few grammatical and spelling errors that have stemmed from being localized into English from its native Italian. They weren’t distracting enough to hinder gameplay, but it was noticeable.
Omen Exitio: The Plague Final Verdict
Enhanced by the hauntingly beautiful soundtrack, the atmosphere stays true to Lovecraft, and many moments sent chills down my spine. Dr. Huntington’s view of the world changes when he realizes supernatural beings lurk in the dark shadows and inhabits his nightmares. Will your choices save the earth from these evil beings or will you be able to find the cure before it’s too late? If you enjoy story-rich narrative game books, then I highly recommend this game.
This review is based of of a PC review copy provided by Tiny Bull Studios for coverage purposes.
Pros
- Choices Matter
- Nails Atmosphere
- Page-Turning Story
Cons
- Localization Woes
- Occasional Audio Glitches
