Tormented Souls | Xbox Review

Have you been waxing nostalgic for survival-horror games from days gone by? The type that has limited saves, scarce health and ammo, and a fixed camera? Then look no further, because Dual Effect Games and Abstract Digital Works have you covered with Tormented Souls. If you love the original Resident Evil, Silent Hill, and Alone in the Dark titles, you’re going to want to snap this up.

Bumps in the Night

You’re placed in the combat boots of Caroline, a woman who wakes up in a strange tub naked and missing an eye. After getting dressed in an extremely cute but not extremely practical outfit, she discovers she’s in an abandoned mansion that was also used as a hospital. Quickly finding a journal entry that alerts her to the disappearance of a set of twins in this very building, she vows to try to solve the mystery and potentially save them. Of course, things aren’t as they seem and she’s not exactly alone in this decrepit hellscape…

Unraveling the story is fascinating and had me scouring every room for additional diaries. The dark, disturbing narrative is told through the accounts of the family that previously lived there, and the history becomes more twisted with each new nugget of info. Skipping even one of these entries will leave you confused and missing a vital piece of the plot. The writing itself is descriptive and chilling, conjuring up the sensation of reading a good horror novel.

A Caroline Sandwich

Combat is nerve-wracking and satisfying in Tormented Souls. Caroline starts off with only a crowbar to defend herself against the myriad enemies in the game, but quickly gains access to a nail gun thanks to a supremely clueless priest. Even with the nail gun, though, you can never be too comfortable. Ammo is sparsely located throughout the building, and each shot matters. You’ll unlock two additional weapons later in the game, but the tension is only ratcheted up with these new tools. The ammunition seems like it becomes harder to find, and on multiple occasions I found myself with only one bullet or nail to help me fight off a couple of enemies.

The controls are responsive and simple, which is a major plus. Caroline operates with 360 degree movements, which helps alleviate combat and movement issues usually associated with this genre. I never had to worry about missing a shot or not being able to dodge an attack. The fixed camera can obscure enemies at points, but it didn’t cause me too many issues. You can even utilize tank controls if you are so inclined. 

Scares Galore

The music, graphics, and enemy design all evoke old-school titles while also upgrading them with a more highly defined sheen. Loading screens between rooms only stuck around for about a second on the Series X, quickly allowing you to get back to the action but still evoking the charm of the early entries in this influential subsection of games. The atmosphere is also wonderfully spooky and kept me on the edge of my seat during my playthrough.

The puzzles were clever for the most part, but some were a little TOO obtuse. This was one of my only significant issues with Tormented Souls. A couple of solutions only occurred due to trial-and-error on my end, and I couldn’t find a single clue in the environment to help me solve these tricky segments. Another slight deterrent was the voice acting. It may be trying to emulate its predecessors, but it was so cheesy and distracting that it pulled me out of the immersion. I also had my game completely crash on me once. Luckily, it occurred after dying and respawning at my previous save location, so I didn’t lose any additional progress.

The Final Verdict

Tormented Souls is a must-play game for fans of survival horror. A wonderful protagonist, old-school game elements that have been tweaked for a modern audience, and a dark story kept me enchanted during my nine-hour playthrough. Replay value is high with three different endings and difficult to obtain trophies/achievements for completionists. A couple of frustratingly obtuse puzzles and distracting voice acting slightly dampen the experience, but this shouldn’t deter you from indulging in this creepy, nostalgic experience.

 

This review is based on an Xbox copy of Tormented Souls provided by PQube for coverage purposes. It is also available on PlayStation and PC via Steam.