Luto | PS5 Demo Review
I love horror movies. I prefer ambiance over jump scares but I don’t wave my hand at them like a Drake meme. I will not put WD40 on my creaky door hinges until my wife asks me to do it. I also love horror games (the exception being a game where I spend more time finding batteries for my camera than actually enjoying the game). Imagine my joy when the opportunity to play the demo for the game Luto was offered to me. I booted it up and was met by a creepy title screen with the weathered 35mm film look. I was immediately hooked and ready to jump in with both feet.
Story and Gameplay
A helpful info package starts us off stating that this demo is just a representation of what Luto will be, but is also a standalone experience. Broken Bird Games has me waiting for the full version. Luto is a first person horror game meant to invoke feelings of paranoia, dread, and confusion. They do not disappoint. You start off walking through a peaceful house filled with packed boxes. The phone rings; it’s a woman checking on you. She cryptically offers assistance and says, “Don’t be a stranger.”
You hang up and the house has been transformed into a setting that is creepy and haunted looking. Packed with dark corridors and damaged walls, the house is also a maze of terrors. Spooky creaks, chains hanging from the ceiling, and a child’s bedroom with the walls covered in drawings of their favorite movies like Gremlins and Superman. The exit is boarded up so you cannot leave. What happened here? Since the house has been transformed into a literal broken home, I assume that divorce is a factor? Some of the clues in the rooms indicate isolation, madness, perhaps suicide (full disclosure, I feel that Broken Bird Games has ensured that Luto is not triggering for those sensitive to this subject matter).
The demo is titled “Luto: The Choice.” The character we control has either regretted a choice or is dreading a choice that they must make. One thing is certain, I know I must get out of the house. Let’s find a way!
Mechanics and Style
I spent the following hour looking from room to room, picking up clues, and also fumbling around not knowing what to do next. The clues you find are sequenced. What was not there upon your first stumble through the house has appeared once you have found another clue. I felt completely lost at times. The game does not hold your hand. If you want to leave, you’re going to have to figure it out for yourself. There is also a storyboard in the child’s room that might help a more observant player than me.
The pause screen has an option for “Help” so I clicked it. The game responds with, “You are not lost, you don’t need it.” I chuckle because I wouldn’t have clicked Help if I didn’t need it. No, this option is a game device meant for later in the demo.
Without spoiling the rest of Luto: The Choice, I’ll only say that the clues keep the game moving forward while leaving the full story in a shadow that is being slowly revealed. Yes, you’ll likely find yourself walking in circles trying to find the next clue, but the graphics, set design, sound design, and effects are strategically curated to keep you wanting to peek around the next corner.
Final Thoughts
I’ve played games like this one before. Some are definitely more successful than others. I’ll put Luto in the “more successful” side. If this game sounds like a style of game that you’ve enjoyed in the past, I recommend picking up the demo and giving it a try. Luto would also work very well as a VR title. If it clicks with you like it did with me, I hope to see you “in line” when the full game is available!
To hear me talk more about Luto‘s demo, be sure to listen to the December 6 episode of The Gaming Outsider podcast.
This review is based on a PlayStation 5 demo copy of Luto provided by Mark Allen PR for coverage purposes. It is also available on PlayStation 4 and PC via Steam.
