Sunlight Scream | Switch Review
Despite my sweet disposition and innocent appearance, I’m a huge fan of horror movies. In particular, slasher films are my bread and butter in the genre. There’s something so thrilling about unraveling the mystery of who the killer is while seeing the cast being whittled down one by one. Faithy Games’ Sunlight Scream is the perfect visual novel for gamers like me who want a story that pays homage to classics such as Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer. It’s suspenseful, fun, and campy in the best way possible.
1,2, They’re Coming for You
Sunlight Scream places you in the unfortunate shoes of Max, who recently lost his Mom and has to move back to Sunlight City to live with his older brother Chris. Sunlight City seems like your typical, idyllic small town filled with (mostly) friendly locals. Until a masked killer emerges right after Max starts university, that is. As his classmates meet horrific fates, he and his new friends are determined to catch the murderer, no matter the cost.
The plot feels like a 90’s slasher, and I absolutely ate up the three hours of suspense it gave me. Your choices matter in this visual novel, which means there are different endings and story paths. You can even indulge in some romance, if you’re so inclined. A battery icon will appear in the upper right of the screen when a choice is offered. If the battery shows low power, it’s a decision that doesn’t have much of an impact besides affecting the dialogue. If it’s at medium, it indicates a romance option. If it’s fully charged, that means your choice could result in a life or death situation. I really appreciated this addition and it made me more aware of the context of what was going on at the point.
On a side note, be aware that if you do pursue a relationship, there’s the possibility of encountering some spicy dialogue. I wooed one of my friends and ended up reading several paragraphs that bordered on being smut. You don’t actually see anything risqué, but the writing is vivid in its imagery. I actually am a fan of this type of content, but if you’re not, be careful and maybe just stay friendly with your comrades.
Scream, King!
The graphical style of Sunlight Scream is very much in line with the aesthetic of most visual novels. The designs feel very heavily inspired by anime, complete with some fan service. I’m not talking about the nerdy kind of fan service, either. If you know, you know. There isn’t any voice acting, but the score and sound effects are solid. Now on to a couple of things that were nitpicks I encountered.
Firstly, the translation doesn’t always make sense. Some words are randomly inserted in a sentence, and they have absolutely nothing to do with what is being said. There are also quite a few run-on sentences and repeated conversations. I had several moments where the previous few lines of dialogue would repeat, forcing me to click through them to progress the story. It’s not a big deal, but as someone who is an avid reader and writer, I’m sensitive to these mistakes.
Another issue I had was the absolute lack of emotion in Sunlight Scream. A death would occur, but nobody was sad or devastated. A close friend was just brutally slain? Oh well, there’s no time to cry or mourn in any way. We’ve gotta hang out with one of our other acquaintances and never speak about the deceased again. I just wish there had been more of an emphasis on the impact of the losses. I know that the slashers this drew inspiration from aren’t heavy on mourning deaths either, but they at least showed the characters being emotional for a bit.
The Final Slash
Sunlight Scream is a delightful treat for fans of horror films, particularly fans of the slasher subgenre. The plot is packed full of twists and suspense, and your choices absolutely influence the way the story plays out. I definitely want to replay this and make different decisions to see how the narrative changes. I just wish there were some more emotions injected into the characters’ actions and dialogue. There are also some issues with the translation, but this isn’t a big deal in the grand scheme of things. I still loved my time with the game, and recommend it for anyone looking to stab that itch for a good slasher story.
To hear me talk more about Sunlight Scream, be sure to listen to the July 17, 2024 episode of The Gaming Outsider podcast.
This review is based on a Nintendo Switch copy of Sunlight Scream provided by Press Engine for coverage purposes. It is also available on the Google Play Store, PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.
Sunlight Scream
$6.99
Pros
- Evokes 90’s Slasher Films
- Your Choices Genuinely Matter
- Short, Sweet, Suspenseful Fun
Cons
- No Emotions From the Characters
- Some Translation Issues and Repeated Sentences
