An atmospheric horror game with detective elements
Horror is an incredibly popular genre in gaming, and they can vary from being deceptively simple like Five Nights at Freddy’s, to outrageously complex like the SIlent Hill games. HellSign is a horror game developed by Ballistic Interactive that adds its own spin to the genre by making the game revolve around investigation and deduction rather than just scares. In HellSign, you play a supernatural hunter equipped with critical tools and knowledge to find and kill monsters. Complete jobs to earn money and hopefully find answers to questions about your past.
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Investigative Gameplay
One of the best things about HellSign is its investigative gameplay. At the start of the game, you’ll be using your trusty torch and blacklight cathode to look for clues and pieces of evidence around the site. The game is very atmospheric, and as you look for clues, there’s barely any music which adds to the creepiness factor. That said, the sound effects can be a bit distracting because they’re sudden and loud.
Looking for clues is a simple process. All you have to do is move around the space and for interactive elements. Despite the highly realistic graphics of the game, you won’t have any difficulty finding interactive elements because they become highlighted when users come close.
Looking for Monsters
Looking for clues isn’t complicated, but it can be very difficult. One aspect of the investigation is using your blacklight cathode to look for trails of blood. The display can be small, and with the game’s dark atmosphere, it can be hard to make out the trail. You’re also always in danger of getting eaten alive by the very monsters you’re trying to find which just adds to the difficulty level. All the information you collect will be added to your Cryptonomicon, your guidebook on the supernatural elements you’ll encounter. Study your monsters, and find ways to exploit their weaknesses.
Fighting Monsters
The combat mechanics of HellSign is probably its greatest problem. The enemies in the game move extremely fast, and sometimes they give no time for the player to respond. The character controls can be a bit awkward as well which just adds to the difficulty. However, the game does encourage players to study and exploit monsters rather than trying to take them down in a head-on fight. Combat can be difficult, but it’s not impossible as long as you're well-informed and well-prepared.
A Great Investigative Horror Game
HellSign might seem like your ordinary horror game, but it has a lot of things to offer that makes it unique and special. Its focus on investigation and deduction means that you won’t just be getting cheap scares. Additionally, its creepy atmosphere and realistic graphics really draw you into the story. It really feels like you’re a hunter conducting investigations rather than just a person playing a scary video game. It has a couple of problems, but it’s nothing that could ruin the game completely. All in all, HellSign is a game that any horror game fan will appreciate.
