The Sorrowvirus – A Faceless Short Story Review

Coping with sure points in video games may be tough, despite the fact that many try and take care of topics like heroism, good vs evil, and lightweight overcoming the darkish. Within the final decade or so although others have gone additional, making an attempt to deal with trickier topics; psychological well being, alcoholism, and abuse. In The Sorrowvirus – A Faceless Quick Story the sport locations itself in a fantasy setting however inside that tackles topics like terminal sickness, mortality and torment. It’s a wierd, fragmented story that takes us on an intriguing and distinctive journey. However are we able to grow to be contaminated with The Sorrowvirus? 

The Sorrowvirus appears like a part of a sequence of brief tales below the Faceless assortment. This one follows the journey of a younger man known as Wyatt Heyll, who has confronted sickness and cancers which have made his life expectancy brief. His determined mother and father give him, simply earlier than he dies, a wierd magical substance known as The Sorrowvirus. What this substance does is infect the soul of the topic and cease it from going into the afterlife. It takes Wyatt to purgatory, the place he can heal after which return to the waking world. However the draw back is that the cancers and diseases come again faster and shortly Wyatt is in an countless loop; backwards and forwards between life and purgatory. His mother and father are nonetheless researching to discover a treatment however in the meantime, Wyatt is having to dwell by means of this ache and horror. Your job is to information Wyatt by means of the unusual world and relieve him of his ache, and properly there are 4 totally different endings for you during which to realize this. 

The story and premise are fascinating and wonderful locations to spend a while in. As you journey all through the world, you choose up items of lore and narrative by means of paperwork and audiotapes. There are some creepy components too which contain dolls which have come to life, unusual tormented souls, and rooms that change orientation as you progress round them. The environmental storytelling – and the writing – are key right here to the sport’s development.  

Right here’s the rub. The Sorrowvirus – A Faceless Quick Story will take you roughly an hour to finish, as you look to absorb one of many 4 endings. BUT, there isn’t any save all through these run-throughs, with the entire thing designed to be performed in a single sitting. I can see why this has been actioned, however, actually, it’s annoying and may put some individuals off utterly. Fortunately, it’s right here the place Xbox Collection’ fast resume performance comes into its personal. 

You play the sport within the first particular person, capable of stroll round this amazing-looking enjoying area. You possibly can work together with gadgets and seize key gadgets on your stock; doorways, levers, and so forth can all be operated. However it’s extra about transferring ahead by means of the sport and exploring every space. There are clocks that you must use as checkpoints in your manner too, because the character must be rooted to time or he’ll lose his thoughts. 

Relating to the puzzles in The Sorrowvirus they usually aren’t very sophisticated in any respect, however that doesn’t imply some aren’t very properly designed. You typically should learn all of the paperwork to get clues to padlocks, or simply study your environment totally. After the primary ending, while you return it is possible for you to to do belongings you haven’t performed earlier than and the environments will change in accordance with what has simply occurred; that is fairly intelligent. It additionally provides an excellent motive for returning and making an attempt to progress the story additional. 

Visually the sport seems to be nice with its use of Unreal Engine 4. It reminds of Bioshock with reference to its artwork type, and at different instances to We Blissful Few. It’s definitely vibrant, uncommon, and thought-provoking all through. The lighting, ambiance, and a spotlight to element are excellent and the doll’s design is beautiful; nice work and a pleasure to discover the world. 

The music and soundtrack are extremely atmospheric as properly, while the important thing storyteller importantly paints this universe properly. There may be some sensible work happening from the actors concerned within the voice overs; that and the textual content bringing the entire thing to life. 

Despite the fact that you’ll solely spend a brief period of time with The Sorrowvirus – A Faceless Quick Story, it’s one that you simply’ll get pleasure from. It combines an intriguing narrative with a tremendous world that you simply’ll wish to spend a while in. I’m not wholly satisfied concerning the resolution to not have the ability to save after every playthrough, since you take the selection away from the participant to dip out and in; I actually don’t suppose it advantages the gameplay in any manner. That is, nevertheless, a recreation that deserves a number of playthroughs and gathering up all endings is a should.

So come and provides The Sorrowvirus a go and assist poor Wyatt escape the purgatory hell he’s dwelling in. 

The Sorrowvirus – A Faceless Quick Story is on the Xbox Retailer