Conscript

Genre: Top-Down Action-RPG

Players: 1

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Review:

Conscript, released in 2024 on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, is a Top-Down Action-RPG set in the trenches of World War I. This is a game that many have compared to classic Survival Horror games like the early Resident Evil games, as it borrows multiple game mechanics of those games and has an overall tense atmosphere, though I would hesitate to categorize Conscript itself as Horror, unless we stretch the definition of the genre to include the horrors of war.

At the same time, I can’t really criticize those who do see this as a Horror game, as Conscript is absolutely drenched in atmosphere, with a moody soundtrack underscoring the dread of being on the frontlines of a grueling battle, screams and explosions often surrounding you, and plenty of corpses and horrific scenes of men being cut down by gunfire and explosions, as well as those left wounded and crawling with missing limbs. This is not a game for those with a weak stomach.

Having said that, there is surprising beauty in this game’s visuals. The detailed 2D pixel art graphics feature absolutely gorgeous, fluid animation, as well as some of the best-looking explosions I’ve ever seen in a videogame. Add to this occasional brief cutscenes that seem pre-rendered and then digitized to match the look of the rest of the game, and you have a game that absolutely looks incredible.

As for the gameplay itself, Conscript might not quite be a Horror game, but as I noted earlier, it has many of the hallmarks of classic Survival Horror games. You’ll be looking around a somewhat labyrinthine map, scrounging for supplies while also being mindful of a limited inventory space, and this game even has players dealing with their ability to save being tied to a limited supply, much like the classic Resident Evil typewriter ribbon mechanic (thankfully optional here).

One other element that seems to have been carried over from classic Survival Horror is clunky combat. Players must take a second or so to ready their weapon before they can use it effectively, or it will do an underwhelming amount of damage. This is true even when using melee attacks, which honestly seems a bit odd to me. For everything else here, the awkward combat at least makes sense, as weapons of the era simply didn’t have the ease of use that we see in more modern weapons.

Another element that’s justified but irritating are the samey environments, with the trenches and dark and claustrophobic interior areas looking pretty repetitive. Again, this seems to be a reflection of the reality of the real-life environments that inspired this game, but it can definitely make it easy to get lost, and the map isn’t always as helpful as I’d like.

Overall, Conscript does a great job putting the player into the horrors of World War I trench warfare, and the excellent presentation and tense atmosphere here are absolutely magnificent. The only real issue are the gameplay elements this game borrows from classic Survival Horror, which I can’t even really be too upset over, as I have to admit they do fit the time period, setting, and tone of the game, even if they also make the gameplay somewhat frustrating and awkward. As long as you have the patience for these irritating gameplay elements, I think you’ll find Conscript to be well worth playing.

tl;dr – Conscript is a Top-Down Action-RPG set in the trenches of World War I, and to depict the tension and horrors of war this game borrows a lot of gameplay elements from classic Survival Horror games, which combines with the outstanding presentation to great effect here. At the same time, those same Survival Horror elements can be tedious and frustrating, so this won’t be a game for everyone.

Grade: B

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This game has been nominated for one or more of eShopperReviews 2024 Game Awards:

Runner-Up: Best Sound Design

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