EMPTY SHELL: More Than Meets the Eye
A fresh take on survival horror with a roguelite twist, EMPTY SHELL offers an atmospheric journey that’s as tense as it is taxing.
last updated Jan 18, 2024
It's a ride that manages to be as rewarding as it is ruthless, provided you're the type who scoffs at the very idea of an 'easy mode'.
Thrills, Chills, and Kills
At its core, EMPTY SHELL is a hard-as-nails roguelite that unapologetically grabs you by the collar and throws you into its grim industrial underworld. The beauty of this beast lies in its riveting gameplay loop, akin to Teleglitch but with a clear design evolution. Not for the faint of heart, this top-down terror demands swift decision-making and unerring execution just to survive the initial levels. Once you start getting the hang of it, the game's inner janitor kicks in - one wrong move and you're cleaning up your own spare parts off the floor. The punishing difficulty scales well, ensuring that the learning curve feels like a mountain worth climbing, but only for those who relish a challenge.
A Symphony of Screams
When delving into the soundscapes of EMPTY SHELL, you quickly find yourself immersed in an auditory experience that meticulously complements the gameplay. High marks for sound design here, as every echo thrums with a sense of imminent dread. It’s the stuff of nightmares – but in a good way. The industrial clangs, eerie silences pierced by mutant screeches, and mechanical hums all serve to ratchet up the tension until it's a tangible presence in the room. Beware the heart-stopping roars of unseen adversaries; when the sound of something big and nasty comes from ‘somewhere in the dark’, it's likely a cue to reconsider your life choices.
Visually Distressed
Graphically, EMPTY SHELL paints its world in shades of industrial gray with splatters of crimson to add a vibrant touch to the decay. The stylized, pixelated art can be polarizing—some feel it’s an atmospheric boon, while for others, it's an eyesore that makes the frenetic action hard to track. Despite these divisive art choices, the game runs smoother than a greased-up Xenomorph on a slip 'n' slide, minus the occasional hiccup when there are enough creatures on-screen to start a monster conga line. However, this is a roguelite that knows it’s not about how high-res your nightmare is, but how deeply it can burrow into your psyche.
The Devil's in the Debugging
A point of frustration does crop up when discussing the more technical aspects of EMPTY SHELL. Reports of bugs and die-hard enemies that defy the laws of physics and game design by phasing through solid objects make one ponder whether these mutants acquired ghost-like abilities. Collisions can feel as accurate as using a potato to conduct surgery, and controls sometimes carry a slippery momentum that suggests everything is coated in ectoplasm. While these issues aren't deal-breakers, they can yank you right out of the immersion faster than a rage quit after a cheap death.
STEAM RATING
Developer
CC ARTS
Publisher
Hyperstrange
Release Date
October 16, 2023
Verdict and Summary
EMPTY SHELL is a rogue beast that delights in mangling unwary gamers with its punishing difficulty and ghostly physics. It's a well-crafted homage to Teleglitch that brings its own refined madness to the table. With a sound design that breathes life —or rather death— into its hostile environment and simplistic, yet divisive visuals, it's sure to etch itself onto your brain. The technical quirks can irk, but they're forgivable at a glance. If the thought of dancing on the edge of a digital katana appeals to you, and you've got the grit to face the industrial darkness, then EMPTY SHELL is worth the dive. It's a ride that manages to be as rewarding as it is ruthless, provided you're the type who scoffs at the very idea of an 'easy mode'.