The character models and animations are where this game slips up the most. The music is decent though and that’s one element that really shines here, with discordant violins and creepy piano numbers depending on what you’re doing. The voice acting is a bit of a mixed bag at times though, with some lines feeling forced and over-acted while other times nailing the feel perfectly. The visuals lend themselves nicely to the audio too which remains atmospheric, unsettling and creepy throughout. Each locale is pretty detailed, with numerous items dotted around that you can pick up and throw. Visually, the landscapes themselves look good and there’s a distinct muted colour palette to a lot of the areas that gives off a grim, murky design for the town. Those Who Remain is a title that gets better the more you play and if you can get past some of the initial jankiness then for the price this is certainly worth a play. The final couple of hours are easily the highlight of the entire experience as the puzzles, horror and story all combine in satisfying fashion to actually provide some clarity about what’s happening rather than feeling like random elements thrown together. As the game progresses, you find yourself haunted by the spectral presence of a girl called Annika who warns you that “Mother” is coming. Don’t expect an open world here though, this narrative-driven adventure breaks up its areas with loading screens that teleport you to a different section where you complete the same gameplay cycle (more on that later) anew. That journey begins out on the road, with an abandoned house and farm area, before progressing through to Dormont itself. Alone and stalked by strange spectral beings that prey in the dark, you begin to explore Dormont and piece together what happened to its residents and just why these shadows seem to be stalking you. The story itself sees you take on the role of Edward, who arrives in the sleepy town of Dormont and quickly learns all is not what it seems. If you can get past the opening hour as the mechanics are thrust on you seemingly at random, this Indie opens up in the best possible way, bringing with it some genuine scares, intriguing and challenging puzzles and a world-hopping journey that makes a lot more sense toward the end of your 5-7 hour play-time. Feeling like a combination of Twin Peaks, Lights Out and P.T., Those Who Remain is a game that requires some patience to get to the good stuff. Early on, the game feels rough around the edges and you’d be forgiven for thinking a lot of the mechanics are tacked on or thrown in for the sake of producing an Indie horror flick that ticks all the usual boxes. Those Who Remain is an interesting medley of ideas, some that work very well and some that really don’t.
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