{"id":1790,"date":"2023-01-23T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-23T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gatecitygaming.com\/?p=1790"},"modified":"2023-01-22T21:27:03","modified_gmt":"2023-01-22T21:27:03","slug":"scorn-review-torn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gatecitygaming.com\/index.php\/2023\/01\/23\/scorn-review-torn\/","title":{"rendered":"Scorn Review – Torn"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I can\u2019t think of anything more awkward than being a reviewer unsure about a game.\u00a0 What use do you serve by preaching on a metaphorical fence?\u00a0 Nothing, you might as well be a crazed lunatic screaming into the void about how the video game industry is marching to its own demise.\u00a0 What title has sent this old doomsayer into a destructive spiral about his own purpose, you ask?\u00a0 Scorn<\/em>.\u00a0 The more I reflect on Scorn the more I personally like it, but it also becomes harder to recommend.\u00a0 So I will stand atop my soapbox and break down my thoughts on this divisive title.\u00a0 Hopefully, I will regain my purpose and find the right audience for Scorn<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Now, I usually open a review with a small recap of a game\u2019s story.\u00a0 I find this helps give a lot of context to the game.\u00a0 Describing Metal Hellsinger<\/em> as a rhythm first-person shooter doesn\u2019t quite paint the same picture.\u00a0 You get more out of saying Metal Hellsinger<\/em> is about a fallen angel attempting to dethrone the devil and escape Hell.\u00a0 If we have learned anything from the MCU, it\u2019s that people are drawn to characters.\u00a0 We are sucked into the drama that comes with their flaws and quirks.\u00a0 Just look at how many people love the Doomslayer from the Doom games despite him hardly saying a word.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Unfortunately, there doesn\u2019t seem to be much story within Scorn.\u00a0 <\/em>None of the characters you play as or interact with are given names.\u00a0 No lines are spoken because most of the characters don\u2019t have working mouths.\u00a0 They all just moan and yelp as bodily harm is afflicted on them.\u00a0 Off the bat, if you prefer a traditional structure to storytelling, Scorn<\/em> might not be for you.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Sometimes, a story is more focused on the world rather than the characters within it.\u00a0 Scorn<\/em> definitely has a compelling world being an alien facility drenched in this imagery of man and machine fused together.\u00a0 Inspired by the works of H.R. Giger and Zdzis\u0142aw Beksi\u0144ski, the world of Scorn <\/em>is dark, eerie, and a little erotic at times.\u00a0 Statues and wall art depicting a biomechanical means of reproduction are littered throughout the world of Scorn<\/em>.\u00a0 Early on, I often wondered what society would create some grand monuments and then leave them to rot.\u00a0 Much like the mute characters, Scorn <\/em>doesn\u2019t seem interested in answering this question.\u00a0 Initially, I was annoyed with this, but as time has gone on, I recognize no answer could sate my curiosity, and thus focusing on the game\u2019s presentation was definitely the smarter choice.<\/p>\n\n\n

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I know what you\u2019re thinking, Doomsayer, if Scorn<\/em> is light on story, surely it makes up for it in the gameplay.\u00a0 Not quite, my followers.\u00a0 Many people have described Scorn<\/em> as an environmental puzzle game similar to Myst.\u00a0 <\/em>You wander around labyrinthine scapes looking for puzzle objects to poke and prod at.\u00a0 You will get lost in these sceneries as the constant biomechanical architecture can start to blend together over time.\u00a0 I can\u2019t decide if getting their players lost was an intentional or accidental decision.\u00a0 I found the dizzying environment worked side by side with the game\u2019s oppressive atmosphere, but players who get frustrated when lost might not appreciate this approach to level design.<\/p>\n\n\n

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When you do correctly navigate Scorn<\/em>\u2019s mazes, you will typically be greeted with a wide array of puzzles.\u00a0 Many of them include turning various dials or rotating these Rubik cubes like contraptions.\u00a0 On their own, they could be considered forgettable, but completing all these challenges will unlock more of the level opening up more of the winding networks within Scorn<\/em>.\u00a0 An early example of this is you run into a door that requires two hands to open, so you run around this labyrinth factory that awakens this malformed human trapped in an almost egg-like shell.\u00a0 Rather than free them from their prison, the machinery that you brought to life, kills the malformed human but leaves behind his arm that you can use to unlock the door.\u00a0 Grotesque and haunting.<\/p>\n\n\n

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You might be asking if puzzles are the only gameplay tool in Scorn\u2019s<\/em> toolbox.\u00a0 You might recall an old trailer for Scorn<\/em> that made the game out to be a traditional FPS survival horror experience similar to Silent Hill<\/em>.\u00a0 Unfortunately, Scorn\u2019s<\/em> combat seems more like an afterthought or an obligation to those old trailers.\u00a0 The weapons, while powerful, feel clunky to shoot and reload.\u00a0 If an enemy ambushes you, your best plan of action is to hope the last checkpoint was close by. A lot of the enemies have attack patterns that are hard to read, and frankly, you are better off trying to outrun enemies than standing your ground.\u00a0 It\u2019s not just the enemies you have to contend with; occasionally your weapon will just help itself to some of your health.\u00a0 You are certainly not coming to Scorn<\/em> for its combat.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Some of you might not be surprised by Scorn\u2019s<\/em> frustrating combat as many survival horror games don\u2019t strive for heart-pounding action.\u00a0 Many might be disappointed in this if they were hoping for something closely resembling the initial trailers.\u00a0 I definitely believe consumers should be able to experience a game however they see fit, but I also think a game should hold true to a creator\u2019s vision.\u00a0 The developers of Scorn<\/em> didn\u2019t want to focus on combat and I respect that.\u00a0 If you wanted a more in-depth combat system, then I don\u2019t think Scorn<\/em> is for you.<\/p>\n\n\n

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There is one boss fight within Scorn<\/em>, and I honestly think it is well-designed.\u00a0 I know many reviews group them together with the awful combat, but I think they buck most of the Scorn<\/em> combat trends.\u00a0 The boss mainly attacks with a grenade launcher that you can easily strafe or hide behind cover to avoid.\u00a0 The boss\u2019s weak point becomes exposed when he tries to reload encouraging you to press your advantage.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think this boss will change anyone\u2019s mind on Scorn<\/em>, but he could serve as a building block for a better first-person shooter if the devs choose to make one.<\/p>\n\n\n

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If there is anything that is going to sell you on Scorn<\/em> it has to be the atmosphere.\u00a0 This isn\u2019t your typical wandering in the fog hoping not to stumble into an enemy.\u00a0 There are no jump scares in Scorn<\/em>.\u00a0 Just the oppressive feeling of isolation.\u00a0 The atmosphere here is more like looking at abandoned malls or buildings.\u00a0 To see an area that was teaming with life left to rot always makes me shudder.\u00a0 To see it happen in an alien setting such as Scorn<\/em> is something my mind cannot shake.\u00a0 Scorn<\/em> might be for you if this a horror you can get behind.<\/p>\n\n\n

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If anything I have mentioned has piqued your interest, there is one more thing I should mention before you rush to download Scorn<\/em>: the price.\u00a0 I think it is clear that this is occupying the niche of gaming that I enjoy, but I cannot recommend this game at forty dollars.\u00a0 That is asking for too much even for me.\u00a0 Even marked down to twenty-six dollars feels a bit steep for me.\u00a0 I don\u2019t normally talk about game prices, but I can\u2019t help but feel like most people will have buyer\u2019s remorse if they buy Scorn<\/em>.\u00a0 If you want to play Scorn<\/em>, please get an Xbox Gamepass and play it there.\u00a0 I know I have praised Gamepass so much that many might think I am sponsored by them, but it is quite the contrary.\u00a0 As I have gotten older, my appreciation for these smaller niche titles has grown.\u00a0 Maybe I am evolving into an art snob, but I truly believe titles like Scorn<\/em> have their best chance on Gamepass.\u00a0 It\u2019s much easier to sell someone on an unusual title when they are also getting Microsoft\u2019s AAA titles included in this incredible deal.\u00a0 I know Microsoft will alter this deal eventually, but for now, I still believe it is the best way to get access to these riskier games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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At this point, I don\u2019t think I am on the fence about Scorn<\/em>.  It is probably clear that I am into it, but I also acknowledge I am into strange art house-styled games.  Some might not be and I think I outlined what to expect from this title.  Times like this I think about a quote from the Gamer Maker\u2019s Toolkit by Mark Brown:    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cInstead of making a game that you hope many people will like – it\u2019s sometimes better to create a game that you know a few people will love.\u201d
Scorn<\/em> is definitely not a game designed for everyone to like.\u00a0 It is strange, obtuse, and a little harrowing.\u00a0 However, it has sat with me since I last played it, and slowly I have come to realize I might be one of the few who love it.\u00a0 Maybe you will too.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Game Maker’s Toolkit’s The Design of Dead Space – Part 3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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I can\u2019t think of anything more awkward than being a reviewer unsure about a game.\u00a0 What use do you serve by preaching on a metaphorical fence?\u00a0 Nothing, you might as well be a crazed lunatic screaming into the void about how the video game industry is marching to its own demise.\u00a0 What title has sent… Continue reading Scorn Review – Torn<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1791,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1790","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-game-reviews","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gatecitygaming.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1790","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gatecitygaming.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gatecitygaming.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gatecitygaming.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gatecitygaming.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1790"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.gatecitygaming.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1790\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1805,"href":"https:\/\/www.gatecitygaming.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1790\/revisions\/1805"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gatecitygaming.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1791"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gatecitygaming.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1790"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gatecitygaming.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1790"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gatecitygaming.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1790"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}