As I creep through the ominously quiet hallway, unaware of what lies ahead thanks to the fixed camera angles, I’m grateful for the lighter my character has in her hand as it battles to illuminate the darkness. That is until a piercing, clanking sound ungraciously tells me I’m not alone. I fumble to unequip my only source of light in order to grasp my crowbar, my trusty melee weapon. Within a heartbeat I’m set upon by a wheelchair-bound enemy, swinging enormous claws with merciless glee. This is Tormented Souls.
A love letter to classic survival horror games, chiefly early Resident Evil and Silent Hill, Tormented Souls released for PC, Playstation and Xbox last year to mostly positive reactions. Previously playing on Steam, I was enchanted by its retro feel, but how does it run on the Nintendo Switch?
Watch the trailer for Tormented Souls here:
To put it simply, Tormented Souls on Switch is mildly inferior to the PC version, in terms of both loading times and visual fidelity. The waiting time when entering a new room through a door is noticeably longer on the Nintendo console, and some cutscenes have severely pixelated images. Add to that a handful of framerate drops and jankier movement during gameplay (the PC version also feels clunky but less so than on Switch), and it’s clear this port is the lesser sibling.
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That being said, these technical issues didn’t really hamper my enjoyment of the game. This is mainly because Tormented Souls feels like a game from 20+ years ago in many ways, with its set camera, point and click elements and stiff inventory system. As a result, the issues I encountered almost suit the game’s MO. I’ve also been playing the game almost exclusively in handheld mode, so that convenience makes up for some snags.
In terms of story, you play as Caroline Walker. Poor Caz wakes up in a bathtub with a huge tube down her mouth and an eye missing. Not an ideal scenario, I’m sure you’ll agree, but Tormented Souls has a mystery for us to solve so there’s no time to dwell on who stole whose organ. Things only get more disturbing as you play on, so take this as your warning because Tormented Souls goes to some places, let me tell you.
If you’re a fan of unsettling retro games, you’re in for a treat. While it is clearly aimed at fans of late ‘90s / early ‘00s survival horror titles, Tormented Souls’ excellent use of atmosphere and puzzles makes for an essential horror game on any modern platform.
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Tormented Souls was tested with code provided by the publisher. The game is out now for PC, Playstation and Xbox, and comes to Nintendo Switch April 14, 2022.
Featured Image Credit: PQubeTopics: Nintendo Switch