At this level, slasher horror video games are type of an outdated hat, having by no means completely reached escape trajectory from the indie sphere. 2022’s Keep Out of the Home looks as if the fruits of the requirements, and we’re in want of innovation earlier than falling again into the distressing consolation of summary, existential horror.

Cannibal Abduction is just not that innovation. It is vitally a lot submerged within the conventions of the slasher horror style. However even having stated that, it’s an pleasing, bite-sized sampling of what the style presents.

Cannibal Abduction (Swap [reviewed], Xbox One, Xbox Collection X|S, PS4, PS5, PC)
Developer: Tomás Esconjaureguy
Writer: Torture Star Video
Launched: February 8, 2024
MSRP: $11.99

The console launch of Cannibal Abduction is definitely a compilation of Tomás Esconjaureguy’s two releases: 2022’s Night time of the Scissors and 2023’s Cannibal Abduction. Since Night time of the Scissors was launched first, I’m going to start out with that, even when it’s not the function presentation right here.

Night time of the Scissors has you play as Adam, who, with an confederate, breaks into an deserted submit workplace to rob its valuables. Stamps, I’m guessing. Nonetheless – and also you might be able to guess this – Adam’s exit will get lower off, and he finds himself attempting to flee whereas a scissor-wielding maniac tries to chop him into paper dolls.

And never like Clock Tower’s ginormous set of sheers, both. This man simply has the kitchen scissors. The sort you chop open a bag of milk with. My lawyer was unable to persuade the jury that these can’t be used as a weapon, so it’s definitely a believable homicide implement, if possibly a bit sub-optimal.

Night time of the Scissors is a lo-fi, PS1-style recreation with fastened digital camera angles. You possibly can swap it to full rotational third individual, which I did as a result of it gave me higher directional consciousness. Nonetheless, I discovered I couldn’t maintain the run button and transfer the digital camera on the identical time, so it wasn’t excellent. I needed to examine, however the run button isn’t alternatively certain to a ought to button or a thumbstick press. That is likely to be by design because you’re sometimes imagined to panic and scramble when a killer sees you in these video games.

Night time of the Scissors may be very quick at underneath an hour. There isn’t a complete lot of puzzle-solving, and a few rooms don’t have a lot perform. It’s not unhealthy, however it’s type of tough. It’s good that the slasher isn’t always circling you want a vulture, leaving some quiet moments. You possibly can inform they’re getting near you whenever you hear “snip snip, snip snip,” slicing by way of the silence. Get it?

Cannibal Abduction is simply barely extra formidable however way more polished. On this one, you play as Henry, who will get picked up by a one-armed hillbilly after his automotive breaks down. The stranger presents to repair his automotive if Henry, in flip, will repair his spouse’s wardrobe, and it’s completely hilarious that nothing smells off about this alternate to Henry. Clearly, Henry discovers that his furnishings restore job is nothing greater than a ruse, and he’s locked in the home with a roaming killer.

Predictably, this stays extra centered on a puzzle-solving escape from the home whereas underneath duress. The mysteries largely contain discovering a key to open a lock, however typically, the lock is a canine, and the bottom line is meals. It’s quite boilerplate.

That’s not a praise, however I’ll soften that by saying it’s a really stable boilerplate. The truth that the killer isn’t always current and typically can’t even be heard preserves the stress, by no means shedding momentum alongside the best way. It truly makes for a snug expertise, which can sound counter to the horror style, however I couldn’t cease interested by how nice Cannibal Abduction felt.

Most of those lo-fi indie horror video games have tough edges. Even the perfect of them. And a number of the worst have edges so tough they’ll lacerate you. So, to search out one the place it’s simply easy and stable feels type of good. I really feel sensible and horrified with out all the added frustrations of one thing too obtuse, and that’s a very good feeling.

If it fumbles wherever, it’s with the final puzzle. It’s barely cryptic. The hints are there, however if you happen to overlook them, you would possibly wander round looking for a method ahead. Additionally, the fastened digital camera angles are again, and there isn’t another. I had higher directional consciousness in the home than I did within the submit workplace, however at one level, I missed a very apparent door due to it. Nonetheless, I once more stress that the digital camera system is quite vital to the horror feeling.

Cannibal Abduction additionally makes use of a VHS impact, so there’s visible noise on the display screen always. Normally, there’s an choice to show this off that I by no means use, however there isn’t right here. Nonetheless, the noise is used to point that the killer is close by, so turning it off could be an obstacle. I just like the VHS impact, although, so it didn’t hassle me.

To circle again, Cannibal Abduction doesn’t actually do something stunning or revolutionary. It’s one other indie horror recreation with lo-fi PS1 visuals the place you’re caught in a home with a killer. It’s terrain worn naked. And when it comes to house-dwelling horror, Keep Out of the Home kicked the ball down the sector.

Nonetheless, Cannibal Abduction is stable for what it’s. It’s to the purpose the place I would suggest it to any newcomers. If you wish to introduce somebody to slasher horror video games, it’s a snug entry level that may not instantly scare them away. For any longtime followers of the indie scene, nonetheless, it would really feel a bit too acquainted. Nonetheless, it’s nonetheless an pleasing morsel that, on the very least, justifies its price ticket.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}