This will be a 'shorter' review than usual. This is because I'm reviewing Song of Horror, an episodic horror game by Protocol Studios!! Starting with of course, Episode 1: The Husher Mansion. With such a long development phase, I was taken aback when it finally came out last Halloween.. The biggest surprise release of the year, especially in the horror genre.



The Gist:
Acclaimed writer Sebastian P. Husher, and client of Wake Publishing goes radio silence and so Daniel, as an assistant gets ordered to investigate the mansion where he resides with his family. The door is open but there is nobody... at least there shouldn't be.

! Listen until the end, nothing bad will happen!



(a) Instant Classic
The first few minutes alone will have you scratching your head because of how much it REminds you of a certain horror game or rather games from the golden age of gaming era. A mixture of fixed-camera angles and dark, claustrophobic areas. It feels like an old game with modern presentation. The story is like your typical cursed object dealie but have fun knowing what it does or is capable of~

This is mirrored in its gameplay as well. With its myriad of puzzles to occupy and wreck your mind. There is no singular threat because the main antagonist (the music box/Presence) will conjure up unimaginable threats after you. Ones you cannot really kill but can only hide and fend off temporarily. Prior to starting out, you can choose one of four characters with varying attributes e.g. speed, strength. Whoever you choose affects his/her survival chances, description of items checked, reactions and voice-acting. It's just shows an incredible attention to detail and I found it incredibly neat!!

(b) You Just Have to be There
The atmosphere is the game's vital and powerful aspect. As you do not really see the Presence in its true form, you can detect traces of its malevolence in the environment through unnerving groans and sounds. There are many minor (jump)scares littered throughout; unpredictable but just often enough to speed up those heartbeats.

The sound design probably accounts for half of the game's magnetic yet repulsive tone. They will make you take a second to reflect whether you should proceed into god knows what or turn back altogether! Often times the visuals and audio will gang up on you by throwing you into one of their concocted panic-inducing situations that fire up your senses and only grow to intensify. During which, your primal instincts will kick in- telling you something is coming, and it's coming fast!

(c) Up Goes The Body Count
If you don't pay attention, you will die in one of various creative ways. From failing to succumb to the OCD-ridden pressing of the ears against doors to reveal the Presence lurking behind or other seemingly mundane situations where you are presented with a choice which unknowingly could hasten your doom.

It could be a missing scaffolding at the wrong place or an obvious danger zone (darkness and banging of the door), but you open it anyways. I found it best to doubt yourself and inspect every area of the house before making a decision. However, take too long or make too much noise (running) and the Presence will envelope the house in black.


(i) Getting Caught Up
Yes, the character selection affecting the game is pretty rad and I have not seen this kind of thing since RE1, RE2. BUT! It brings up a problem I cannot overlook. Okay, so one time I made it to almost the end with Sophie... then I died (wow, cool story). Then I used Etienne, who was seemingly unfazed with all the horrors that has taken place. To top it all off, within minutes- he had to adapt to the Presence rather quickly and like a pro.

Thus, there is a progression incongruency especially if you made it really far with just one character. It's not that obvious or glaring if you perished partway in though so at least there's that. But meeting dead characters (that I didn't cause btw) is strangely amazing... they're trapped as part of the Presence now.

(ii) An Unforgiving Threat
I know this problem is sort of remedied now with the latest patch concurrent with the release of episode 5. But I'll mention it anyways because players had to live with that for months~

So, if you check the Steam discussion boards there will be a conversation about how to overcome the "heartbeat" puzzles when the Presence full on attacks with all that it has!! The sides are divided about 90% agree it's way too difficult and 10% (if they're honest) are just dumbfounded as to why because it's so easy. Guess which one I was. I've died many times, 95% was because of this minigame where ironically you had to stay calm. XD



To sum up, Episode 1 signifies a remarkably strong debut to Song of Horror. It certainly kept me interested and on the edge of my seat. Hopefully it builds up to the crescendo it deserves or would it slack off in its performance- the longer the music plays up to the point where you want to stuff whatever you can find to block out the noise!!?


Might finally beat Episode 2- That is, if I switch to an easier difficulty.... But my ego. :'(

[code][url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/37670120/]Curator page right here --> DaRevieweD #23[/url] <-- New review every Sunday[/code] This will be a 'shorter' review than usual. This is because I'm reviewing Song of Horror, an episodic horror game by Protocol Studios!! Starting with of course, [b]Episode 1: The Husher Mansion[/b]. With such a long development phase, I was taken aback when it finally came out last Halloween.. The biggest surprise release of the year, especially in the horror genre. [h1]"First Listen."[/h1] [u]The Gist:[/u] Acclaimed writer Sebastian P. Husher, and client of Wake Publishing goes radio silence and so Daniel, as an assistant gets ordered to investigate the mansion where he resides with his family. The door is open but there is nobody... at least there shouldn't be. [spoiler] ! Listen until the end, nothing bad will happen! [/spoiler] [h1][+] PROS;[/h1] [b](a) Instant Classic[/b] The first few minutes alone will have you scratching your head because of how much it REminds you of a certain horror game or rather games from the golden age of gaming era. A mixture of fixed-camera angles and dark, claustrophobic areas. It feels like an old game with modern presentation. The story is like your typical cursed object dealie but have fun knowing what it does or is capable of~ This is mirrored in its gameplay as well. With its myriad of puzzles to occupy and wreck your mind. There is no singular threat because the main antagonist (the music box/Presence) will conjure up unimaginable threats after you. Ones you cannot really kill but can only hide and fend off temporarily. Prior to starting out, you can choose one of four characters with varying attributes e.g. speed, strength. Whoever you choose affects his/her survival chances, description of items checked, reactions and voice-acting. It's just shows an incredible attention to detail and I found it incredibly neat!! [b](b) You Just Have to be There[/b] The atmosphere is the game's vital and powerful aspect. As you do not really see the Presence in its true form, you can detect traces of its malevolence in the environment through unnerving groans and sounds. There are many minor (jump)scares littered throughout; unpredictable but just often enough to speed up those heartbeats. The sound design probably accounts for half of the game's magnetic yet repulsive tone. They will make you take a second to reflect whether you should proceed into god knows what or turn back altogether! Often times the visuals and audio will gang up on you by throwing you into one of their concocted panic-inducing situations that fire up your senses and only grow to intensify. During which, your primal instincts will kick in- telling you something is coming, and it's coming fast! [b](c) Up Goes The Body Count[/b] If you don't pay attention, you will die in one of various creative ways. From failing to succumb to the OCD-ridden pressing of the ears against doors to reveal the Presence lurking behind or other seemingly mundane situations where you are presented with a choice which unknowingly could hasten your doom. It could be a missing scaffolding at the wrong place or an obvious danger zone (darkness and banging of the door), but you open it anyways. I found it best to doubt yourself and inspect every area of the house before making a decision. However, take too long or make too much noise (running) and the Presence will envelope the house in black. [h1][-] CONS;[/h1] [b](i) Getting Caught Up[/b] Yes, the character selection affecting the game is pretty rad and I have not seen this kind of thing since RE1, RE2. BUT! It brings up a problem I cannot overlook. Okay, so one time I made it to almost the end with Sophie... then I died (wow, cool story). Then I used Etienne, who was seemingly unfazed with all the horrors that has taken place. To top it all off, within minutes- he had to adapt to the Presence rather quickly and like a pro. Thus, there is a progression incongruency especially if you made it really far with just one character. It's not that obvious or glaring if you perished partway in though so at least there's that. But meeting dead characters (that I didn't cause btw) is strangely amazing... they're trapped as part of the Presence now. [b](ii) An Unforgiving Threat[/b] I know this problem is sort of remedied now with the latest patch concurrent with the release of episode 5. But I'll mention it anyways because players had to live with that for months~ So, if you check the Steam discussion boards there will be a conversation about how to overcome the "heartbeat" puzzles when the Presence full on attacks with all that it has!! The sides are divided about 90% agree it's way too difficult and 10% (if they're honest) are just dumbfounded as to why because it's so easy. Guess which one I was. I've died many times, 95% was because of this minigame where ironically you had to stay calm. XD [h1]"Just A Taste..."[/h1] To sum up, Episode 1 signifies a remarkably strong debut to Song of Horror. It certainly kept me interested and on the edge of my seat. Hopefully it builds up to the crescendo it deserves or would it slack off in its performance- the longer the music plays up to the point where you want to stuff whatever you can find to block out the noise!!? [h1]9.5/10[/h1] [b]Might finally beat Episode 2- That is, if I switch to an easier difficulty.... But my ego. :'( [/b]