Frightence
Developed/Published by Playstige Interactive
Released for Xbox One (3/8/2022)
Also on PC/PS4/PS5/Switch
Enhanced for Xbox Series
Intro
I've always enjoyed a good horror movie or game, but over several decades of indulging in the genre I've found that you often have to encounter several poor products in order to find some of the overlooked gems. Frightence comes to us from Playstige Interactive, a developer that we've never played anything from yet. They're a mysterious group that have mostly released games for the Playstation and Switch platforms, but in 2022 they expanded their horizons and started releasing games on the Xbox, with Frightence being their 1st game on the platform. The game promises a short but intense first-person experience, so let's dig in and see if it can live up to its self-proclaimed intensity.
Story/Concept
In Frightence, you play as a janitor that is who works at an infamously nasty apartment. This is your last night working here as the building has been given an eviction notice. Your task is to search every resident's flat in order to make sure the building is empty. This is actually a good premise for a horror game and had me hoping for something along the lines of Condemned, but unfortunately this game can't even touch that classic but it was also produced by a small team with a fraction of the budget so we'll try to cut it some slack (and to be fair few games match up to Condemned's superb atmosphere). So Frightence has a solid premise, let's check out the rest of the package to see how it pulls it off...
Graphics/Presenation
Frightence has some impressive graphics for a budget-priced title. There's lots of detail packed into the environment and there is a decently creepy environment to explore. The nice looking visuals come at a price and you'll notice the framerate tends to bounce around as traverse the apartments. Even playing the game on a Series X, the unstable framerate issue is still present and detracts from the experience quite a bit. In my opinion, the developer would have better off shooting for a steady 30 FPS rather than one that bounces up and down like a heart-rate monitor. Overall, the presentation needed some polish but it is acceptable and while the framerate is unsteady the game is still playable.
Controls/Gameplay
One of the biggest issues with Frightence comes in the gameplay department. This is one of those walking simulator games that tries to extend the length of the game by making your character walk like they've got to drop a deuce pronto. On top of walking slow, the gameplay in general just isn't that engaging and this is coming from somebody who typically enjoys walking simulators. The gameplay consists of walking up some stairs to either the 1st or 2nd floor, exploring until you can find out which room you can access where you'll earn some achievements for walking past something or picking something up. You'll explore a few rooms, watch a brief cuscene, then rinse and repeat a few times until it's all over.
The game only lasts about 30-45 minutes and you'll earn every achievement along the way, leaving little incentive to revisit this title which will inevitably leave few lasting memories since the experience is over so quickly and so little happens in that brief period of time. The story is confusing and you only get little tidbits here and there, with the game promising a continuation at the end. While the controls work fine since you're only walking and opening doors, the lame gameplay is what ultimately makes this game an easy miss.
Closing
Frightence claims to be a short but intense horror experience. It succeeds at being short, clocking in at around 30-45 minutes total to play through to the finish, but it misses the mark when it comes to being intense or scary. The only "threat" in the game are children wearing masks that look like they came from the Purge and I'm not sure if there's anybody out there that will find this spooky (unless you're 5 years old or younger maybe). The visuals are decent but are hampered by an erratic framerate, even when playing on the Series X. There is some creepiness in the atmosphere but the game struggles to put much in that environment to actually frighten the player. Even at the budget price, this one's tough to recommend unless you just want to some quick & easy gamerscore. Those looking for a genuine horror experience would be better off saving that money towards something like Condemned: Criminal Origins or Layers of Fear.
Pro/Cons Breakdown
+Decent atmosphere, at times somewhat creepy
+Decent visuals
-Iffy framerate even on Series X
-Character walks way too slow
-Monotonous gameplay and convoluted story
Final Verdict: Frightence aims to be a short, intense horror game but misses the mark at being scary. Featuring some decent visuals and atmosphere as you search an apartment complex facing eviction, the game's solid premise is hurt by a confusing and forgettable story, erratic framerate, short length and non-threatening enemy encounters. This one is an easy miss unless you just want some quick & easy gamerscore.
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