Signalis Review

Initial release date: October 27, 2022

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows

Developers: rose-engine, Rose-engine games

Engine: Unity

Publishers: Humble Bundle, Playism, Humble Games

Genres: Puzzle, Survival horror, Indie game, Adventure game, Shooter game

Mode: Single-player video game

"Review Copy Provided By Humble Games"

Signalis is an indie horror game developed by a two-person team, rose-engine. The game features unsettling moments as players explore the dimly lit halls of a former labor camp infested with undead horrors. The game has a similar aesthetic and gameplay to PlayStation 1 horror games such as Resident Evil, with a focus on puzzles and claustrophobic exploration. However, it also includes unique elements that make it a standout horror experience and one of the best games of 2022. Players take on the role of Elster, an android searching for her missing partner after a crash landing on a frozen planet. As she descends through the floors of an abandoned underground facility, she must confront undead monsters and solve puzzles to find answers. Signalis emphasizes the key elements of PS1 horror such as item scarcity, exploration and puzzles.

In Signalis, players take on the role of Elster, an android who is limited to carrying only six items at a time, creating a sense of pressure to balance inventory effectively. This means players must carefully choose which items to keep, such as weapons, ammunition, healing items, and puzzle materials. As a result, players may have to make difficult decisions such as sacrificing ammunition to pick up a keycard needed to progress. This adds an extra layer of tension and strategy to the gameplay. Additionally, in the game enemies can be defeated, but will come back unless they are burnt to a crisp with a flare. This further adds to the sense of danger and uncertainty as players navigate the infested hallways.

Signalis introduces a unique element to the gameplay through the use of a radio that can be turned on at any time to discover hidden information on different channels. This information can include codes to open safes or special frequencies to combat certain types of enemies. However, the information is not permanent, which means players must keep physical notes and pay attention to details, or they may have to backtrack to find a forgotten code. This adds a tactile aspect to the game and makes the puzzle and exploration elements more engaging.

Another feature that improves the player experience is the map, which fills out as you explore the facility and automatically marks puzzle locations and which doors can be unlocked with the right key. This is helpful as a reference but doesn't alleviate the sense of dread that the game instills as players traverse the hallways.

In the world of Signalis, everything serves a greater purpose. The protagonist, Elster, and the other characters (both alive and dead) are Replikas, androids created by an authoritarian government for the purpose of exploitation. Each Replika is designed with certain limitations to suit their intended purpose. This is reflected in the game's inventory limit, as Elster, as a soldier Replika, is programmed to travel light to conserve resources, which are considered more valuable than a replaceable android by her superiors.

The facility in the game was once a prosperous labor camp, but it was hit by a mysterious plague that drove the Replika residents mad and turned most of them into undead creatures that try to destroy the player. The rare "sane" person that the player encounters is equally dangerous and can be even more unpredictable. Elster herself experiences a series of unexplained visions of a girl with white hair and an island, adding to the game's mysterious and eerie atmosphere.

Signalis presents a horror story in which an authoritarian government exploits its citizens, treating them as disposable products. The society values only the contribution of its workers to the cause, making the individual insignificant and terrifying. Those who are exploited by the system cannot envision a life outside of it. One of the characters, a Replika, expresses a desire to contract the same infection as her peers so she can be reunited with them. In this dystopian, late-stage capitalist society, death is the only way for a Replika to feel a sense of connection and intimacy. The ending of Signalis leaves players with many unresolved questions and a sense of surrealism. It encourages players to reflect on the events of the game and their impact on them. After completing the game in six hours, the player may feel compelled to start again in an effort to uncover more answers. However, when they start the game again, it will be different and changed from their first playthrough.

One of the greatest aspects of Signalis is that it continues to offer new elements even after the "ending" has been reached. Players who continue to play will encounter new areas, stories, and weapons. Some of the most interesting and memorable moments in the game happen after the credits roll. This is not meant to be a punishment for those who stop after the first playthrough, but rather a reward for those who find something special in Signalis. It offers an opportunity for those who enjoyed the game to delve deeper and discover even more. The game is a fantastic recreation of classic survival horror, it excels in the way it updates the genre both mechanically and narratively for modern audiences. The developer, rose-engine, has done an excellent job in creating a game that stands out as the best horror games of 2022.