Developer: EastAsiaSoft / WatchMaker
Publisher: EastAsiaSoft
ReleaseDate: 27th April 2022
Platforms: PlayStation (cross-buy), Xbox, Switch & PC
Reviewed on: PlayStation 5
* Code provided by the publisher *
I play a lot of games for platinum trophies. Most of them are very forgettable. 2D platformers, endless runners, games where you simply need to press X many, many times. But every so often a game comes along that is aimed at trophy hunters and also sticks with you after you finish it. That was my experience with The Sorrowvirus: A Faceless Short Story.
The game is a first-person narrative-driven adventure with puzzle elements. You play as Wyatt Heyll, a young man struck down with multiple ailments from an early age. In an attempt to help him, his parents injected him with the Sorrowvirus. Essentially this prevents Wyatt from dying, leaving him in a state of purgatory trying to heal. While his parents feel like this is what’s best for their son, our protagonist just wants the suffering to end.
So you spend the majority of your journey trying to escape and set your mind and body free. The game provides an excellent atmosphere, with creepy noises and visual cues aplenty. I really appreciated how the developers didn’t go for the easy jump scares, instead leaning into a more psychological form of horror. There is no real combat to speak of, but if you aren’t careful there are certain points where you can die.
I found the puzzles to be pretty intuitive and I didn’t require a guide at any point. Whether it be lighting candles in the correct order or collecting dolls to open up the next corridor, everything felt fairly self-explanatory. At times the game gave an illusion of options for where to go next, but overall it was a mostly linear experience.
The graphics, while nothing to write home about, were pretty impressive coming from a small team. They certainly weren’t pushing the power of the PS5 by any means, but the art style definitely had a charm to it and it helped convey the sense of despair Wyatt was feeling. The audio design was definitely a notch above though. Classic horror creaks, cries and groans could be heard throughout and it really did a great job of adding to the world.
While the game is short and can be completed in around half an hour, there are multiple endings and if indeed you are looking for a platinum trophy or 1000G then four playthroughs are required. Certain things need to be done in each of your runs, so if you are planning on scooping up all those digital rewards then I would highly recommend using a guide. As usual iBadDriveri has you covered on that front.
In closing, The Sorrowvirus: A Faceless Short Story is a game I am glad I checked out. I went in not knowing what to expect and came out with a story that stuck with me long after I rolled the credits all four times. It’s not without its shortcomings, but this is a great example of what a small team can accomplish on a limited budget.
-Craig ✌️
