Carrion
I’m going to be completely upfront - this has been one of my favourite games I’ve played in this series. I can’t even tell you why, exactly. It might be because of the unabashedly gore of it. It might be because it never stopped for a breath. It might just be the novelty of playing as a crazed octopus that is Quite Done. Regardless, Carrion was tons of fun, and here are more words than necessary on why.
This bit started with me saying “let’s sneak up on her.”
Carrion follows the adventures of Spider Monster (note: this is not the character’s actual name) in its quest to escape monster prison, in which it was unjustly imprisoned for no reason at all. Spider Monster journeys through monster prison, eating guards, sneaking through obstacles, solving puzzles, and gaining new powers and abilities. Spider Monster smashes its way through prison, knowing that at the end, it will find the sweet release of the great Outside.
Spider Monster is very subtle
As I mentioned in the outset, this game is a ton of fun, but it’s well worth understanding why. As the game clips show, the level design and overall look of the game do an excellent job with what they’re trying to convey. The entire game has a dirty feel to it, and very much evokes old horror platformers in exactly the nostalgic way the player wants it to. I joked throughout my playthrough that I was eating protagonists, and it’s very much a testament to how well the game captures its genre’s oeuvre. Carrion is a delightful inversion on its genre, and I love it for it.
Problem solving!
Unlike others in its genre, though, Carrion doesn’t have collectibles or anything that might distract Spider Monster from its one true mission. Because of it, it’s surprisingly easy to identify with a monster just trying to navigate and escape from monster prison. The player, like the monster, doesn’t have any goal but escape, and so the game feels like it doesn’t stop. There’s also a new avenue to try, always a new ability to test, and always that sense that escape is just one door away.
The combination of Carrion being a fantastic example of and subversion of its genre make it an absolute treat to play. Even for those who don’t usually play this style of game, the novelty of getting to play as a very angry octopus is good fun, and the game’s design and gameplay complement it perfectly.
Developer: Phobia Game Studio
Genre: Horror, Action
Year: 2020
Country: Poland
Language: English
Play Time: 4 Hours