Scorn

For years, a mysterious first-person shooter attracted a lot of attention for its macabre presentation, and as time went on, the anticipation grew until it became one of the most anticipated titles of the year, or at least one of the most interesting looking ones.

Scorn, developed by the Serbian studio Ebb Software and published by Kepler Interactive, is a game which raises many questions; for example... Is it a horror game?  Is it a walking simulator? What’s the story about? And above all, is this nightmarish world worth exploring and getting to know?

Undoubtedly, the best and most striking thing about Scorn is that it offers an atmospheric experience like no other. It can be classed as an artistic title, and as such, the concept matters a great deal and is based on the idea that you are thrown into an unknown and decaying world. It’s like waking up from a nightmare that lasted millennia and having to face a confusing reality, where your sense of self vanished long ago.

This feeling is undoubtedly intensified by the visuals, which include architectural designs inspired by H.R. Giger, one of the most influential horror designers in history. In equal measure, it integrates inspirations from the surrealist work of the Polish Zdzislaw Beksiński, and his influence is most noticeable in the designs of the façades of the large citadels that stand monumentally in the surrounding area. It’s a surreal amalgamation of biomechanical architecture with a powerful twisted sensuality set in desolate landscapes.

In terms of gameplay, the game's concrete actions are walking, flipping switches and engaging in crude combat with supposedly otherworldly weaponry that functions like early 19th century firearms, while the challenge is to stay alive, and to make sense of the strange biomechanical machines that impede our progress through the bewildering maze.

As for the story, it must be said that it is non-existent, at least in the traditional sense of the word. And that's because Scorn is a game that will put your mind to work as you try to make sense of the world around you, wonder about the origin of your own being, the purpose of machines, and generally understand what the hell is going on. It is a visual experience that is worth visiting. Obviously, Scorn is an audiovisual performance more than a videogame per se.

Scorn should be played with a magnifying glass and every detail, curve, cavity, hole and ligament must be observed. Contemplating the machines and imagining their origin or purpose is the only glimpse of history you will get. It's entertaining and sometimes disturbing to think about a world that has no explanation. Having said that, exploration is a crucial element in the game. It is an essential part of the experience, opening one's eyes in an inhospitable and nightmarish place.

To conclude, you should play Scorn, but arm yourselves with patience and a great deal of curiosity and amazement. It is a well-crafted concept, macabrely designed and adorned with a memorable, polished and chilling visual presentation.