The market is flooded with indie horror games, but there are the ones that scream out to get your attention with loud jump scares and colorful graphics. Other, such as the Motte Island, mumble. And in most cases, the whispers never die.
Motte Island is a 2d top-down horror game that combines stealth elements, puzzles and emotional storytelling in one dark depressing package, but this dark depressing package was developed by the indie studio One Aperture. It is not a game that attempts to frighten you, this game is out to undo you.
A Brother’s Burden, A Sister’s Fate
Motte Island is all about personal and psychological issues. You are a masked man with a mystery that has to go back to his rural and murky homeland to rescue his sister. Things are different in the island. Or possibly… it has been all along the same, and you did not see it till now.
As you search this barren land of misshapen monsters, broken men and dark memories, you will start to learn the dark secrets that connect your character so closely to this accursed land. The past never stays dead and in Motte Island, the past perk through the cracks, both literally and figuratively.
Horror does factor into making the story terrifying, but it’s the emotional impact that gives it so much. Game is also about guilt, redemption and complexity of family relations.
Horror Isn’t Always Loud
Motte Island does not use only jump scares but leaves you with the chance to defend yourself, You will have weapons that will help you protect yourself against the numerous threats in the island. Be it an up-close-and-personal fight to the death or a death defying confrontation halfway across the map, every gun you pick up is a lifeline. However, everything is limited and enemy are no regrets hence employing the weapons becomes part of the strategy.
It is a restrained and merciless fight. You are never overpowered but you just manage to survive. That incessant defenselessness contributes to the excessive mood of horror of the game.
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Atmosphere Are Pixelated Terror
Motte Island might appear minimal at the initial sight since the game has a top-down pixelated 2D look. However, beware, because it is not the case. It is by design, and it does. The lighting, color, and environmental detail are used to create a world that is oppressive, rotting and full of secrets.
What actually sells the horror is the sound design though. Spooky background music, squeaky sounds of ancient wooden floors, voices of unseen beings, all the sounds seem to creep within your skin. The use of silence is excellent, as well, causing instances when you feel as though you are frightened to move.
A Story With Real Consequences
It is not only creepy aesthetics or clever mechanics that makes Motte Island shine and what is more important is the options you have. It is not only survival, but about having to face your past and how to respond to it.
There are several endings based on choices that were made in the game. Are you gaining redemption, or succumb to the dark? There is no right answer, there are consequences. And that ambivalence of morale is what makes the story haunting indeed.
An Overlooked Gem for Horror Fans
Motte Island is a hidden indie horror gem which mixes atmosphere, emotional and chilling storytelling and a tense survival experience. Offering the sharp combination of stealth, exploration and battle based on weapons, the game presents a creepy experience that lingers in your mind long after you finish the game.
The psychological horror of the game with meaningful choices and a haunting storyline makes the game worth your time, in case you are into that kind of thing. You can now find this game on Steam ready to immerse you in its gloomy and memorable world.
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