The survival horror genre has evolved significantly over the last 30 years.Alone in the Dark(1992) was a pioneer of the genre, implementing many of the aspects that are common place in the most popular survival horror games. Players explore an environment with minimal direction, solve puzzles, and are relatively powerless against the host of threats that lurk in the dark, all ideas that would develop in theoriginalResident EvilandSilent Hillgames, though in quite different directions. In the present, the upcomingWronged Uslooks to tap into the horror roots of these iconic franchises and make an experience like none before.
Many games nowadays can rarely be sorted into a single genre, with the mixing pot of the video game industry constantly influence the projects of developers. In addition toResident EvilandSilent Hill, Wronged Us is also taking inspiration from theGolden Joystick Awards' Ultimate Game of All Time,Dark Souls. While FromSoftware’sSoulsseries is often recognized for its difficulty, its strides in world design are still being felt to this day, encouraging players to explore its world but rarely assisting them in their adventuring. With a haunting story likeSilent Hill, gameplay reminsicent of the modernResident Evilgames, and an open world inspired byDark Souls,Wronged Usis an amalgamation of multiple influences.
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Wronged Us and the Otherworldliness of Silent Hill
Silent Hillas a franchise has fallen on hard times, but its impact on the survival horror genre will forever be important. Due to the game’s forboding atmosphere, whether its the demonic creature design or the prolific usage of fog,Silent Hillfeels like a place beyond reality, making it hard for the player to determine the realness of the game’s events or whether to trust certain characters. What’s more, the series often takes an introspective turn with the enemies, plot beats, and puzzles of the rust-ridden, industrial underground ofSilent Hill, as all are representations of the faults and problems of the protagonist.
From theWronged Ustrailer, there is nothing quite overt as a second world that is clearly distorted, but there is certainly an off-putting atmosphere already present. The trailer gives glimpses of the protagonist walking down garbage-laden streets with abandoned cars lining the sidewalks, and ghastly NPCs watching from their porches, clearly caught in the desolation as well. Likewise, from thetallIt Follows-inspired enemyto the haunting, headless couple holding hands, the enemies quickly reinforce the eerie worldWronged Usis creating. WithSilent Hillsno longer happening,Wronged Usmay be the next best thing.
Wronged Us and the Gameplay of Resident Evil
Resident Evilhas appeared in multiple gameplay styles in its long 25 year history. The earlyResident Eviltitles built dread through their locked camera angles and tank controls, but all of that would change with the seminalResident Evil 4, putting the camera behind the player and makes the tension much more personal. In its most present form,Resident Evilhas alternated between more modern third-person action gameplay like with theremakes ofResident Evil 2andResident Evil 3, and first-person action gameplay like with this year’sResident Evil: Village. A combination of fearsome enemy design and item management helps make these games terrifying regardless of the perspective used.
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This aspect ofWronged Usis perhaps the most easily identifiable influence of the three. As mentioned, all of the gameplay shots see the player-character being able to control the camera and look at what they want. However, when the action heats up and the player-character must fight, the camera jumps behind them, allowing them to aim and shoot. Although not shown here, there could be aresource management mechanicinvolving ammunition like in practically everyResident Evilgame, forcing the player to choose between fighting, running, or finding other means to take down their enemies.
Wronged Us and the World Design of Dark Souls
Completing every quest andfinding every secret inDark Souls(or any FromSoftware title for that matter) often requires a guide due to the game’s cryptic world design. Without waypoints or navigation markers, or any sort of quest tracking system, players must be very thorough and analytical when playing the games as to avoid getting lost and managing their objectives. Characters can change locations arbitrarily, potentially attacking the player if they performed certain actions, and the player can even kill NPCs and lock themselves from content. These features offer players multiple ways of progressing through the game, while also increasing the game’s replayability if secrets were missed.
Compared to the aesthetic and gameplay elements ofWronged Us, the world design is probably the hardest influence to identify in this first trailer. Many different locations are shown, from the neighborhood streets, to many decrepid interior locations. Assuming the game retains the freedom of exploration mostSoulstitles present, players may be able to access many of these places right from the start. Additionally, it looks like in one scene the player is told, “You won’t make it,” by a bloodied NPC, which is exactly the foreboding statement a random character in aSoulstitle would say. While it is unlikely that this NPC willrandomly invade the playerat the worst possible time, the dialogue and locations do give off a bit of aSoulsvibe. If the three influences highlighted by developer Delusional Studio are brought together successfully, the game could be one to keep an eye on.
Wronged Usis planned to launch in 2023 on PC and console.
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