Tormented Souls Review

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Xbox Series X/S

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Nintendo Switch

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Reviewed on: Nintendo Switch

Survival Horror has seen prominent change over the past two decades. Take Resident Evil for example. The fourth entry is regarded as one of the greatest games ever made, but its triumphs ultimately caused an identity crisis for the genre altogether.  Action would eventually outstrip the survival elements that made Survival Horror famous. While the genre is gaining steam again with the remakes of Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3, their success makes me feel that companies can’t make a solid title without dipping into established characters or familiar storylines.

Fortunately developers Dual Effect and Abstract Digital seem to address my grievances via Tormented Souls. Looking to capture the essence of classic survival horror, Tormented Souls takes inspiration from respected names such as Resident Evil, Silent Hill, and Alone in the Dark. Can this underdog introduce players to new faces, a fresh narrative, and creative mechanics?

Tormented Souls starts off strong with the introduction of Caroline Walker. After receiving a letter containing a photo of twin girls, Caroline begins to experience painful headaches and frequent nightmares. Seeking an explanation, she travels to the letter’s source; the Wildberger Hospital. Unbeknownst to Caroline, the hospital contains many dangers, all of which she must overcome to find the answers she’s searching for. The scenario is what one would expect, but what makes it immersive is Caroline herself.

Caroline is an average citizen thrust into a situation that she is ill-prepared for. She has no powers or any specialized training, but that makes her more relatable. You’ll see her struggle and question her circumstances, but also witness her garnering the will to press on. While I enjoy controlling the occasional action hero, it’s refreshing to play as a protagonist with more vulnerability.

Though Tormented Souls makes its plot clear, players are going to have to look a little deeper for the juicy details. Similar to Resident Evil, Tormented Souls has notes and journals scattered around its setting. Although reading them isn’t necessary it’s crucial to the lore and world-building of the game. The diaries explain the history, personalities, and motives of the rest of the cast, and I must say that Tormented Souls did a stellar job getting me invested with its characters.

Writer Gabriel Araneda Quijada managed to instill a surprising amount of complexity in the side characters. I sympathized with most of them almost immediately after discovering their tragic backgrounds. However, what truly captured my attention was how flawed they are. Despite their actions growing more extreme, they’re driven by good intentions.

Though I might have an affinity for them, the majority of these characters are mentioned in the text only. They’re scarcely seen in-game, with some making no appearance at all. This added a sense of mystery for me, but I acknowledge it might be off-putting for some.

While the choice is guaranteed to bring controversy, Tormented Souls features fixed camera angles. Along with their inclusion comes limited game saves and the infamous tank controls old horror games are known for. However, the developers took everyone into account by including analog controls.

Personally, I prefer the classic method, but I think the developers made a wise move by including an alternative. The old movement is considered outdated by many, especially when paired with a static camera. With that being said, I don’t think the modern option will be enough to get players invested in the combat of Tormented Souls due to the lack of ammo management within the game. To put it bluntly, the game provides too much ammo, effectively removing some stress and tension from enemy encounters.

Despite this, the game still kept me on edge through a unique mechanic. Early on, Caroline finds a lighter, which helps her navigate dark areas. Standing in darkness too long without light will result in a swift game over. Since some creatures reside in the shadows, I often found myself frantically switching to my weapon only to realize I unequipped the lighter. This brought about some tense situations where I couldn’t see my enemies or the way out of a room.

Another strength of Tormented Souls lies within its sound and art direction. Music has always been an essential part of horror games, and the soundtrack for this title ranks amongst the best. While it nails the sound, the enemy designs themselves are a bit limited and could benefit from more variation. However, I wasn’t bothered too much due to being impressed with the game’s level design.

In my opinion, the landscapes and architecture are breathtaking. Feeling urban yet simultaneously gothic, the Wildberger Hospital feels like the mansion from RE1 and the police station from RE2 fused together. Religious statues sit in the halls alongside appliances such as vending machines and neither seems out of place. Locations range from hospital rooms to ominous catacombs and all areas have an distinct aura.

What separates Tormented Souls from its competition is the ability to time travel. By stepping into mirrors or images from a video projector, Caroline can travel to an earlier period of select areas of the Wildberger Hospital. This mechanic is necessary to solve some of the game’s puzzles, further adding to their challenge and creativity. Time travel is also key to unlocking one of the game’s three endings, which is another thing the game does better than its predecessors. By placing the requirements for all endings in the final act, Tormented Souls eliminates the need to backtrack too far or start over entirely.

Although I’ve sung the game’s praises, I have to discuss its shortcomings as well, specifically the game’s performance on the switch. While it manages to look the part, Tormented Souls runs noticeably rough at times on the underpowered console. This is mainly during cutscenes, which causes the frame rate to dip significantly even in docked mode. At times, I even experienced a few crashes, mainly while solving puzzles. Though none were game-breaking, I was forced to reload my save, sometimes losing significant progress.

In conclusion, Tormented Souls manages to fill the void left by the genre’s transition into the action category. Even more so, it establishes its own identity through its unique cast, lore, and setting. While some mechanics will feel familiar and outdated to some, the ability to travel between past and present prevents Tormented Souls from falling in the shadow of its predecessors.

Though I genuinely enjoyed the Switch version, I’d recommend playing on more powerful hardware If players have the option. Regardless, Tormented Souls will surely scratch the itch for those seeking that classic survival horror fix. Whether you’re a veteran of the genre or a newcomer looking to jump in, those interested in this title owe it to themselves to give it a go.