Let me start by saying that horror games are my jam. I much prefer them over almost any other genre, with the exception of RPG’s. Recently, there have been quite a few games that have come out, and while some been absolutely brilliant, more have been a bit of a letdown, with the scares usually predictable and mediocre at best. I find this usually makes it hard to get drawn into the story, leading for a pretty disappointing experience. This week, I was fortunate enough to get my hands on Close To The Sun, a first-person horror adventure video game developed by Italian video game producer, Storm in a Teacup and published by British company, Wired Productions. Will it be a disappointment? Will it be worth it? Read on to find out.

Story

Starting the game off, I was introduced to my character; a young journalist named Rose. The cut-scene is made up of a beautiful still animation gallery, drawing my attention in as she reads a letter from her sister, Ada. Taking place in what I can only describe as an alternative timeline, Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison compete for global dominance, with your adventure takes place on the “Helios.” Controlled by Tesla, Helios is a giant cruise ship that serves as a hub for the world’s most successful scientists and inventors. It is here, with Ada dropping hints through your earpiece, that you must solve puzzles in order to find your sister and answers to the mysterious happenings on board.

Controls

Fortunately, the controls are extremely simple, as Close to the Sun has little to no tutorial. From picking up newspapers, opening doors, flicking switches and climbing over obstacles, (X) is your primary button. (LT) is your dodge button, and I found myself using that to get around more often than not, allowing me to move faster than just walking. The analog sticks are the usual; look and move, while (RT) allows you to zoom in on something, but I never really found a use for it. Finally, (Y) brings up a little window, allowing you to see what your objective is. but also helping keep tabs on what collectibles you’ve picked up along the way.

Scares

I know earlier I said some scares are predictable. This hasn’t really changed in Close to the Sun, but to my surprise, they got me all the same. Catching me off guard and happening before I expected them, they still sent chills down my spine while covering my body in goosebumps. I couldn’t get enough of the feeling. I’m not going to lie, I may have dropped my controller a few times, even when the jump scare happened right in front of me. I was so impressed that I found myself constantly chasing my next scare, craving that familiar high I get when a game manages to get my skin crawling.

Visuals/Music

Damn this game is pretty. From the very beginning I was in awe, standing on the deck of the passenger boat that starts the game off, I simply watched as the waves swirled around me. The Helios in the distance, warm light shining from the windows, an inviting silhouette as the storm raged around. The interior of Helios is a stark contrast to the goings on outside, with its marble floors and luxurious décor making it look like it was straight out of a Bond film.

There is so much to take in that I found myself slowing down, seeking out every little detail. I strongly encourage anyone who plays this game to do so as well, as the chapters are really short, so it is very much a case of blink and you’ll miss it. Close to the Sun makes fantastic use of ambient noise as well, leaving you feeling as though you’re truly alone. The creaking of wooden floorboards, or the tap of your shoes on the marble are realistic enough to send chills down your spine, while you only hear music at key points in the game.

Critique

Now as critiques go, I only really have two issues with the game. As briefly touched on, the chapters are really quite short; anywhere between 5 and 10 minutes long. While this is great for speed runners, for people like myself who seek out collectibles and want to enjoy the scenery, it can be very frustrating, as once you’ve completed the chapter, you can’t return to it unless you start another play-through. Secondly, the puzzles thrown at you are hardly challenging, even without Ada offering you advice. I can understand the first few being a bit easier, luring you into a false sense of security, but this never really changed. I was hoping the challenges would build as I played through further, but this didn’t seem to happen. Fortunately, this wasn’t enough to put me off the game, and I found myself still wanting to push through to the final chapters of an otherwise amazing game.

Conclusion

All in all, Close to the Sun is a highly enjoyable game. The story drew me in deeply as I set about finding my sister, all the while uncovering the mystery of whatever was going on. I can also happily say that the scares had on the verge of soiling my pants, something a lot of horror games lately have failed to do. So, if you’re like me and love scary mystery solving games, I whole heartedly recommend this to you. Storm in a Tea Cup have created something truly wonderful that stands above the rest.

Written by: Anarchy Risen