The Dark Pictures Anthology by Supermassive Games has taken the team at MKAU Gaming by surprise with its horror themes and quick decision making, to the point where even Stace has picked up the titles and played through. Recently we were invited to attend the hands-off presentation of their upcoming installment House of Ashes, and once again, we’re all looking forward to it.

For those not aware of what House of Ashes is all about, here’s a quick recap. House of Ashes takes place in 2003 near the end of the Iraq War and follows a military unit searching for chemical weapons but instead unearths something far deadlier.

As for the event itself, it was very casual; with Game Director Will Doyle sitting alone in a dark room in an absolutely glorious chair. We’ve heard that the developers have really listened to what players were after, and one of the biggest changes with this title is that a player-controlled 360-degree camera has been implemented, instead of the previously used fixed position. It also means that the flashlight takes on a whole new purpose, as the general environment is quite dark and extremely claustrophobic for the most part, so players will now have to really search for clues and objectives.

The small amount of gameplay we experienced only proved this as the footage gave me goosebumps. Supermassive Games have also announced a tweaked difficulty setting, as players were completely split when it came to the game’s difficulty, with some saying it was too easy, and others commenting on how painfully difficult it was.

The Dark Pictures: House of Ashes is a stand-alone game, with Ashley Tisdale of High School Musical fame making an appearance as Rachel King, one of five characters you or your friends can make decisions for. Anyone who pre-orders will get the bonus Theatrical Cut, while the Curator’s Cut will let you watch a scene from each character’s perspective.

Play with a friend online in a 2 player shared story, or hold a Movie Night with up to 5 friends playing on a single console. With its very distinct H.P. Lovecraft feel, you’ll want to have friends with you as you try to escape ruins hidden under the 2003 Middle-Eastern battlefields.

The hand-made animations and motion capture scenes are set to look fantastic on all platforms, but the game will come into its own on next-gen consoles with their enhanced graphics, and from what we witnessed during this event, it certainly won’t disappoint. It was a little unnerving that a game set to scare the pants off you had such a calm and casual event, but perhaps that was the intention all along.

The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes will be available later this year on, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Playstation 4|5 & Windows PC.

Written by: MKAU Gaming