The Bridge Curse: Road to Salvation Game Review
My expectations for indie horror games are usually fairly low. Especially ones based off of movies that, to be honest, didn’t leave me impressed.
You follow six students involved in a club that’s desperate to beat a rival university in a popularity contest. And their gambit to do this is to livestream a ritual that reputedly summons the ghost of a vengeful woman. An event that supposedly happened at the location the game takes place in — the prestigious Tunghai University.
I’m a huge sucker for games and movies based on real stories.
If you played the demo, you might think this is your standard ghost hunts, you hide game. And while there is definitely some of that, The Bridge Curse: Road to Salvation is much more a horror mystery game. Its plot and characters are the driving force. So, if you load up the game and in the first thirty minutes find the characters annoying I would recommend you get your refund because you’re going to be talking to these people a lot.
It’s subtitled, with all voice acting in Taiwanese, but I think it’s better this way. The actors are expressive and you’ll always know who’s speaking. Of course, the translations aren’t always perfect. But these mishaps are few and far between and pretty expected for an indie developer.
The school is well-designed. The assets are great, the details are there, and you’ll explore the university from top to bottom. The environment is easily one of the very best things about this game and significantly better than Dreadout 2 (another Asian horror game that ALSO starts in a school and ALSO has a ghost girl).
In terms of spooks and ooks, this game has it in spades. And for those who enjoy Asian horror elements you’ll want for nothing. You’ve got the ghastly white-faced women, soaked in filthy water. The rooms, papered in talismans. Ample rituals (which, of course, all go wrong). Sentient black hair that’s determined to choke you. And then your random sprinkling of vaguely creepy paraphernalia that make a little less sense. Like, why are there so many mannequins? Why are they all smeared in red paint and staring at me?
And then, of course, there are the jump scares. There are a lot of jump scares. Some of which are silly (intentionally so), others very explicitly not. But by the midway point, these scares are too frequent and lose some of their charm.
But seeing the characters realize that the hauntings happening around them are real builds a fantastic tension into the story that gives the horror more gravitas. And things get so much worse for them as secrets and hidden resentments spill over, threatening to destroy their friendships.
Gameplay-wise, it’s a slow burn for the first hour or so. But around the two hour mark things start to accelerate. A significant portion of the game is a bit of a walking simulator, with sprinklings of find item x or speak to whomever. But there are also puzzles and stealth elements that really reminded me of Home Sweet Home, a great Thai horror game.
Overall, it’s not a perfect game and, if you’ve seen the movie, you might know how it ends to a degree, there’s definitely a lot more explored in this game.
But if you haven’t seen the movie? It’s a hell of a four hour ride with a plot that blows most indie horror games out of the water. Even if you have watched the movie, it’s still a game worth picking up if you enjoy some of the more common tropes in Asian horror games. And yes, there’s definitely elements that weren’t present in the movie that are fantastic and will absolutely surprise you.
But if ghost girls and rituals aren’t really your bag, maybe give The Bridge Curse: Road to Salvation (and it’s $20 USD price tag) a miss.
Gaming
Lovecraft Meets Junji Ito in WORLD OF HORROR
WORLD OF HORROR is a cosmic horror roguelite game developed by Paweł Koźmiński and published by Ysbryd Games.
WORLD OF HORROR is a cosmic horror roguelite game developed by Paweł Koźmiński and published by Ysbryd Games. The game is available on macOS, Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. This review will cover the Steam (Windows) version of the game.
You must explore the strange goings on around Shiokawa, Japan. It appears that eldritch forces have influenced the town in incomprehensible ways. So, attempt to comprehend these forces and maintain your sanity to save the town. Plan your investigations, choose between cases, and fight for your life.
There are a few game modes but three difficulty spikes. The easiest is a specific case with some random events. This mode teaches you the basic mechanics of the game. The harder difficulties give you access to an apartment and choices on which case you investigate. Completing objectives earns you customization options for the customized mode.
What I Like About WORLD OF HORROR
Running on GameMaker Studios, the pixelated aesthetic shows influences from Lovecraft and Junji Ito, though the latter more so than the former. WORLD OF HORROR haunts its viewers with its aesthetic, allowing the pixels to evoke those horror legends.
Random generation remains a key feature of the game, with various options and choices giving a massive variety. Your character also has some limited customization to access perks and further development. I will bring up some weaknesses later, but it is surprisingly vast. Adding to this variety, WORLD OF HORROR provides mod accessibility.
The combat allows for a great deal of thought and planning. You select your character’s actions within an action bar and perform the tasks (or combos) to beat an opponent. This JRPG style provides variety in action that makes it engaging and unique.
- Hardcover Book
- Ito, Junji (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Last update on 2025-01-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The random generation and variety make each playthrough different. You might acquire a devastating katana in one playthrough only to bleed out unceremoniously in another.
While not a terrifying gaming experience, WORLD OF HORROR strives to provide an eerie and intense experience. At this, the game is a success. The weird and unnerving collide to invest the player in this strange world.
Tired Tropes and Triggers
Body horror deserves a mention, but the aesthetic and pixels doesn’t particularly evoke realism. Regardless, many designs evoke body horror.
Aside from this, here are some points of consideration. First, WORLD OF HORROR uses JRPG turn-based combat, which seems a point of division among some gamers. However, there are enough interesting mechanics and complexities beyond clicking an action and waiting your turn.
- Hardcover Book
- Ito, Junji (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Last update on 2025-01-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Second, WORLD OF HORROR isn’t a cult detective. You’re experiencing events and choosing how your character responds. Some sage wisdom I heard for WORLD OF HORROR is to focus on the whole campaign instead of a single case. Failing a case isn’t a game over, so prioritize your character’s longevity.
What I Dislike About WORLD OF HORROR
Only a few issues hindered my experience. Some scenarios replay on a single case, let alone a playthrough, which becomes repetitive. Some scenarios have multiple solutions to add variety or require perks to access new options, but that’s not always true. This issue makes the randomization taxing at times.
This next issue is likely a bug or an oversight. After losing my reason (sanity), I found myself still able to investigate despite the game claiming that means death. An unrelated event finished me off, but I can’t help but assume this is a bug.
Final Thoughts
WORLD OF HORROR has its quirks but earns massive replay value and surprising depth. It’s a unique and ambitious indie title worth the price. If Junji Ito’s style or cosmic horror is your particular brand of horror, WORLD OF HORROR delivers an experience you’ll likely enjoy. Though this combination synergizes well, few games combine these elements successfully.
(4.5 / 5)
Step into the mind-bending world of Eldritch Automata as we sit down with Game Designer Nick Francia at GenCon 2024!
Uncover the secrets behind this Lovecraftian mecha-masterpiece and get a glimpse of what’s to come.
In this exclusive interview, Nick Francia shares:
• The intricate game development process • Inspirations behind the eerie Lovecraftian elements
• Unique mecha-infused gameplay mechanics Calling all Lovecraft fans! Dive into a world where eldritch horrors meet steam-powered marvels.
Eldritch Automata promises an unforgettable gaming experience that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
👉 Ready to embrace the madness? Check out our playable demo at a con near you! #EldritchAutomata #GenCon2024 #LovecraftianGaming #IndieGameDev
Prepare for a spine-chilling experience as Jim Phoenix delves into the shadows with Trick or Treat Studios at GenCon 2024!
In this exclusive interview, we uncover the terrifying secrets behind their latest bone-chilling creations: “House of 1000 Corpses” and “Halloween II” board games.
These games aren’t just about rolling dice – they’re about immersing yourself in the blood-curdling atmosphere of beloved horror films. With unique survival (and kill!) horror mechanics and cooperative gameplay, you’ll feel the terror coursing through your veins with every move!
But wait, there’s more! With the Kickstarter to House of 1000 Corpses shipping soon, we have an in-depth review coming up for that game, Halloween II–AND…Chucky. BOOMMM!!!
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