Analysis | Decarnation brings 2D horror game with immersive narrative

decarnation is a 2D indie horror adventure game, developed by the French studio Atelier QDB and published by Shiro Unlimited for the PC and Nintendo Switch platforms, and features a complex narrative about reality and dream, pixel art visuals and a soundtrack impactful, signed by Akira Yamaoka, who worked on games like Silent Hill, The Medium and Lollipop Chainsaw.

In addition to being inspired by classic 2D adventure and horror games, the game also gained the attention of players for its influences on cult directors such as Satoshi Kon (Perfect Blue animation) and David Lynch (Blue Velvet, Twin Peaks).

Check here with GameHall for more details about Decarnation, a game that might surprise you.

Dream x Reality

In Decarnation, the player follows the story of Gloria, a cabaret dancer in Paris during the early 1990s. immersed in a lonely and suffocating life, all this when she is about to turn 30.

This is how this intriguing story begins, which explores terrifying psychological moments, which revolve around very familiar situations and problems, but which make the protagonist lose track of reality and fiction. The central narrative is strong and addresses a variety of mature themes, including emotional abuse, trauma, depression and violence, which is precisely why it is recommended for an adult audience.

Decarnation’s gameplay is quite reduced and essential, focusing on a combination of extensive dialogues (fortunately the game is available in Portuguese), musical sequences (Gloria is a dancer) and solving puzzles that are well thought out and intuitive, but that need a little attention.

Check out the trailer:

Our heroine will have to explore ghostly scenarios while facing disturbing and evil situations and enemies, which can represent real or metaphorical situations, coming from the dark corners of her soul.

Gloria’s journey is short, there are six acts in total, each one lasting approximately one hour, which will certainly hold your attention.

Conclusion

Decarnation is a game totally focused on its narrative and the protagonist’s story, which is its biggest highlight, with players following the course of events, occasionally interacting with them. The game is recommended for fans of psychological horror and pixel art, who don’t care too much about complex gameplay or bold visuals.

pros

• Well-written and engaging story
• strange atmosphere
• good soundtrack
• Nice pixel art visuals
• Subtitles and menus in Portuguese

cons

• limited gameplay
• Some minigames can be quite boring

Rating: 7.0/10.0

A copy of the game was provided for this analysis.