Stories Untold
is a PC adventure horror game from developer No Code. It’s a game
that channels the spirit of the text-adventures of old, but mixes in
a dose of the “bigger picture” in its execution. A simpler way of
saying it is that, not only does your character interact with the
computer in a given scene, but also the equipment and the environment
around it.
The game is split into
four short episodes, each taking place in a different location and
situation. In one, you might be playing a text-based adventure game
in a suitably 80's bedroom. In the next, you might be decoding morse
code or following an experimental protocol. Stories Untold is a game
that very much enjoys giving the player instructions, but also the
help needed to carry them out.
I can’t say too much
as some of the reveals and twists in Stories Untold are best
enjoyed as the narrative
unfolds. All I will say is that there is more going on than meets the
eye, and it all comes together quite beautifully by the time you’ve
finished it. It is a short game, taking me around two hours to
complete, but those two hours proved to be structured and paced so
well, I am fine with the short playtime. I try not to judge games by how much play time they might offer, but when money is tight, it does
become one of my considerations. Stories
Untold sells for £6.99 when not on sale, but when it is on
offer, you can get it for around half that, which is spot on in my
humble opinion.
Graphically, the game
does pretty much everything right: the locations and technology all
looks suitably analogue, the objects and lighting all realised in an
almost tactile way. The only real criticism I have is the
cross-shaped pointer that is sometimes easy to lose track of, and
that the clickable zones around some of the buttons and dials you
need to interact with aren't always easy manipulate without clicking
the wrong thing. This didn’t happen often though, so I don’t want
to overstate that aspect.
The soundscape of the
game is another element that is very well done, and for the most part,
provides the most interesting moments of horror. Thumps and other
noises hint at the world beyond the walls that your character can
see, the voices of other characters and the suitably retro-soundtrack
all creating a fuzzy grainy sense of place. Nothing made me jump, but
there is a lovely sinister aspect to the things you will see and hear
in Stories Untold, like when you crack open an old VHS video
box and smell the air of yesteryear tickling your nostril hairs.
Stories Untold
is a tremendous game and one that I am very happy to have
experienced. When I got to the end, all I could think about was how
great another tale, done in the same way, would be. I was also a
little unnerved by how enjoyable I found following the various
instructions in the game world. On a basic level, you had to do
things in a set way to get through the story, but on a mental level,
I found the way I interacted with the game world very satisfying
indeed. If you enjoy a good 80’s style horror, I think you owe it
to yourself to check out Stories Untold.
Review by Casey Douglass
