10 Dead Doves (PC) Cover Story
10 Dead Doves might just be the game we have all been needing. Developers Mark Byram II, Sean Michael Mill, and publisher Duonix Studio are set to deliver a frightening and funny adventure that is set in the heart of the Appalachian wilderness. With fully voiced and animated cutscenes, a compelling and original score, retro PS2- inspired graphics, with beautiful and frightening environments, 10 Dead Doves is sure to deliver the scares and laughs. This game will put your wits to the test with puzzles to solve and mysteries to uncover along the Appalachian Trail. With a fully funded Kickstarter that doubled its intended goal, it's safe to say this is a highly anticipated and cinematic story that we, as indie horror fans, are eager to get on our monitors.
You will play as Marcus Stetson, dubbed as the “most pathetic man on earth." He is accompanied by his longtime hiking buddy, Sean. Together, they have set out on an adventure through the trails of Appalachia, hoping to relive the glory days one last time. They are on the hunt to find the location of an urban legend, a mythical place that’s known only as “the ant farm”. During the journey, Mark is put to the test when he is haunted by a bird-like figure with cryptic and twisted messages that invades his dreams. You will solve puzzles and mysteries while interacting with the strange locations and locals that reside there. While constantly being haunted by a forest that hates you.
A third-person, fixed camera perspective and classic tank controls may be daunting to some gamers these days, but the developers have balanced everything perfectly to bring the player a truly retro and cinematic experience. The game sets out to deliver a psychological horror experience with a road trip comedy feel to it. Mark and Sean’s chemistry comes through like a classic 2000’s buddy comedy film while still managing to deliver all the scares, suspense, and mystery you could hope for. The dialogue between the two characters is funny and engaging, and at times it feels like a real conversation that two great friends would be having. The PS2-era 3D graphics are as nostalgic as they are chilling and beautiful. With many interactive pieces in the world and mysterious locations to discover, the color palette mixed with the cinematic Appalachian setting and an original score, will set the scene for this retro horror experience.
Developers Mark Byram II, Sean Michael Mill, and publisher Duonix Studio are determined to deliver a story-rich narrative experience that is set to transport us back to the early 2000’s. The Kickstarter page for 10 Dead Doves describes itself as a “retro Appalachian horror story.” As hard as it is for me to admit that the early 2000’s can be considered "retro,” I couldn’t help but feel waves of nostalgia while I played the demo and explored the world of 10 Dead Doves. The gameplay is heavily inspired by classic survival horror titles we all know and love, such as Resident Evil, Silent Hill, Fatal Frame, and even a touch of Grim Fandango. (Please give us another Grim game!!!!). The dialogue is hilarious, relatable, and suspenseful. The chemistry between Mark and Sean really shines through and works well with the setting of the Appalachian wilderness. The original score is nothing to scoff at, as an original score for an indie game such as this is impressive for just two developers. The score pulls you into the world just as much as the compelling narrative will. Developers Mark Byram II and Sean Michael Millard are cooking up something truly special. With nearly 300 backers on Kickstarter and nearly 21,000 dollars funded, 10 Dead Doves is slated to release sometime in 2024, and the short demo has already been received incredibly well by fans and critics of this charming retro horror story.
It’s always exciting to see a small project brought to life by passionate developers and passionate fans. With a compelling and frightening tale of two friends in the Appalachian wilderness, 10 Dead Doves is looking to give us a fresh take on the games we used to know. I, myself, am such a fan of games that give me that nostalgic feeling that bring me back to playing games as a young kid. Anything that can give me the feeling of being young and playing a new game for the first time. 10 Dead Doves blew through its Kickstarter goal because of its fans and is being made by passionate developers. The indie horror scene is eager to get our hands on this retro and nostalgic trip that is sure to find the funny in the horror and the mysteries in the Appalachian wilderness.
We have been getting used to walking sims and survival horror, which is more or less an FPS game. And don’t get me wrong, I love shooting monsters and zombies. But something in me craves a game like this. A nostalgic game that can be made in today’s day and age of 4K graphics, repetitive and intense jump scares, and a lack of dialogue. This game actually feels like the time it represents. The 2000's, the PS2 era, our childhoods. The time when we had relationships of our own, like the protagonists Mark and Sean. This game and its developers are eager to deliver a game with retro graphics, a fixed camera, tank controls, and funny dialogue, ready to give us that nostalgia drip we as indie horror gamers crave.
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