Dismantled Review

Inspired by Scares that Shock, Built in GZDoom

Oh yeah, here’s the nasty stuff. Riding on the new wave of exploitation horror, Dismantled’s debts to the likes of Martyrs, The Human Centipede and Hostel are laid all-too bare in its schlocky and shameless first-person horror. Torture, genital mutilation, and - in one especially gruesome scene - a less-than-celebratory approach to childbirth; Dismantled treats trigger warnings like trophies, not tools.

The decision to code the game in GZDoom certainly takes it that extra mile. As capable as the ageing engine may be, Dismantled has made little use of its more advanced graphical options, the rustic results lending proceedings that extra layer of grime. That’s not to say that no effort has been made here, and there’s a convincing argument for more horror games to be made in the software. An inventory system has been included, the typical limited save system means quicksaves are no longer a crutch, and interconnected levels mean we’re free to get lost and alone in this virtual playground. Dismantled proves that slower-paced experiences can prosper on an engine more renowned for rapid-fire demon shooting.

But unlike DOOM, Dismantled has a long road to maturity. The underlying plot, complete with cackling madman antagonist and chainsaw-grafted half-man half-tiger beasts, sends proceedings cartoonishly overboard. Coupled with its sophomoric shock value and angsty writing, it goes just far enough over the line to resemble a teenager’s idea of edginess. Some puzzles, such as an early one involving the ingenious use of bloodstains, are surprisingly smart - but the circuitous level design, dearth of save points and a reliance on enemy closets too often undo long stretches of progress.

Dismantled can occasionally be a slog, its over-reliance on shock value often diluting the experience rather than supporting it. Yet it’s hard to deny there’s something here, something worth iterating on and encouraging. As one of Pluie De Sang’s earlier game releases, one can only imagine that whatever monstrosity they stitch together next, it’ll be one of their more seamless creations.

Learn more about Dismantled by visiting the official Steam page.

DEVELOPED BY:

Productions Pluie De Sang

PUBLISHED BY:

Productions Pluie De Sang

*This review was originally published in Issue #1 of Fearzine Magazine which was distributed in June 2024.

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