GHOST at DAWN Review

Stylish Noir Horror

GHOST at DAWN is an anime noir survival horror title from Blue and Red Games, and is one hell of a debut effort. The game is tense, dark and full of scary moments, both in the form of quick jumpscares and long-lasting eerie scares. It’s a top-notch effort and a game that’s hard to put down due to many twists and turns in the narrative, great pacing, and deep mechanics. Every time you think you’ve figured out GHOST at DAWN, it shows you another mechanic, or throws something else cool your way, like a new weapon or enemy type. There’s a lot to unpack here, and I think you’ll like what’s in store.

So the visuals are of course the most striking aspect of GHOST at DAWN, they are by and large the first thing you notice about the game, and for good reason. GHOST at DAWN is stunning, and pretty unique in its presentation. Sure, there are a plethora of anime games out there, but how many of them also feel at home with a horror aesthetic - especially outside of the Visual Novel space? You can also activate a noir mode, which puts the game in black and white, for those of you who want an even more striking look.

So what about the gameplay? GHOST at DAWN is a third-person, fixed camera title with ranged combat, resource management, a sanity system, and some puzzles. It’s quite varied throughout, and due to this the pacing is solid. Combat is a case of using a gun to shoot at ghost enemies. There’s a lock-on system that comes in handy especially during boss battles, and at least three different weapons with varying fire rates and damage output. Ammo is quite limited, but stronger weapons like the M1 Garand can take a common enemy out in one or two hits. Should an enemy get close enough to touch you, you’re gone - you’re dead. Die five times and you’re dead for good.

You can keep enemies at bay by lighting incense sticks around the environment, or by lighting matches, as foes are more likely to try and approach you in the dark, when your sanity is in danger. You monitor your sanity by smoking cigarettes, taking pills and swigging from a flask of alcohol - great ways to relax. You need to stay on top of this or face increased jump-scares, slower movement and potentially even death.

The story is the real seller here, it gets real dark and unsettling, especially towards the end. You are a Private Investigator hired to look into a missing girl by her sister. That leads you to the Pines Hotel, which acts as the setting for the game. You need to find out if she is still alive, as well as what happened. Narrative mostly occurs through fully voice-acted notes, but there is also plenty of environmental storytelling too, which keeps you looped in. Expect many moments of heartbreak, shock, anger and determination to see you through this title. GHOST at DAWN’s narrative is one that will stick with you for a long time, and we all know that experiences like that are very few and far between, especially in gameplay-focused titles.

Chances are that you’ll fall in love with GHOST at DAWN pretty quickly into your playthrough. It’s not the longest game in the world, but multiple endings should make sure this is worth the price of admission. The developer has also patched in a Challenge Mode, and intends for this to be the first in a long running series, which we couldn’t be more excited about. Give this game a chance and I doubt you won’t be disappointed. The reviews are pretty positive for the game right now, it just needs a bit more visibility to really take off.

Learn more about GHOST at DAWN by visiting the official website.

DEVELOPED BY:

Blue and Red Games

PUBLISHED BY:

Blue and Red Games

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

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