Prototype Mansion - Used No Cover Review

A Silly Homage to the Spencer Mansion

Prototype Mansion has a charmingly “Game Jam” feel to it. Short, experimental, and oh-so rudimentary, this scrappy little number from developer Jupiter Lighthouse is a respectable bite-sized tribute to Resident Evil’s Spencer Mansion.

It’s also outwardly silly. Perhaps in acknowledgement of its chunky amateurism, Prototype Mansion pays homage to the survival horror greats as often as it goes completely mental, referencing vegan cannibals, wobbly-headed children, and an insistent hatred of cats. Dialogue goes beyond Resident Evil’s clumsy tone and commits fully to giving our two (and a half) protagonists some Whedon-esque banter.

It all works, albeit in debt to the game’s rudimentary presentation. The slightly deformed, chibi-esque character models are full of cartoonish charm, even as some effective camera angles and lighting effects keep the horror theme onpoint. Prototype Mansion embraces its limitations, and prioritises fun over fear. At least, to an extent.

Perhaps owing to its short run-time, the game seems all-too eager to create unwinnable states. Taking a diversion early into the game allows the player to forgo some crucial ammo supplies, and eventually creates a fail state where dwindling ammo and respawning zombies force a game restart. There are also instances where entering a room can see the zombies hungrily waiting in the doorway, the player taking a fatal zombie-noshing with zero room for reaction.

It’s a welcome change of pace when the game’s latter half injects a first-person stealth section, showing off its Burton-esque locations with greater clarity and confidence. It also allows the game to amp up its previously muted tension - a rewarding payoff to an otherwise understated package.

Prototype Mansion’s price point is more than fair, and clocking in at a breezy hour or two, it’s the perfect choice for a lazy Sunday evening session. It’s as modest as it is flawed, but in the shadow of its pitch-perfect tone, that’s surprisingly easy to forgive.

Learn more about Prototype Mansion - Used No Cover by visiting the official Jupiter Lighthouse Games website.

DEVELOPED BY:

Jupiter Lighthouse Games

PUBLISHED BY:

Jupiter Lighthouse Games

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

MORE REVIEWS LIKE THIS