WORLD OF HORROR Review

A Tribute to Japanese Legends and Cosmic Terror

WORLD OF HORROR developer Panstasz describes the game as a “1-bit love letter to Junji Ito and H.P. Lovecraft” and this could not be more accurate.

As soon as World of Horror begins, you're greeted by its eerie (and impressive) chiptune soundtrack and MS Paint graphics. Yes, you read that correctly, everything seen in the game has been created within the constraints of Paint and this direction pays off. The visual details are striking and enemy designs leave just enough space for the player’s imagination to fill in the horrifying gaps.

The game takes place in "198X" in a fictional version of Shiokawa, Japan. Players get started with a tutorial mission “Spine-Chilling Story of School Scissors” that provides a light introduction to the game’s systems. We learn from this mission that World of Horror will be pitting us against some most unsettlingly creepy, Yōkai (and Ito) inspired enemies with its turn-based combat encounters.

Careful strategy is your friend here, with a number of options available - preparing and boosting attacks, making use of allies or even fleeing combat entirely. Combat actions must be queued up and every action adds up in your turn meter.

While the combat options offer a variety of approaches, the interface in general can be somewhat overwhelming at first. There’s a lot going on and the tutorial mission only scratches the surface. However, brief experimentation of the UI quickly makes the interface much simpler to navigate.

Post-tutorial is when the game and its roguelike qualities really shine. Each run requires five random mysteries be solved, each telling a haunting tale that fills you with dread. Each mystery has random events, Old God effects, optional quests and multiple endings that result in high replay value - if the Shiba Inu merchant wasn't enough to sway you!

Learn more about WORLD OF HORROR by visiting the official website. The game is available on PC, PS4, and Nintendo Switch.

DEVELOPED BY:

panstasz

PUBLISHED BY:

Ysbryd Games, PLAYISM

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

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