Soul Catcher Review

 

*Contains Spoilers*

A Spooky Low Res Surprise
At first glance, Soul Catcher might not be the type of horror game players would normally seek out. I mean, how much horror can you have in a pixelated game with minimalistic graphics? The answer: More than you’d imagine.

Players can choose from six characters, each of which find themselves in the middle of a nightmarish visit to a remote hotel. The game offers several puzzles for players to solve and several moments in which the player must make pivotal choices which impact the outcome of the game. For this reason, Soul Catcher offers a ton of replayability.

The design is similar to other low res games like Faith and is just as successful at creating a sense of unease and dread. The same could be said of the soundtrack and use of sound effects. The use of sound is subtle, but it aids in evoking a sense of anxiety, as if misfortune is lurking right around the corner.

The story is entertaining and kept me engaged, searching for answers throughout my playthrough. That said, it was also confusing at times and I had a difficult time figuring out door codes and the uses for various items. Some of the puzzles really require the player to have a keen eye for subtle changes in the environment and I found I often missed these small details on the first pass. Players are also committed to their choices, as the game utilizes an autosave feature without the ability to “checkpoint” your way through the game or try different solutions. So if you plan on getting all of the possible conclusions, prepare to play the game for quite some time, trying new characters and solutions.

Overall, Soul Catcher is a fun and entertaining low res game that is definitely worth a look, especially if you are a fan of low res, pixelated horror. I enjoyed paying attention to the little details, solving puzzles, and running into the spooky scary ghosts and ghouls that roamed the halls. I would enjoy seeing more games of this nature from the developer in the future.

[Lady played Soul Catcher on PC with a mouse and keyboard]