As a fan of survival horror games, I was more than eager to get my hands on Prime Matter and Brass Token’s latest collaboration, the cult-centric The Chant. A game that sends you as a player into a psychedelic fever dream filled with monsters and mayhem as you navigate a seemingly abandoned island, looking for an escape.
It’s a game that I was instantly drawn to after having seen its combat and unique psychological horror aspects that had me drawing comparisons to some of my favorite horror gaming franchises ever. Having played the game through, I can definitely say that this is one that you are not going to want to miss.
The Chant Review Big Takeaways
- The Chant manages to find a balance in its gameplay that keeps things feeling fresh throughout its duration.
- Fans of the survival horror genre will find something wholly new yet familiar here.
- The characters, both human and spiritual are intriguing and keep your attention.
- The Chant doesn’t overstay its welcome, capping off around 6 hours or so.
Final Score: 9/10
A Cult Worth Saving
From the game’s opening moments, you really feel drawn into the story that this title is trying to tell. Not only does the game’s main protagonist Jess have her own regret and guilt that she bears, but the other members of this cult community are also real people with real issues that most people could relate to.
The story does a great job of humanizing its characters, allowing for you to care about them enough that you fear for their safety and sanity. The subject matter on display can be quite harrowing, though nothing is too uncomfortable to hear, to the point where the game turns into a totally depressing experience. Each character has been through some stuff, and the care that each of their stories was handled with is exemplary.
Related: Review: Honey, I Joined a Cult is a New Cult Classic
An Island of Lost Nightmares
Not only do the game’s characters draw you in, but so do the locations you’ll visit. There are about 6 or 7 areas that you’ll bounce between over the course of the game, with each one being extremely memorable. Each has its own character, though makes sense in the fact that it exists on a basically abandoned island.
There’s also a great amount of dread to be found in most locations, with sacrificial alters, bodies burned or hollowed out, and scribbling on the walls that seems reminiscent of the Evil Dead films’ Knowby Cabin. This game really feels original in its own right though pays great homage to other titles in the horror genre while not taking the immersion away from you as a player.
The Enemies Are Fuel to Your Nightmares
While most of the human characters are folks that you can level with, it’s the enemies that just send you the other way. These are some truly creepy character designs, and they will make your skin crawl. You have the spiritual enemies that either resemble flowers in a really gross alien-like way or look like giant versions of the most nightmarish bugs, but then you have the subtle, off-putting cultist that, while looking human, exhibits animal traits.
And I honestly have to say, all of the work here was done effectively. I was also very surprised to see just how many different kinds of enemies there were that fell into these camps. It seems as if a new enemy is introduced every 10 minutes or so, at least.
It’s Time to Banish Some Cultists
Something that truly impressed me about The Chant is its robust gameplay. There’s actually a lot at play here, but it all comes together perfectly. Movement is smooth, combat is intuitive, and there’s a great sense of exploration that doesn’t seem too overstimulating.
As a huge fan of the Alan Wake series, I felt very at home with The Chant for one reason or another. Sure, there’s the wooded location and the spiritual or supernatural elements, but the unique gameplay that never stops evolving is where I really draw the comparison.
It’s a game that takes what may be mundane weapons or puzzles in any other devs’ hands and turns them into the sole reason why you want to keep playing. Especially when it comes to combat, it’s a buffet of experimentation though doesn’t trail off into being an overly ambitious RPG wannabe.
Every weapon you craft, every puzzle piece you pick up, and every ability that you can use has a purpose, and you cannot succeed unless you utilize them all, at the same time in most cases. It’s a simple yet direct approach that pays off in a big way once you finally see those credits roll.
I Think We’re In A Cult
The Chant is by far one of the most enjoyable gaming experiences that I’ve had in the last decade. It’s a game that I finished in a playthrough and it’s because it’s just a truly enjoyable game from start to finish. It’s also a game that doesn’t overstay its welcome, clocking in around 6 hours depending on the difficulty you play it on and if you want to explore.
If you’re looking for a game that falls in line with a lot of the other survival horror games but manages to do things in an original way, then you owe it to yourself to give this one a shot. It’s a great world to immerse yourself in and the combat is highly addictive.
The Chant is available now on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC.
Be sure to check out some of our guides for The Chant so that you can watch those credits roll too!
