Downfall Demo

As many games proved over the years, it really doesn’t matter how powerful the graphics engine is if the actual gameplay is top-notch. This is especially true for adventure and horror games, where the puzzles and the atmosphere are much more important than the other components. Hence, it shouldn’t be surprising that a sidescroller can be more terrifying than a first-person shooter featuring state-of-the-art technology to render the ugliest possible demons.

Downfall is a 2D horror-adventure game with a twisted story and a pressing atmosphere, as well as a couple of puzzles for you to solve. In case you are not aware of it, the game is actually a remake of an older title, and it also features a lot more content than the original. Besides that, the creators are the ones behind The Cat Lady as well, so you can be pretty confident in their ability to creep you out.

The story in Downfall appears to be quite simple at first, but things descend into madness at an alarming pace. In short, it all revolves around a couple that decides to enjoy a romantic getaway in a hotel somewhere. You get to play with both the husband and the wife, and they both have pretty weird experiences as they explore a variety of creepy environments.

Although this is labeled as a horror game, you shouldn’t expect cheap jump scares as the main gameplay ingredient. Instead, it’s all about the pressing atmosphere and the exquisite level design, because there’s always a feeling of despair floating in the air. There’s also a lot of blood and gore, so it should be mentioned that the game is not suitable for anyone under the age of 18.

As mentioned before, the game uses a two-dimensional graphics engine, which forces you to explore the world in a pretty linear manner. To avoid this, the designers have integrated multiple corridors and rooms you can visit, but this can get confusing sometimes. The sound effects are great, as is the voice acting that keeps the illusion going and brings the characters to life.

Just like The Cat Lady before it, Downfall is certainly a weird game, but obviously in a good way. The great level design helps a lot with the atmosphere, and the story gets more twisted with each chapter. Thus, if you are a horror fan, you should have no trouble seeing the game’s value.