In the distance, a low roar spilled across the skies, echoing it’s foreboding song. Despite this, the boat rocked quietly along it’s appointed path, my gaze diverted to the pages below me. I was scarcely aware of any present company, nor the foreboding cast that grew in the sky overhead as we drew closer to our destination: Kingsport.
Long estranged since our youth, Victoria had convinced me along on this excursion; with some guilt, I’ll admit I still find it hard to resist her feminine charm. I sighed, calloused fingers turning a page deftly, eyes scouring through the notes of my father. The bold claims Victoria made were unfounded, yet curiosity tugged at me, unable to shake the fanciful hope of some truth being laced within her claims- her proclamation that he lived still. I had to see it for myself.
Yet the unease that dwelled within was made manifest: In the distance, a beam of light that should have been a beacon of hope cut through the stormy dismal squall that had brewed and stewed in heavy silence. Yet hope did not take residence here. Instead, a sense of looming dread swelled within my chest. In haste, I snapped the leathery tome shut- small particles of dust and paper swirling about me as I strode across the deck, quick to seek shelter within the doomed vessel as the storm built within the skies above.
Something was coming. Watching. Waiting.
This could no longer be diverted: We were inexplicably drawn to Kingsport, now wound within it’s threads. With a thunderous clamor, the floating metallic coffin vibrated, the eerily calm seas now thrashing with a sudden vigor. It was within mere moments, our accursed voyage came to an end- doomed to the salty seas below…
Or so, it seemed.
 

A cursed voyage from the beginning...?

Stygian: Outer Gods is a survival horror title developed by Misterial Games that is set in the universe of Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones. While sharing a title, the two games are vastly different, as the original gamer release is very similar to some of the older Fallout titles: A turn-based isometric CRPG. Meanwhile, Outer Gods has breathed new life into the franchise, placing a FPS spin on the newest introduction to the IP. That being said, I myself has no knowledge of Stygian prior to playing this latest entry, so this will be from the standpoint of someone going in utterly blind.

The astounding amount of attention to detail blew me out of the water.

Having no previous run ins with this franchise, I was going in solely based off of what I saw in the trailers. Off the bat my interest was immediately piqued, and frankly, I could tell within minutes they were well-founded. While initially hesitant, not being familiar with the developer, Misterial Games really caught me off guard. Thrust into the shoes of the main protagonist, Jack (Who despite having lost his father, or so he thinks, sets off with his former friend Victoria to accompany her to Kingsport), you are immediately surrounded by one of the most astoundingly beautiful and eerie office spaces I have ever seen. Instantly you can tell that items are all placed with intent, and I couldn’t help but poke around every nook and cranny- often finding myself rewarded with bits of flavor text or additional insight into the world.

There are two types of cards you will come across, some providing with skills, others improving your core stats. 

Graphically I was really taken aback, as I expected much less for the paltry $19.99 USD asking price. Moody backdrops, eerie villages, desolate and foreboding caves, sea-side shacks destroyed by an angry relentless tide- this game has it all. Everything feels placed with meaning, crafting a surprisingly immersive experience. The Lovecraftian tones lend well to the gameplay style, and honestly, between the UI and the overall atmosphere, I got MAJOR Resident Evil Village vibes. And honestly, I didn’t think it was a bad thing. Anyone who is familiar with the latest Resident Evil releases will likely feel right at home within the gates of Kingsport with its haunting beauty and eerie charm.

What exactly is sealed within the mansion casting a shadow over Kingsport...?

The sound design of Stygian is shockingly good- I expected far less, and was pleasantly surprised. From the shuffling of your feet as you pivot, to flicking your lighter- I found the sound design wildly immersive. The music was also highly enjoyable, setting the tone with it’s melancholy embrace, combat peaks with an edge of tension, to witches shrieking and whittling away at your sanity and the panic that ensues. That said, while music and the general sound design is strong, some players may have some gripe with the voice acting. By no means do I think the voice acting is bad, however, it sounds and reads like a novel. A bit over the top at times, and sometimes lacking some of the desired passion underneath. It comes of with a slight dramatic flair that lends well in some cases, and in others it did make me roll my eyes ever so slightly. Overall, for the price, I can’t complain.

Throughout your journey, you'll stumble across crafting recipes to help you along the way.

The story itself, while hitting shallow in some areas, is what really kept me pulled into the game. While I wish there was a little more background on the main protagonist, his circumstances, and Kingsport itself, what you get through exploration is… adequate. Players will likely notice the weakness of the relation between Jack and Victoria, making you wonder why he really even agreed to come along in the first place. I was left hungry for more connection to most of the characters you meet along the way, and I feel like in an attempt to have an air of mystery and intrigue some of the story just felt glazed over. The world of Stygian looks absolutely fascinating, and I wanted to have a reason to be pulled further in, and have more understanding when it came to aspects of the world itself, and the lore within it. You will find some, but it lacks enough to be noticeable, and be one of the largest shortcomings. Even with it being a weak link, the story is absolutely intriguing enough to keep players drawn in, and hungrily hunting for any tidbits they can find.

A balance must be struck. Be thoughtful in your decision. You might not live long enough to regret it.

Gameplay itself if slick and smooth, though combat can feel a bit clunky and slow. When using melee, blocking is an absolute must, and upon initially gaining access to firearms, you’ll definitely want to pick targets wisely. I did find myself wishing for more warning when coming near a point of no return, as some quests are time sensitive- once you miss them, they’re gone. That small qualm aside, while some of the gameplay is par the course per the genre, I did find the way some mechanics were interwoven was quite fun and stand-out, such as character stat customization. Using a narrative driven method, you can play with a default even build, or opt to give yourself strengths. However, balance in all things: You will have to pick some weaknesses as well. Pick wisely, especially when going in for your first foray in Kingsport.

Kingsport hides many insidious things- within it's town, forests, and anywhere you may least expect it.

Overall, Stygian: Outer Gods surprised me with it’s slick controls, fantastic musical score, and interesting story (when I could get my fill). I thoroughly appreciated the use of eerie and uncomfortable imagery and aesthetic over jump scares- leading to a much more deep rooted sense of fear than the over use of lesser mechanics. Unquestionably, I would have love to have seen more cohesive narrative and story, more refined combat, and better overall optimization. As of the writing of this article, a performance patch HAS dropped in Public Beta, and should be fully released later this week. Based on the feedback, it has absolutely improved quite a few of the complaints with low FPS and poor overall performance over longer durations of play. Though in general, while lacking a little bit of polish in some areas, for the low asking price and the exceptional overall package, I think it is well worth looking into. If you have a love for the surreal, Lovecraft, or Resident Evil, Stygian: Outer Gods has some beautiful twists and turns that are sure to keep you enticed.

Stygian: Outer Gods is currently available in Early Access on the Steam Marketplace for $19.99.