The Sinking City Torrent by Frogwares is a third-person action-adventure horror game that has profound roots in the H.P. Lovecraft universe. The Cthulhu fashioned themes and recognizable gameplay make this a delight to play even though there are a few concerns around combat and movement.
Oakmont is the backdrop of the game, which is a 1920s coastal town that a devastating flood of paranormal origins has impacted. The town feels ancient and inhabited, and the destruction caused by the flood can be observed both on the surface of the structures and the agony on the NPCs’ faces. It’s one aspect this game executes very well, immersion in the plot. The voice acting is excellent, and the behaviors of the character models are outstanding. Every individual you encounter has subtle expressions that truly contribute to the storyline.
You assume the role of Charles Reed, a private investigator with a military background because this is a “Lovecraftian” narrative, and that is always the stereotypical focal point of the world; just consider the game “Call of Cthulhu.” The journey kicks off with your character grappling with ominous visions that beckon him to Oakmount in pursuit of a remedy before the insanity takes over.
Along the way, you’ll confront creatures known as Wildbeasts, which come in various varieties and dimensions. The combat in these instances can feel clumsy and sometimes reminiscent of the flawed camera angles of previous generation games like Silent Hill. Your character can move exceedingly sluggishly compared to your own reaction time during these moments. This might be to enhance the perception of the monsters being swifter than natural, but it ends up feeling more like an unrefined aspect of the game.
The aspect of the game that more than compensates for it, though, is the investigative work. It genuinely propels the narrative forward in a manner that renders every decision you make and every clue you discover a crucial part of the process. Your own paranormal ability is evocative of the “Detective Mode” vision in the Batman: Arkham games, if it were entwined with the incredible malevolence of Cthulhu. It transports you into the “Mind Palace” where you can perceive the shadows of events unfolding to deduce the motives of characters; it’s skillfully executed. Don’t linger there for too long, or you’ll sense the malevolence around you striving to ensnare you eternally.
The Sinking City Torrent’s somber environment is challenging to appreciate. It’s an expansive world game, allowing you to freely explore the avenues of Oakmont. And while I relish having to adhere to directions and pay heed to street names to locate crucial spots, this desolate, muddy, endlessly rain-drenched city is a thoroughly disheartening expanse to inhabit.
There’s some commendable world-building, including sectors that have been nearly entirely submerged, with only the summits of lampposts protruding from the turbid water. But on the whole, the city feels regrettably devoid of vitality, with automated NPCs meandering aimlessly, monotonous scenery, and an unmemorable, droning soundtrack intensifying the sense of gloom.
The Sinking City Torrent System Requirements
- OS: Windows 7/8/10/11 (64-bit)
- Processor: Intel Core i3-4350 3,6 GHz
- Memory: 6 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 760 GTX
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 35 GB available space
