Chris InglisConscript is a harrowing survival horror game developed by Jordan Mochi of Catchweight Studio and published by Team17 and launched on July 24 on PC and consoles. Set in 1916 against the backdrop of World War I, the game offers a unique and immersive experience that delves deep into the brutal realities of trench warfare. With its atmospheric audio and visuals, challenging gameplay, and poignant storytelling, Conscript is worth your time for a glimpse into the past.
The game’s story follows an unnamed French soldier who is conscripted into the war. His journey is driven by a desperate search for his missing brother. As he navigates the treacherous terrain of the Western Front, he encounters a variety of horrors, including enemy soldiers, toxic gas, and the constant threat of death. The story is told through a series of haunting vignettes, revealing the psychological toll of war on the protagonist.
The sense of dread is instilled early with the sounds of bomb explosions during the loading screen and once you start a playthrough, the game’s setting is immediately striking. The trenches are dark, muddy, and filled injured or dead soldiers, with the constant threat of danger ahead. The mood is tense as you move forward through the trenches with the sounds of gunfire, explosions, and the screams of the wounded echoing through the wasteland. Conscript does an excellent job of capturing the despair and hopelessness of war.
As a lone soldier, you must scavenge for supplies, navigate treacherous terrain, and defend yourself against both enemy soldiers and the horrors of the open battlefield. Some soldiers will charge at you with a shovel, while others will be armed. Occasionally you will come across a machine gun that you can control. These have limited bullets, and you will hear a whistle blow which indicates an enemy is charging your position. You may also see a dark shaded circle on the ground, and this indicates a bomb is incoming.
The game’s survival mechanics are well-implemented, requiring careful resource management and strategic decisions. Bullets are scarce and rifles take time to reload, so you must make every bullet and bandage count. The trenches are filthy with mud, blood and bodies, so infection is a threat. You can combine items within your inventory, such as combining disinfectant with a bandage to give you additional healing and to cure ailments. As such, keep an eye out for rats that can bite and infect you. They are hard to hit and can be kept at bay with fire but for that you need fuel and a lighter which you find later.
The combat is intense and requires skill and precision. Movement pace can be slow, especially in some sections that require backtracking. On the same token, these long corridors are a good means to run away to put some distance between you and oncoming enemies so you can take aim or reload your rifle. The game’s difficulty can be punishing at times, and I particularly struggled against the heavily armoured troopers that will keep charging even after a grenade blast at their feet.
There are save rooms you can find and are noted on the map, and depending on the starting preferences you chose, saves are limited by the numbers of ink you find. Otherwise, other difficulties give you limited or unlimited save points. You will come across vendors, weapon upgrades and storage chests but these are few and far between. You are largely fighting on your own, so the sense of accomplishment that comes from overcoming its challenges is incredibly satisfying.
Overall, Conscript is a well-designed survival horror game with an atmospheric setting, challenging gameplay, and poignant storytelling. It showcases the horrors of trench warfare in World War I and tells a haunting story around a soldier searching for his brother while defending himself against fierce adversaries.
This review utilised a Steam key provided by Team17 and Conscript is out now on Steam, GOG, Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch.
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Yonan