Carrion (2020)
Carrion flips the horror genre on its head, letting you be the monster but while the chaos is fun, a few flaws hold it back.
PLAYED ON: PC via PC Game Pass
You know, it’s not often that a horror game lets you be the monster instead of running from one, so Carrion immediately had my attention. Taking control of a writhing, toothy mass of tentacles and tearing through a secret facility sounded like a blast and for the most part, it was! Slithering through vents, grabbing unsuspecting humans and evolving into an even bigger nightmare was oddly satisfying. But while Carrion nails the power fantasy of being an unstoppable creature, it has a few rough edges that hold it back.
The movement in this game is one of the best parts. I loved how effortlessly the monster glided through the environment, pulling itself forward with those creepy tendrils. The pixel art style adds a great touch, making the monster feel distorted and unsettling while also giving the world a gritty, industrial atmosphere. Some of the facility’s areas started to blend together after a while, making it easy to get turned around. I often found myself backtracking without meaning to, which brings me to one of my biggest complaints; the lack of a map!
Exploration in Carrion follows a Metroidvania structure, where new abilities let you reach previously inaccessible areas. The idea of tying abilities to different monster sizes was clever but constantly having to shrink or grow for puzzles got a little tedious. Combat could be chaotic in a fun way but there were times when the controls felt a bit too messy, especially when dealing with multiple enemies. At first, flamethrowers and shields felt like real threats but once I figured out their weaknesses, they became more of a speed bump than a challenge.
The game also doesn’t put much focus on storytelling, which I found a little disappointing. There are some flashback sequences that hint at how this creature came to be but that didn’t add much to the experience. I didn’t need a full-blown narrative, though a little more context could’ve made the rampage feel even more engaging. Still, even without much story, there’s something undeniably fun about the pure chaos of being the monster and watching terrified scientists scramble away.
Smash Hit Score: 3.5/5
Carrion is a fun, unique twist on horror that’s worth checking out, even if it’s not perfect. The movement is fantastic, the pixel art is well done and playing as a terrifying creature never gets old. But the lack of a map, some frustrating controls and repetitive environments keep it from being a truly great experience. It’s a short fun experience if you’re in the mood for something different.
