Review - Necrophosis: Full Consciousness

Developer: Dragonis Games

Publisher: PQube

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X, PC

Reviewed on: PlayStation 5

Sometimes it is difficult to put into a review how horrendously beautiful a game can be. Not only was Necrophosis: Full Consciousness a bone-chilling experience, but the story left me hungry for more. The storytelling throughout was spectacularly vile, yet captivating and appealing. By the endgame, the harsh reality has set in, and it is now up to you to accept your fate. All other options are gone.

Necrophosis: Full Consciousness sees players begin their quest in a dark cellar, or as I saw it, a dank dungeon. From the word "go," you have to solve a small puzzle just to escape this room and emerge into the daylight above. Just to break away for a moment, most horror games take place in near darkness. Using a daytime setting is no easy task, but this was not a problem for Dragonis Games, as it fit the playstyle marvelously.

The trouble has only just begun once you realize you are stuck in a sandy courtyard. Only after more exploration can the path forward be unlocked. The next 3 areas are similar, where you will need your wits and a keen eye to find the way. Next up is a darker area with a reddish tinge, ready to consume your soul and spit it right back at you. However, if you can survive the corpses sprinkled through the hallways, there is some logic, followed by the light that will guide you forward. The next area sees you become a spider, where crawling to success is the only answer. It is here that you start to realize that you may be the problem. After emerging into the daylight again, you are faced with 3 doors to alternate areas that require your full attention. Each environment features a series of tasks to reveal items that will spell the beginning of the end of your mission.

A door will see you placed on a narrow walkway, where you must collect a mask to progress to the final area, where the most hideous supernatural entity is waiting to seal your fate. Can you survive?

Skeletal Wasteland

Just when you thought daylight would shine some perspective on your situation, you escaped the dungeon only to find yourself face-to-face with hundreds more corpses. This theme will continue throughout the game, picking away at what little sanity you may have snuck in with you. Whether they are perched against a headstone or perhaps reaching out for a comforting hug, there is no way to avoid these skeletal friends. Interacting with these gentle boneracks is where you learn the impact you’ve truly had.

Explore if You Want to Survive

You must push your emotions aside if you are planning to tell your tale. Not immediately evident as you look around, but the ground around is where the clues are waiting. Not always visible, I want to shout out Dragonis again for highlighting objects of interest when you are near. This allows players to zero in on items driving progression.

From Spider to Giant Insect

Had I known there were going to be not only skeletons but also giant insects you get to pilot, I would have been a lot more freaked out. I could not have drawn up a grosser idea. A small spider saving the day in the depths of a hidden room, to an oversized bug you drive to an entrance you probably want to avoid. Not appealing on paper, I assure you; this was a treat.

The Story Took Hold

The way the story itself draws you in needs to be featured. There are so many critical choices that took Necrophosis: Full Consciousness to the next level. One of the eye-catching gems is the number of cutscenes. Sometimes a great story can fall flat when there is not enough theatrical content to make gamers feel as if they are living the experience. When you want to scare the pants off the audience, lots of cutscenes achieve this perfectly.

Having a balance of freedom and progression is always at the top of my list. I love being able to look around and let the atmosphere consume me, but I also want to be able to progress consistently. Both items were available in the exact quantities to appeal to players of both mindsets. As I mentioned above, highlighting objects of interest is a fantastic yet subtle way to get players back on track.

Controlling Your Destiny

Only after playing through the game completely did I realize Necrophosis: Full Consciousness and The Shore, a game I also had the pleasure of reviewing, will be released together as a double pack. Mentioning this is important as I quickly thought back and saw how similar the controls were. In both titles, your run button is the “left bumper." In The Shore, there is substantially more running that needs to be done, while in Necrophosis, you can take your time without fearing a rabid monster. That is why the need to relocate the run button is not as important. If the option to move this button to the front face were available, I would still appreciate the option.

May Cause Brain Damage

It does not take long to realize you will be pulling brains from the bodies you encounter, which cannot be healthy. Your investigation will uncover how important this brain matter is to bringing the dead back to life in the name of survival. There was one point where I had exhausted all the clues I could find, ultimately realizing that a brain lying at the feet of the skinless beings was the key. When in doubt, look for the brain!

Did You Survive This Review?

If there is only one takeaway from this piece, I hope it is the horrifically delightful experience waiting for you in Necrophosis: Full Consciousness. With all the makings of a deceptively bright nightmare, get ready to discover what it means to be the center of attention when the room turns on you.

NECROPHOSIS: FULL CONSCIOUSNESS IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

A code was generously provided for the purpose of this review.