Classic survival-horror has been experiencing a renaissance in recent years. In addition to the critically and commercially successfulResident Evilremakes of the series' PS1-era sequels, developers in the indie gaming space have been hard at work creating new titles that inject modern game design and quality of life features into a low-poly PS1 aesthetic. 2022 saw therelease of the excellentSignalis, a moody and atmospheric blend ofSilent HillandMetal Gear Solidset in a dystopian sci-fi future. Fans of that game and other classics in the survival-horror genre now have another new title to look forward to - solo indie developer Vincent Adinolfi’sHeartworm.
Heartwormis a love-letter to the progenitors of the genre -titles such asResident Evil,Silent Hill,Alone in the Dark, and others that stand as the archetypes for what is now considered survival-horror. The developer released a demo for the game in late 2022 and, after receiving feedback from players, has recently updated the demo with some tweaks to the balancing and mechanics. While the title was originally targeting a Q4 2023 release window according to Steam, the developer has now pushed that date back to early 2024. If the demo is any indication, the final 1.0 release will be well worth the wait.
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Heartworm and Resident Evil’s Shared DNA
In a story setup that echoes bothResident EvilandSilent Hill, the beginning of theHeartwormdemo sees players entering a small remote town where a mysterious house is said to house secrets that allow one to communicate with the dead. After some brief exposition players are given control over the game’s protagonist, Sam, who has arrived at the house and needs to find a way in. While the game doesn’t use the infamous"tank controls" of the original trilogyofResident Eviltitles, the fixed camera angles and inability to move while aiming weapons (which, in the case ofHeartworm, is simply a camera) will feel and look familiar to fans of PS1-era survival-horror. In a clever nod to the older entries in theResident Evilseries, one of the first areas in the house players can explore is a safe room that features calm and inviting music alongside a computer to save the game in place of the iconic typewriter.
Another area whereHeartwormwears its inspirations proudly on its sleeve is in its implementation of puzzles. Though the demo only features a handful of puzzles, the ones that are on display are indicative of some clever design choices and require players to search the environment thoroughly for clues and documents that might help guide toward solutions.Heartwormeven goes so far as to feature two disclaimers at the beginning of the demo, one that warns of the game’s violent content and another that suggests players have a pen and paper handy for some of the more complex puzzles in store. While the few puzzles in the demo might not be too taxing for longtime fans of the genre,Heartwormis showing lots of promise toward staying true to theoriginal formula popularized byResident Evil.
A Narrative That Brings Silent Hill To Mind
PlayingHeartwormmight feel like hopping into a time machine back to 1996 and firing up the originalResident Evil, but the setting and plot share more in common with the existential dread andpsychological horror ofSilent Hillthan they do with the schlocky B-movie camp and horror commonly associated with the early RE titles. As the demo opens, the scene is reminiscent of the opening titles ofTwin Peaks, with Sam driving her car up a lonely mountain road into a desolate town in the mountains. It does not take long forHeartwormto begin preying on players' expectations and perceptions of reality, as doors that seemingly lead to nowhere open up to reveal haunting images and mysterious temporal or dimensional displacements. The game isn’tNight of the Living Deadas much as it isJacob’s Ladder.
Similar to last year’sSignalis,Heartwormis shaping up to be a new title in the survival-horror genre that carefully straddles the line between homage to the genre classics and breaking new ground while sporting a retro aesthetic. Even though the full release of the game is still some months away, the demo shows promise and is sure to please longtime survival-horror fans and newcomers alike. When one considers that this project is largely the work of a solo developer, the results become even more impressive. Taking into account the pedigree of games thatHeartwormlists as its inspirations, and the degree to which it faithfully adapts aspects of those titles, the future of the game appears, ironically, bright.
Heartwormis targeting an early 2024 release for PC and consoles
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