A summer camp, a group of teenagers in the woods, and a mysterious curse. The perfect ingredients for classic American horror. The Quarries to bring to life the latest masterpiece from Supermassive Games.
Our preview of Until Dawn (PS4) had written the formula for the interactive horror genre and implemented it with The Dark Pictures gradually perfected. The Quarries This concept reaches its current peak. Players are thrown into a brutal fight for survival that will keep them on the edge of their seats with suspense. Rarely does one become so engrossed in a game as in our test of... The Quarries shows.
One last night of partying
As far as we know, a group of teenagers end up working as counselors at Hacket's Quarry summer camp, but you only enter the game after the season has already ended. The counselors want to use this opportunity for one last party night, unaware that this night will turn into the worst nightmare of all time, where everyone can live or die. The classic Supermassive Games formula, basically.
In The Quarries Once again, a motley cast of characters is brought together, representing on the one hand the wild teenage life with all its facets, clichés and types, and on the other hand the Hackett family – owners of the summer camp and guardians of the entire grounds around the camp, including a huge estate that is said to be inhabited by the Witch of Quarry.
As is typical of Supermassive Games, they have once again a strong cast brought on board, including David Arquette (Scream Series), Lin Shay (insidious) or Miles Robbins (HalloweenWith so much experienced background in the genre and excellent technical expertise at the forefront, it pays off. The Quarries This time, really go for it!
The Curse of Hacket's Quarry
The story of The Quarries As usual, gameplay forms the central element. It is essentially driven by the player's decisions and actions, including various jump scares, plot twists, and unexpected deaths that can drive you to the brink of madness. Without giving too much away, the game delves deep into the well of tried-and-tested slasher elements, bizarre moments, and the almost characteristically irrational actions taken in the heat of the moment – in this case, by the player themselves, without being able to foresee the consequences. But that's precisely what makes it so compelling. The Quarries and what makes the interactive genre so exciting.
Fateful decisions
It is not uncommon for fate to strike in The Quarries It always happens when you least expect it – and often in a pretty brutal way that leaves you shocked in front of the TV. Decisions that seem logical turn out to be deadly traps, in our case because running away isn't always the best option – but neither is hiding. Usually, the possible path to survival was taken much earlier, or the game was set up in such a way that death inevitably awaits at the end. At least Supermassive Games gives you the chance to revise the characters' fates three times and thus see more of the story. Incidentally, we had a pretty good run right from the start, and only three of the nine characters were lost. This sometimes determines whether you ultimately manage to break the curse of Quarry or not. If you lose too many characters along the way, the ending also feels... of which there are over 180It's a bit clumsy and leaves you feeling perplexed, simply because you're told the fate of the remaining characters. This can be quite unsatisfying.
As usual, the story is enlivened by the relationships between the characters, who cover the entire spectrum of personalities – the cautious overachiever Ryan, the tough cheerleader Emma, or the cool and somewhat goofy dreamboy Jacob – everyone is represented. That they don't always get along, that tensions arise, or that the occasional flirtation leads to jealousy around the campfire, is part and parcel of a slasher title like this. The Quarries It's simply a nice addition and allows you to catch your breath amidst the otherwise high tension. Ultimately, this also creates a stronger connection to the game; everyone has their own little favorite, and the overall package becomes even more appealing.
On the gameplay side, the focus is shifting back towards... Until Dawn and away from the close pursuit camera, as seen most recently in house of ashes (our reviewWithin the sometimes limited areas, players can explore, among other things, the camp itself, a huge lodge, a junkyard, or the Hackett family mansion. Along the way, they'll also find supplementary clues, backstories, useful weapons, or tarot cards, which they hand over to the fortune teller Eliza (Grace Zabriskie) after each chapter. She then... The Quarries the role of the curator The Dark Pictures It also shows you a possible future that you might still be able to influence. Unlike the curator, Eliza later becomes part of the story itself.
The rest of the gameplay consists of the familiar quick-time events; you can occasionally grab a weapon and shoot melons, or complete some platforming sections here and there. Overall, it plays The Quarries This means it's still largely like a movie, but especially in couch co-op or with a larger group, this is an advantage and enormously entertaining, as you don't have to concentrate so much on playing and you can simply enjoy the story.
Horror you can touch or in a retro look
Already house of ashes Last year left us speechless, impressively demonstrating how far animation and motion-capture technology has come. Supermassive can be considered a pioneer in this field, having... The Quarries They've delivered their most beautiful and polished game to date. Faces and animations appear more lifelike than ever before, lighting and shadows reach new heights, depth of field effects are skillfully employed, the narrative unfolds authentically and harmoniously, and, with only minor exceptions, feels absolutely polished. If desired, a retro or horror filter can also be applied to the image, which will... The Quarries It's like watching a VHS tape. That makes the camp seem much more sinister and is a really nice addition.
Conclusion
Awesome game on Xbox, highly recommended!