Ever since it found great success with the slasher-horror gameUntil Dawn, Supermassive Games has doubled-down on its cinematic games that blur the line between video game and feature film. It has continuedUntil Dawn’s legacy with its anthology seriesThe Dark Pictures, which has so far consisted ofMan of Medan,Little Hope, and soonThe Dark Pictures: House of Ashes, which will offer a new cast of characters, a unique setting, and more. Supermassive Games recently showed offThe Dark Pictures: House of Ashesin more detail, giving fans an idea of what to expect when it launches later this year.
The Dark Picturesfans that have completedLittle Hopeand stuck around for the secret ending have already gotten a glimpse at whatThe Dark Pictures: House of Asheswill have in store. Essentially, the game is set in the Iraqi desert in 2003, at the height of the Iraq War. Rachel King,played by Ashley Tisdale, arrives in the arena with her team of soldiers, comprising of Jason, Nick, her husband Colonel Eric King, and some others.
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Unfortunately, the team finds themselves trapped below ground in a bizarre, ancient temple that just so happens to be crawling with monsters. This event will lead the group to team with Iraqi Salim Othman, who will serve as one of the five playable characters thrust into this hellish situation.
Horror Inspirations
Just like previous iterations ofThe Dark Picturestook inspiration from existing horror franchises, so too doesThe Dark Pictures: House of Ashes. The footage shown by Supermassive Games made a direct reference to Mesopotamian demon Pazuzu, who is perhaps most famously known for being the demon that possesses Regan MacNeil inThe Exorcistbook and movie. However, the horror influences don’t stop there.
Supermassive has specifically namedAliens,Predator, andThe Descentas other horror movies that have influencedThe Dark Pictures: House of Ashes. And based on the gameplay footage shown, it’s clear to see how these franchises influenced the game. The group of soldiers is well-armed and facing an entire “nest” of monsters, which calls back to the atmosphere ofAliens. The way the monsters are virtually unseen and are picking off members of the team from the shadows is reminiscent ofPredator, while the underground setting and the look of the creatures (from the brief glimpses Supermassive afforded fans) are clearly inspired byThe Descent. Supermassive has also citedH.P. Lovecraft’sAt the Mountain of Madnessas inspiration.
Whether or not all of these ingredients add up to something truly compelling remains to be seen. So far, it seems as though this installment ofThe Dark Pictureswill finally lean into the supernatural, as opposed to previous iterations that have always found some kind of “logical” explanation for the fantastical goings-on.
Gameplay Improvements
The Dark Pictures: House of Ashesis going to be instantly familiar to anyone that playedThe Dark Pictures:Man of Medan,The Dark Pictures:Little Hope, or Supermassive’sUntil Dawn. It is essentially a playable movie, where player choice has an impact on each character’s fate and various plot points in the game. But whileHouse of Ashesisn’t exactly rewriting the book onThe Dark Pictures, it is still bringing some important gameplay improvements to the table.
The most notable gameplay improvement inThe Dark Pictures: House of Ashesis easily the new 360 degree camera, which controls like a more traditional video game camera as opposed to the fixed camera angles used in previous installments. Supermassive’s goal with this camera was to make the gameplay more immersive, and it definitely seems to be accomplishing that goal, based on the footage shown. It looks as though it will help to draw players into the game world in a more impactful way, though players will need to get their hands on the game for themselves to be sure of how truly effective it is.
Other gameplay improvements include the new Flashlight button, which allows players to sweep the area for secrets and hidden paths. Players can also adjust the difficulty setting this time around, addressing one of the main complaints fans have had aboutThe Dark Pictures: the QTEs. Easy, Medium, and No Holds Barred difficulty modes are all available, determining the speed of the QTEs and making them easier or harder depending on player preference.
There’s also going to be a next-gen version ofThe Dark Pictures: House of Asheson PS5 and Xbox Series X, offering some enhanced graphics but no gameplay improvements. IfThe Dark Pictures: House of Ashesis using the PS5 DualSense controller in any unique fashion, it wasn’t mentioned by Supermassive Games.
Regardless, it’s clear thatThe Dark Pictures: House of Ashesis making some major strides when it comes to the gameplay. While there are some key changes, fan favorite modes will also return, with the game offering the usual Shared Story, Movie Night, Theatrical Cut, and Curator’s Cut options. As is typical ofThe Dark Pictures, theCurator’s Cut will be a pre-order bonus, offering fans some alternative scenes and perspectives not found in the Theatrical Cut.
WhileThe Dark Picturesgames certainly have their fans, they haven’t escaped criticism. BothThe Dark Pictures: Man of MedanandThe Dark Pictures: Little Hopereviewswere mixed compared toUntil Dawn, so here’s hoping Supermassive can find its footing whenThe Dark Pictures: House of Ashesreleases later this year.
The Dark Pictures: House of Asheswill launch in 2021 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
