For some odd reason, 2020 just feels like the perfect year for terror. What with a revival of the classic Resident Evil 3 and a return to the Silent Hill franchise, horror is in for one monumental year. To make matters even more horrifying, the aptly-named Digital Happiness has returned with a sequel to their 2014 cult classic, DreadOut. This game goes all the way back to the early Markiplier days, proving that this Indonesian title is not only filled with horrific sequences but likewise infuses a narrative that dives deep into the player’s psyche.
DreadOut channels long-forgotten PlayStation 2 thrills with expert precision while still being, as even the developers write on the game’s Steam page, “…a fresh take on the survival horror genre.” Enter the ghost-riddled world of DreadOut 2, wherein the player is never really alone.
Players will control Linda, a high schooler with a penchant for ghost haunting. In order to save her town from the malignant serpent demon Blorong, Linda must banish various demons using her trusty cellphone, which mirrors its predecessor. The sequel, however, adds a whole new layer of Silent Hill horror with its non-linear action-adventure concept. Exploration is now a fundamental part of the experience, as this supernatural world beckons Linda to unravel its myriad of dark faults. No longer does the game feel on rails, as the nearly open-world is filled with various side quests, characters to meet (both alive and dead), in addition to a plethora of secrets to unlock…if, of course, one so dares.
Much like Home Sweet Home and that game’s use of Thai folklore, DreadOut 2 blends both Indonesian and Asian urban legends to add weight to the overarching narrative. After all, this wouldn’t be a survival horror game without its hideous and grotesque monsters, many of which will be the game’s most avid calling card. In order to stay alive, Linda must use an array of melee weapons to combat the festering demons that haunt her town, while likewise utilizing her phone to solve various puzzles along the way. DreadOut 2 does right by infusing a level of satire into the story, as well, what with the exploration of Linda’s school life and the various social climates wrought by the town’s dark underbelly sitting at the heart of the game. This is survival horror at its most original.
This game is not meant for the faint of heart. Proving of its tenure in the annals of classic horror, DreadOut was even awarded the EPIC MegaGrant, ensuring that its follow-up will be just as—potentially even more—terrifying than the original. With the likes of well-beloved franchises like Fatal Frame returning, classic horror is making a much-needed comeback. And, the sequel to DreadOut only amplifies that exciting fear tenfold.
Enter a city wrought by dismay and darkness come February 20th.
