Low, electric hissing noises are something to be feared in Signalis. Chances are it’s merely a starship’s fluorescent lights flickering on and off — but it could also be some sort of bloodthirsty, malfunctioning android eager to rip the living apart. Hearing virtually anything from beyond a corner can make your hairs stand on end.
It’s the same flavor of psychological warfare that made Silent Hill stand out all those years ago — constant mind games where even the most straightforward act carries a life-threatening degree of weight. I would never carelessly make that comparison, especially as someone that grew up loving PS2-era survival horror, yet Signalis nails everything that makes the genre so unique. There’s plenty of catharsis in blasting cybernetic foes to bits for a brief moment of respite, but it also dries up ammo reserves and ultimately leaves you feeling just as helpless as before.
Signalis also takes cues from horror’s all-time greats in that it’s a haunting yet moving tale with extraordinary circumstances. Elster, the lowly survivor of a shuttle crash, is alone in a desolate frostbitten world and doesn’t remember much about what came before the sudden impact — only that someone special is on this planet waiting for her. No spoilers, of course, but this story’s brilliant twists and turns will likely tug at your heartstrings before the credits roll.
That scifi backdrop in Signalis also makes for some ridiculously clever puzzles, particularly any that require the radio. Mysterious audio signals reverberate throughout old colony stations, and many contain secrets to unlocking doors or finding key items. I’ll never forget writing down strings of numbers from a radio broadcast, then deciphering its hidden message through notes later. Eureka moments aren’t in short supply here.
Signalis is, without a doubt, one of the best horror games in recent memory. Contending with something like Resident Evil is no easy task, yet developer Rose-engine shows that even titans of the genre could learn a thing or two from indies. In a year overflowing with incredible games, Signalis stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the best of them.
Written by Kyle Campbell on behalf of GLHF.
