"Signal" (SIGNALIS) game can be said to be one of the dark horses in independent games in 2022. Its extremely high game quality has received "relative reviews" on the Steam platform. In terms of gameplay, the game pays tribute to the early works of classic horror puzzle games series such as "Resident Evil" and "Silent Hill", but what is even more unforgettable is the plot of this game. There are no spoilers in this review.
1. The gameplay of horror puzzles with a full retro flavor
"Signal" pays tribute to the early "Resident Evil" and "Silent Hill" in terms of gameplay. The heroine played by the player needs to unlock various mechanisms and puzzles by finding key props and information. At the same time, she also needs to use weapons with scarce ammunition in her hands to deal with infected monsters in a closed space, full of tension and oppression. But the most oppressive thing is actually the extremely limited backpack lattice - the backpack has only 6 grids, and there are only 6 grids from beginning to end, which cannot be expanded. During the game, we often need to collect some key props for solving puzzles, and also carry weapons and ammunition. The grid is often not enough.
Since the heroine played by the player is exploring layer by layer in a base, there will be a room equivalent to a safe house on each floor, where there will be archive points and prop storage boxes. Players can only adjust the items carried by their backpack here, so they need to go to the safe house more frequently after the middle period, and the game process requires patience.
2. Dystopia, cyberpunk, Cthulhu, classic elements are gathered
The developer of the game "Signal" has a very idea. He has added a lot of elements to this game, which increases the attractiveness of the plot. For example, a book about "The King of Yellows" appeared in the early stage of the plot. After players pick up this prop, they will unlock an achievement. Players who have a little bit of knowledge about Cthulhu Mythology can see the special features of this prop. The plot is about the relationship between the frequently appearing bionics and humans (called "gesty" in the game), and also tells the disputes behind them to players through fragmented narratives, where dystopian and cyberpunk elements are interspersed into it to build a complete worldview.
3. Excellent plot with full suspense
The plot of the game "Signal" can be said to be the soul of the entire work - if the retro gameplay is external packaging, then the plot with full suspense is its core. The heroine played by the player is actually a bionic body. The bionic body has some common memories and consciousness with its human body, but the mental state of the bionic body is not stable and one needs to stabilize one's consciousness by writing a diary. This is why we will find a large number of scattered diaries during the exploration process - those diaries are actually written by the bionic body in the base, but they also record some key information. When the player plays a bionic heroine enters this abandoned base, many bionic bodies have been infected and mutated. We need to fight against the mutant to ensure our own safety, but the truth behind this is confusing. The plot of the story is a bit obscure, but it is precisely this that creates a sense of suspense, and it is difficult to understand the whole picture and achieve the true ending in one week. Once you pass the real ending, players will find the hidden narrative tricks in it - in fact, a lot of information is mentioned in the plot, but it is just a grass snake gray line, which is difficult to detect.
4. Conclusion
"Signal" is a horror puzzle game. It pays tribute to ancient classic works in terms of gameplay, which is very consistent with its pixel style; in terms of plot, it boldly integrates multiple elements to tell an interlocking suspense story. If you like plot-oriented puzzle games and do not exclude horror elements, this game is worth trying.
