Crow Country by SFB Games
Crow Country plays a lot like a classic survival horror game.
It’s closest to Resident Evil: there are no melee attacks – just a handful of ranged weapons at your disposal – and ammo and items are scarce. Puzzles are present, as well. It’ll feel familiar to fans of the genre but not like a lazy copy.
Scream Park
Crow Country plops our protagonist down in an abandoned amusement park full of monsters. You’re here to find Edward Crow, the owner of the theme park.
Along the way you, learn more about the horrific circumstances in which it abruptly closed. Most of the narrative is told via text documents and character dialogue. The park’s history and some of the key people involved slowly become uncovered as you progress. The story here is intriguing and left me curious to see how it all would play out.
The setting really helped the game sink its narrative hooks into me. It’s such a joy to explore all the sights and sounds within the park, like a fake graveyard complete with a crypt and dungeon or an aquatic-themed area complete with an arcade and dining area.
The amount of detail within each – like tables of rotting food in the aforementioned dining area – really sells the setting. The disheveled spaces set a bleak tone, and every area is so much fun to explore.
Survival Is a Walk in the Park
True to the genre, there are a number of classic survival horror enemies to deal with: big, small, and even some bosses. They walk slowly toward you, giving you enough time to dodge and run past them or aim and shoot them. The game allows you to avoid combat most of the time, which is essential when you’re running low on healing items or ammo.
As a survival horror enthusiast, I found the “normal” difficulty to be easier than most examples of the genre. Crow Country does throw a lot of enemies your way, but it’s really easy to avoid most of them.
It’s also generous when it comes to ammo, and with plenty of ammo to work with, the normal mode feels tuned more toward action, eliminating a lot of the tension normally present in the genre. This is good, as it creates a more chill, approachable survival horror experience.
As of this review, the developer has added another difficulty mode that increases enemy count and makes items even scarcer, which is perfect for those looking for a more tense ride.
Visual Frights and Delights
As much as I enjoy the combat, the camera is a hindrance at times. If your back is near a wall, the isometric angle can obscure the camera, making your aiming crosshair hard to see. Combat in cramped hallways is a bit of a nuisance.
Visually, Crow Country looks like something you’d see on the original PlayStation. Characters are purposefully designed with harsh, chunky polygonal shapes. Textures feel muddy, and objects are modeled with loving simplicity.
Crow County isn’t afraid to be colorful and vibrant, either, which helps make each area feel different. It’s all very striking and hauntingly charming.
The game opts for a more ambient soundtrack. It’s moody and does a great job of adding some dread to the overall experience. I also must make a mention of the game’s sound effects. Guns feel weighty and powerful. Enemies sound fantastically grotesque and creepy. It creates a wonderful visceral soundscape.
The Verdict
Crow Country is a fun, engrossing ride. It manages to do so much right with very minor flaws. In many ways, it feels like a love letter to classic games in its genre, but it manages to deliver something unique. It’s a fantastic survival horror experience that shouldn’t be missed.
Crow Country is available via the Sony Playstation Store, Microsoft Store, and Steam.
Check out the official trailer for Crow Country below:
