PS1-styled horror adventure
HOUSE OF NECROSIS is a free-to-play adventure experience from Warkus. In this survival-horror experience, you are thrown into a zombie-infested mansion with one mission: to stay alive and survive. It is visually styled like the old games for the original PlayStation, with its low-poly shapes and animation. It creates a completely retro experience as even its controls are mapped specifically for a PS1 controller, although it maintains keyboard support.
Its overall feel and aesthetics make HOUSE OF NECROSIS visually parallel to Final Fantasy VII, although the overall creepy vibes feel closer to Resident Evil HD Remaster.
A fun horror house RPG
The first thing you’d notice with HOUSE OF NECROSIS is its authentic retro graphics quality. More accurately, its visuals look closer to a cross between Legend of Legaia and the first Tomb Raider. You follow a low-poly character from mostly top-view perspectives. However, it’s a turn-based game. It’s not entirely simultaneous as with Resident Evil, yet it’s not the traditional turn-based format you’d find with Final Fantasy.
As for the opponents, there’s quite a refreshing variety of enemies from basic zombies to what looks like grotesque flowers. Unfortunately, most of the enemies can be defeated with the same strategy. While there’s not a lot of thinking to do, you can still experiment with the variety of weapons available. You can equip one ranged and one melee at any point in the game.
Lastly, the game still remains incomplete. It cuts off abruptly after using one of the quest items. Whether it’s the full extent of the game or it has a sequel underway remains unconfirmed. Still, with the game available as it is, you will be left looking for more–especially after realizing that it does have a short playthrough that can be completed in under an hour.
A promising game
Overall, HOUSE OF NECROSIS is a good game. It comes as a fitting PS1 reference thanks to its controls and its visuals delivering an authentic, old-school PlayStation experience. It is fun and immersive, even despite its short playthrough and the lack of planning and strategy required to complete the game. Players can complete this game with a straightforward approach in a short amount of time. Still, a must-try.
