Beware of the noises
Siren Head: Retribution is a free horror action video game wherein you must make repairs at a forest ranger station while avoiding a strange creature stalking the woods. Developed by Nathan Brower, this game is based on the eponymous Siren Head, an original creature design by artist Trevor Henderson. Reminiscent of Slender Man, this monster gradually gained popularity after Modus Interactive created the very first game featuring it, and several horror game developers followed suit.
It lurks in the trees
Siren Head: Retribution starts with your character arriving at the Chattahoochee National Forest ranger station at night. You play as a mechanic, who came to do routine maintenance on the various machinery. However, for some reason, the lights are off, and the two rangers supposed to be on duty are nowhere to be found. Soon enough, you realize you have to repair a car to escape whatever is haunting the forest.
The goal is simple: you need to collect some car parts. You have a flashlight on your left hand, and you can interact with objects using your right hand. Take note, however, that you can only carry one item at a time. More, you can only interact with objects with a glowing outline. Unfortunately, you must conserve your stamina for running, as it doesn’t regenerate. There are three endings available: Good, Bad, and Secret.
The game is highly atmospheric, with its detailed 3D environment and the ambient sound effects. Even Siren Head’s noises can be heard from specific directions and proximity to help you pinpoint him in the darkness. Despite being the only character around, the place still feels alive thanks to the rangers’ numerous notes to each other that they’ve left lying around. These also help you with what to do and what’s the story behind the disappearances.
Not just another Siren Head game
Overall, Siren Head: Retribution is a challenging title when compared to other Siren Head games. While it’s highly unrealistic, the non-regenerating stamina mechanic makes the gameplay all the harder as it forces you to explore carefully when collecting the parts. Despite its short length, this horror game feels fleshed out with its detailed locations full of background objects and interactive items. It’s a shame that there are no graphics settings to adjust the lag.
