PGC NEWS

The Chant, a cosmic horror adventure game developed by the relatively unknown Brass Token and published by PLAION (formerly KOCH Media), promises a chilling journey into Lovecraftian terror. While the game boasts an intriguing premise and solid gameplay mechanics, its narrative and character development fall short of expectations. This review delves into the strengths and weaknesses of The Chant, exploring its captivating world and ultimately underwhelming story.

The-Chant-Danh-Gia-Game

A Captivating World and Engaging Gameplay

The Chant unfolds on Glory Island, home to a mysterious cult conducting a spiritual ritual. When the ritual goes awry, the island is plunged into chaos, setting the stage for a terrifying adventure. Players take on the role of Jessica Briars, who arrives on the island seeking solace and healing with her friend, Kim. Both characters grapple with past traumas, and they hope the “Prismic Science Retreat” will offer a path to recovery. However, their journey takes a dark and unexpected turn.

The game’s premise, exploring mental health and trauma through symbolic imagery, resonates with similar themes found in games like Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice. The Chant’s monster design, featuring grotesque floral-headed creatures, evokes comparisons to The Last of Us Part 1 and even the Obscure series.

The-Chant-Danh-Gia-Game

Glory Island’s interconnected environment initially appears linear, but as players progress, they unlock shortcuts, creating a seamlessly explorable world reminiscent of God of War’s level design. The Chant excels in its well-crafted levels, offering a compelling blend of puzzle-solving and narrative progression. Players explore both infected and uninfected areas, battling various enemies and cleansing the land by destroying “boss” flowers.

The game features a rewarding exploration loop, encouraging players to collect resources for crafting, uncover lore entries and audio tapes, and gather herbs to restore Jessica’s mind, body, and spirit. These three stats are crucial for survival and can be upgraded using special stones found throughout the island. These upgrades provide valuable benefits, such as increased inventory space, improved parry abilities, and enhanced resilience.

The-Chant-Danh-Gia-Game

The Chant’s combat system is intuitive and engaging. Players utilize different types of incense as weapons, each effective against specific enemy types. The combat mechanics, including the dodge maneuver, draw inspiration from The Last of Us Part 2. Boss battles, both main and optional, are challenging and require strategic use of resources and abilities.

Overall, The Chant’s gameplay is polished and enjoyable. While it borrows elements from other successful titles, it seamlessly integrates these influences into a cohesive and satisfying experience. The game’s performance is also commendable, with smooth graphics, excellent voice acting, and immersive sound design.

Narrative Shortcomings and Underdeveloped Characters

Despite its captivating world and engaging gameplay, The Chant’s narrative and character development are its biggest flaws. The supporting characters are bland and underdeveloped, lacking the depth and complexity to evoke empathy or even disdain. They serve primarily as plot devices, guiding Jessica from one location to another, rather than as fully realized individuals.

the-chant-danh-gia-game-22.jpg

The story’s pacing feels rushed and disjointed, failing to capitalize on the potential of its intriguing premise. Jessica’s backstory, which involves a traumatic event leading to mental illness, is inadequately explored. Her quick adaptation to the horrors of the island feels unconvincing, lacking the emotional depth and vulnerability one might expect.

The game features multiple endings based on player choices, but these conclusions feel abrupt and unsatisfying, similar to The Quarry’s underwhelming endings. The lack of meaningful resolution and the illogical behavior of surviving characters leave the player with a sense of disappointment.

the-chant-danh-gia-game-20.jpg

Another minor issue lies in the game’s fast travel system, which utilizes color-coded flowers. The lack of a map, coupled with the confusing placement of these flowers, can lead to frustrating navigation issues. Players may find themselves getting lost more often when using this system than simply exploring the island on foot.

Technical Strengths and Artistic Limitations

The Chant boasts a technically sound presentation, with smooth performance and minimal glitches. However, the game’s art direction is underwhelming, lacking visually stunning locations. Character animations, particularly facial expressions and hand movements, appear stiff and awkward, especially when compared to games like Until Dawn or even the lower-budget The Dark Pictures Anthology: Men of Medan. The close-up camera perspective further detracts from the visual experience, limiting the player’s view of the environment.

The-Chant-Danh-Gia-Game-22.jpeg

Conclusion

The Chant offers a compelling blend of cosmic horror, engaging gameplay, and a well-designed interconnected world. However, its narrative shortcomings and underdeveloped characters prevent it from reaching its full potential. While the game’s technical performance is admirable, the uninspired art direction and limited visual scope further diminish its impact. Ultimately, The Chant is a mixed bag, offering a thrilling yet ultimately underwhelming experience.