DAYLIGHT

WHERE NO SPOOK HAS GONE BEFORE

This game, ladies and gentleman... this game! I wouldn't say it's the best horror game but it definitely is the best when it comes to shocks and scares.

This game is brutal and if you are easily spooked, you might seriously wet your pants with this one... no joke!

Daylight, developed by Zombie Studios who did quite a few horror games already but also sadly closed at the beginning of this year, was released roughly a year ago (steam). It is about a woman who is trying to escape from a hospital/mental facility. Well, that's new, isn't it? No seriously, I realize the stories of - this kind of - horror games all seem a bit similar and probably boring, but there's always a difference in how they are told. And ultimately we should also ask ourselves if we play these games because of the story. I think setting, atmosphere and shock stand out much more in these kind of games. If you want play a horror game with a great story you might consider playing the Silent Hill series. Then again, there aren't as many heart-stoppers...

It is very interesting that after so many horror games I have yet to play one that combines both: A great and deeply psychological story with jump-scares that put you on the floor. But again: Regarding the latter, Daylight is most certainly the game that does it best from what I've played so far!

The game isn't that long but with a total playtime of approximately five to six hours among the longer (modern) horror games and surely a great deal for the money they charge for it. Your goal is simple: There are five (or was it six?) locations, ranging from hospital corridors to sewers and even a forest. In each location you have to explore as much as possible in order to find documents (no, you heard right). Depending on the area you are in there are about five pieces of papers that you have to find in order to spawn an artifact. After picking up the artifact you can open the exit and proceed to the next location. - That's it. Fairly simple, but you might laugh if I told you that it took us more than an hour to figure that out! You know how much I love those endless papers and letters in horror games, right? So naturally I didn't care much about picking them up. - However the documents in this game, while being the general mechanic behind it, are actually what they are supposed to be: additional to the story! You can follow the main story easily without reading them, since there is enough spoken dialogue and the story is well told as it unfolds naturally the more you progress in the game.

You might think that the goal of the game seems fairly easy and ask where the fun or rather spook is and to make it short: In exploration. Daylight scatters these documents you have to find randomly when you start an area. And although they have a small red light indicating their position, they are pretty hard to find. So you are forced to explore...

And the worst is, that while you are out exploring with your limited supply of glow sticks, you are hunted. There is always something on your heels, literally!

Aside to a lot of great (environmental) jump scares, just from cart board boxes falling for example, the ghost they made in this game is just perfect. They made everything right with this one! - It even looks super creepy and not like some sort of exaggerated monster. This ghost is relentless and it creeps on you all the time - even more the more documents you pick up. You can hear it, you can feel it. There is constantly something around you and you are never safe.

In all honesty, Daylight is a game where you just don't want to turn around... especially when you've run out of flares! Featuring great atmosphere, decent graphics, full controller support and the most terrifying spook I have ever felt in a game, I cannot but recommend this game to everyone who - at least from time to time - loves to be scared to the bones!

Play more! Relax more!