Indie horror recreation developer Dominated are onto a pleasant little spree with their shortform Itch.io releases – seemingly, they’re skipping from phobia to phobia. First there was Automatonophobia, a recreation that navigated the concern of subterranean golems, then there was Chrometophobia, a recreation devoted to the concern of spending cash, and in addition to the act of discovering “grimbo” gibs for a scrumptious pie. What’s subsequent on the menu? Ah sure, scarecrows.
In Formidophobia, which may be downloaded at no cost, you’re a farmer attempting to make it throughout a hazy lofi cornfield. Your dad informed you by no means to go in that area. His dad informed him by no means to go in that area. Neither of them are round anymore, nonetheless, and your spouse wants medical consideration, so off you trot together with your bolt-action rifle and precisely one shell. With luck, you may discover extra shells alongside the best way.
The rifle is a cussed, slothful broomhandle of a weapon that wobbles drunkenly at abdomen degree and infrequently will get caught on different objects, dragging behind you in a method that makes me empathise for the weary arms of my character. The principal problem and supply of dread in Formidophobia is reloading it in a punctual trend.
The beginning space is a hoop of scrawly signposts that illustrate the method of pulling again the lever, tugging a shell from the holder, and shutting the gun up once more. The utility of these signposts is not that they inform you wield your gun, in my expertise – it is that different issues cannot stroll via them.
I benefit from the grubbiness, stodginess and general inhospitability of this recreation. Do not come anticipating “polish”, do come anticipating a briskly disagreeable meditation on the rasp of stems and the crickle-crackle of bones, deep within the mist.
