On Halloween, there are few locations I’d reasonably be than in a Connor Sherlock forest. Often contrasting darkness with lurid colors and laying ace retro horror synth soundtracks excessive, he creates locations the place folks shouldn’t be. He by no means has jumpscares or monsters, simply creeping wrongness. On Halloween in 2014 I was playing Marginalia, a horror walk-o-story he made with Cameron Kunzelman, and this Halloween I’m delighted to be enjoying Marginalia’s new “HD remake”. Wander a forest, hear a narrative unfold, and look ahead to lights by way of the bushes – if you happen to dare, and so forth.
So! Our brother’s obsession with oddities has led him into the woods chasing a spooky historical past. After he doesn’t return, we comply with. Marginalia is a walk-o-story with spoken phrase snippets unfold out the world over, activated by approaching lamps and a few key areas. Unlike many walk-o-stories, Marginalia is unfold throughout comparatively giant areas, leaving us to roam the forest and valleys. You’ll probably be capable to comply with the principle story path simply, lamps lighting up fog by way of the bushes, however wander additional and… there are some unusual issues on the market.
I solely half-remember the unique sport, and my reminiscence probably mixes it with a number of of Sherlock’s video games, however this remake appears massively improved. I particularly just like the jagged shards of pure magenta gentle hanging round spookier areas, a way Sherlock has utilized in a number of video games. Stark stylised aptitude in a ‘realistic’ forest is a superb look. It can really feel like how outdated horror films used lighting, fog, and lens filters to blast otherworldliness, which is nice.
I imagine the script is reworked and the voice is re-recorded too. Good stuff.
Marginalia is $5.40 on Itch. If to procure the unique, it is a free replace so it is best to have already got it. Oh and if you happen to take pleasure in this, do additionally attempt last year’s Marginalia prequel which prompted this remake. And heck, for extra spooking attempt Kunzelman’s Catachresis or most of Sherlock’s walking simulators (he additionally runs his Patreon as a ‘walking simulator of the month’ membership for no less than $1).
