Scorn - The Bear and Badger

equinox_code

I rather like this. Surprisingly, I think I even like it just the way it is. My first snap judgement from afar led me to expect an inelegant puzzle game held together by a charmingly repulsive aesthetic, and that might well be true, yet somehow I've come to oddly appreciate its awkwardness. Somehow the setting and tone lends itself quite well to all the general objective jank. Playing this- albeit intermittently- inspired me to redownload the Witness, which is clearly a far superior box of problems to solve, but at the same time its sleek, refined puzzles would seem a bit out of place here.

I have only played a couple of hours in total so far, spread over a handful of 30 min micro-sessions. This seems to be a good way to approach it. If I'd played for longer frustration would have set in, and then I'd have gone looking for clues online, which I've managed to avoid doing so far.

For anyone else playing this who intends to post, please stick any and all objective clues into spoiler tags, no matter how small they are.

nick_md

Playing this with the missus atm and we're enjoying it too, although we've taken the approach of, if we get stuck for more than 15 mins or so, we get direction online. She'd tap out if we didn't, and tbh I'm just enjoying the overall tone.

So far we've resorted to a walkthrough twice, but one of those we still had to solve the thing when we got there so I'm not particularly fussed about doing so.

Will be playing more later.

Brooks

Watched a playthrough just to see the various phases of the cosmetics. Expected more of the scenery to throb and wobble tbh. Maybe that's in the sequel.

Brooks

It's called Scorn because

Spoiler:

b0r1s

Had a quick 15 mins on the Steam Deck and it works quite well, guessing because it’s slow paced. When back home I’ll give it a proper go on the big screen.

Dark Soldier

Booted it up yesterday on the ultrawide and it looks stunning. Have a feeling bar the setting I'll absolutely fucking hate it though.

Moot_Geeza

Will give this a crack next week. It's quite short, apparently.

Wookienopants

I'm quite enjoying it

b0r1s

Moot_Geeza wrote:

Will give this a crack next week. It's quite short, apparently.

That’s good.

Bob

Reviews read like a 6

n0face

Video in the OP please, I don't like to have to go looking up a game to find out what it's about.

equinox_code

Bob wrote:

Reviews read like a 6

It’s not the sort of game I’d want to play to a deadline

nick_md

Played a bunch more and enjoying it, no further guide checking required either! Not sure how far along we are but we've just got to a bit where

Spoiler:

Wookienopants

I'm at the same part as you Nick.
I'm just about to

Spoiler:

nick_md

These are all going to be risky spoiler clicks aren't they

Not sure we'll get much further in the week but we'll see.

JonB

I've played it all and I've no idea what those spoilers are referring to. So you'll probably be fine.

equinox_code

Brooks wrote:

Watched a playthrough just to see the various phases of the cosmetics. Expected more of the scenery to throb and wobble tbh. Maybe that's in the sequel.

it's a shame it's so static.

Kow

Not what I was expecting. It is kind of foul in its aesthetic though.

Brooks

If there's one guy who'll always have an iteration of his shit being ahem, explored by videogames, it's Giger. Beyond cliche, now tradition.

Blocks100

Is this a straight forward FPS or some sort of puzzle adventure game where you have to re-arrange your own guts in order to open the door?

nick_md

Very little S-ing so far.

Kow

Rearrange somebody else's guts, maybe yes.

Wookienopants

It's absolutely not a shooter.
Think of it like a puzzle adventure game in the style of Myst or Riven.
Wonder round the grotesque environment, solve puzzles with very little in the way of hints, signposting or even narrative.
It's very good

Unlikely

It's very slow.

Wookienopants

It is. I'm quite enjoying the pace though, put my headphones on and just immerse myself in the filth

b0r1s

It's... alright. Have to say I was stumped at first but it's just a case of find thing, stick it in thing, get thing, stick in another thing. I think there is a bug on PC when you aim your gun and release the aim your view stays zoomed out which looks silly as you have these gangly arms floating in front of you. I'd also say the body stuff is so abstract it doesn't seem that horrific.

b0r1s

Tried this on Xbox and the stupid gun aim view that stays on when you stop aiming can’t be a serious design choice?

nick_md

Can't say I've noticed any problems but I haven't..

Spoiler:

b0r1s

Yeah that thing… when you aim it the view zooms out with your armed extended. When you stop aiming the camera stays as it was, looks stupid.

superflyninja

Ive only played half an hour or so of this so far. Really enjoyed the whole mood and feel of it. This may sound strange but it feels like Im playing in the box art to an Amiga game. Maybe a Psygnosis game cover or something like that. Some grand epic, alien sci fi landscape that the game never had a hope of replicating. That may not make much sense but it feels very...old school. Anyway I hope to play more soon.

Speedhaak

Brooks wrote:

Watched a playthrough just to see the various phases of the cosmetics. Expected more of the scenery to throb and wobble tbh. Maybe that's in the sequel.

A hot-take worthy of Mordor.

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