Conscript, the new game from solo developer Jordan Mochi, is a tense retro survival horror thriller. Jordan began his solo dev journey six years ago, and the developer’s DNA can be found throughout this game.
Conscript is a top-down retro-style survival horror that hearkens to games like Resident Evil or Silent Hill. However, the game trades in the fantasy horror tropes of zombies and ghosts for a more grounded experience set during the Great War.
Realism vs Formalism
Conscript has a distinct visual style. The top-down perspective angles slightly away from isometric with 3D character models traversing large labyrinth-like levels. Conscript puts you in the combat boots of a French soldier searching for his brother on a terrifying battlefield.
The game’s dark color palette and use of browns further emphasize its homage to horror games of old, where the atmosphere was everything, and the scares came from interesting level design instead of realistic visuals.
Conscript and World War 1
The most interesting choice here is Jordan’s setting for his game. Few games take place in World War 1, and those that do often focus on gunplay or strategy. Conscript is all about exploration and unlocking new paths. Every blocked path is a logic puzzle the player needs to solve. A gas-soaked rope tying a door shut means you need a source of fire. And the empty lighter you find is going to need lighter fluid. Searching for these items on their own is fun enough, but the tense setting of World War 1 bunkers gives the game its spirit.
The Great War, later known as World War 1, was a brutal conflict that often saw soldiers fighting one another in tight, confined trenches. Trench warfare meant that soldiers were up close and personal with their enemies. They would see their enemies’ faces turning the corner around a trench and proceed to fight for their lives. Conscript realizes this idea by creating maze-like levels with enemies slowly spawning the more you explore.
Combat and Exploration
The gameplay in Conscript consists primarily of exploration and combat. In every chapter, your character will start out exploring a large labyrinth level, unlocking new passages through key items. While you explore there are a few dangers for you to be aware of. There are open areas in the trench wire where enemies can get in and rat nests that can be destroyed with a grenade. Dealing with these entries means fewer enemies during exploration, which is useful as the game is also short on resources.
The second phase of Constripcts gameplay is the combat. Combat in Conscript is clunky, almost purposefully so. You cannot move and shoot simultaneously, forcing the player to stop moving, aim their gun, and then fire at the enemy. This makes every encounter in the game tense, especially when you’re running low on ammo. Most enemies can be avoided by hiding or running away. There are even significant battles you can skip out on, but be warned that you may be labeled a coward by doing this.
The Narrative of Conscript
Conscript has a unique narrative that’s firmly grounded in reality. No supernatural elements are at play; just a soldier fighting through hell in search of his brother, lamenting the easy life he’s left behind. Each chapter ends with a brief coda of the soldier returning home before being shipped to war. Here, small details about his and his brothers’ lives can be uncovered, but the story beats come few and far between.
The story of Coscript is good, but the plot points are dolled out sporadically in between hours of navigating maze-like levels. I would have loved to learn earlier on about our hero, what his home life was like, and what he’s missing by being away. Instead, the game relies heavily on atmospheric storytelling. The game’s dark corridors and relentless enemies do the heavy lifting of telling a compelling story.
Endings
There are many paths to take in Conscript and several subsequent endings based on your playthrough. Some endings are bad, others are less bad, but there is no way to escape Conscript unscathed.
Another relic of the past games, the parameters to meet each ending are strict and varied. You are given a letter grade at the end of each game, rewarding you for your work, but there is no good ending that you can grind for. The game is challenging and relentless and mirrors the feeling of accomplishment that comes from succeeding despite great sacrifice.
The Great War and subsequent wars that followed have left countless casualties. And not just the mortally wounded. Conscript deals with the fallout of war, what it’s like to leave home and fight for your country, and the toll those sacrifices take on one’s mental health.
Verdict
Conscript is an exceptional piece of art, but as a video game, it is not for everyone. The story is strong, the atmospheric setting is top-notch, and the feeling of dread is unparalleled in video games. But most of your experience playing Conscript will be aimlessly wandering through corridors, running away from rats, and searching for obtuse puzzle clues.
If you don’t have the patience to endure the endless backtracking in a roughly 12-hour game, Conscript may not be for you. Conscript is a game for old-school horror fans. It’s a game that demands patience and exploration. The game rewards you for taking your time and wants you to feel stressed.
The result is a piece of art whose gameplay matches its themes but can often lead to frustration. Some people will love Conscript, and others will hate it. Regardless, it’s worth celebrating that a game like this exists and can be created by one developer.