In the realm of survival horror games, indie developers Fairyship Games and Revenant Games aimed to deliver a captivating experience with their latest release, Shame Legacy. With promises of stealth, puzzles, and an eerie atmosphere, the game had the potential to become a standout title in the genre. However, upon diving into the forsaken cultist village set in the 19th century, it eventually becomes clear that Shame Legacy fails to live up to expectations and potential – here’s our take on the PlayStation version.
Shame Legacy places players in the shoes of William, a man awakening in a mysterious cultist village with no memory of his past. The story slowly unfolds as players navigate the village, facing relentless pursuit from possessed villagers and a fiery demonic figure. While the premise holds promise, Shame Legacy ultimately falls victim to clichéd narratives and fails to deliver a truly engaging and remarkable storyline. The events can be confusing, leaving players struggling to grasp the purpose and significance of their actions due to some sub-par writing.
One of the most frustrating aspects of Shame Legacy lies in its poorly designed gameplay loop. Combining elements of a walking simulator, stealth, and puzzle-solving, the game heavily relies on crawling and hiding mechanics that quickly become repetitive and tiresome. Stealth is hindered by an unreliable noise mechanic, where any sound can attract demented villagers to the player’s location. Even with a defensive weapon at hand, the quick-time event sequence leaves players defenseless afterward, leading to frustration and an overwhelming feeling of helplessness. The AI pathing of the villagers isn’t great, causing regular frustration and making it difficult to progress. Additionally, the lack of a manual save feature and long load times further don’t help either, diminishing the overall gameplay experience.
Shame Legacy’s can appear impressive at times, at least for a smaller production, but a few static and blurry environmental assets and character models don’t work in its favor. It’s also a game that’s limited in content, with a campaign that offers around 2-3 hours of gameplay, and long load times and screen tearing should have been fixed before the PS5 launch. On a positive note, the game does succeed in creating an eerie atmosphere through its sound design and soundtracks, skillfully manipulating sound to invoke a sense of dread and tension – once the performance issues are fixed, that aspect will provide a strong foundation.
While Shame Legacy has its flaws, it does offer some enjoyable puzzle-solving challenges that can be considered a positive aspect of the game. The mind-bending puzzles provide a refreshing break from some of the more frustrating elements, ironically making for a game that’s more appealing for its puzzles than its horror elements. These include forced chase sequences that lack purpose, leaving players without a clear understanding of why they are being pursued.
Shame Legacy fails to deliver on its promising premise, leaving players with a frustrating horror experience that falls short in various aspects. The game’s clichéd narrative, poorly designed gameplay mechanics, and lackluster performance contribute to this. Despite offering some engaging puzzles, Shame Legacy’s shortcomings make it difficult to justify recommending this game. Players seeking a satisfying survival horror experience may find more enjoyment by waiting for significant patches or looking elsewhere.
Score: 5.5/10
Press Play Media 