Bahnsen Knights review (PS5)

In Bahnsen Knights, the third installment of the “Pixel Pulps” series developed by LCB Game Studio that is being published by Chorus Worldwide Games, players are immersed in a gritty, post-apocalyptic world as an undercomothver agent named Boulder. Tasked with infiltrating the Bahnsen Knights, a fanatical cult with a penchant for religious fervor and – for some reason – Ford Sierras, Boulder must unravel the mystery behind his friend Cupra’s disappearance. The game promises a branching narrative, the gameplay style that made us enjoy the studio’s previous work, as well as a number of puzzles, all wrapped up in the distinctive style of Pixel Pulps even though this is a standalone title.

The narrative of Bahnsen Knights, set in a world where religious fanaticism meets extremely strong ‘finger of god’ style tornadoes, has a post-apocalyptic feel to it. The storyline is rich, and introduces the Bahnsen Knights, a cult led by the enigmatic Toni, a former car salesman with a twisted vision of salvation. Despite the narrative’s moments where its focus feels a little off, it compensates with a dense and gripping atmosphere, exploring heavy themes like how we’re judged in the apocalypse.

Visually, Bahnsen Knights embraces a retro aesthetic inspired by early 80s PC games, incorporating a distinctive color palette dominated by fuchsia and scarlet, contrasting with pitch-black surroundings. It’s reminiscent of Mothmen 1966, but has an identity of its own as well. The visual can be quite graphic at times, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game – which is further aided by the sound design, featuring droning music as well as the kinds of subtle details you wouldn’t have had in the early 80s games this one was inspired by – the 2-bit aesthetic with a CGA color palette being a clear reminder.

While a degree of freedom in approaching situations adds excitement to a narrative-driven game like this, a few seemingly arbitrary dead ends can lead to frustrating reloads, disrupting the flow of the otherwise immersive narrative. The game’s mini-games, including solitaire puzzles and quick-time events, also offer a mix of engaging and frustrating experiences, sometimes meshing seamlessly with the story and otherwise breaking immersion a little.

The narrative, despite its engaging atmosphere, is not without flaws as well. Boulder feels a need to constantly remind players of what he’s doing and why – almost as if he expects players to forget. If you factor that into the game’s short duration – Bahnsen Knights lasts for approximately an hour and a half, that feels strange. The unique premise stands out though, as does our antagonist Toni, who is an extremely memorable character with a very dark side but also a dose of charm.

Despite its flaws, Bahnsen Knights successfully maintains the Pixel Pulps series’ signature style, combining exceptional writing and stunning pixel illustrations that push the limits of what you can do with this 2-bit style. The game delivers a gripping horror experience, exploring themes of religious fanaticism and the darker side of human nature. Bahnsen Knights offers a fast-paced adventure with plenty of frights during its short duration, and fans of the series will love diving back in even though newcomers can just as easily appreciate it as a standalone story.

Score: 7.5/10