Review: Hellpoint (Sony PlayStation 4)

Review by Matt S.

It's easy to understand the appeal of Dark Souls, both as a game to play and a creative target for developers. Dark Souls is densely creative, intricate, beautiful and compelling, and largely liberates developers of the need to tell nice, neat linear stories. Because of the "grind" involved in replaying sections, and the generally slow pacing encouraging exploration, these games can drip-feed their narrative in an atmospheric, non-linear manner, dragging players through the sheer sense of mystery and suspense. Meanwhile, the level design in these games is truly labyrinthine, intricate and a form of artistry unto itself. At least, all of this is true when it's done well. When these things turn out like Hellpoint, though, the demands on the player's time are simply untenable.

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