UFOPHILIA | PS5 Review

Publisher: JanduSoft
Developer: K148 Game Studio
PS5 Review

*Disclaimer: I was sent the code for this game on PS5 in return for a review; all opinions are mine and mine alone.

Do you believe in aliens? I do, but I also believe we are aliens to whatever else is out there. It makes sense, right? What could be more unnerving than arriving at an investigation site to see what is hidden in the darkness, only to be met by an alien? It's your job to find its location and what type of alien this could be. All whilst trying to avoid getting abducted by them, doing this is no easy task when the lights go out, eerie noises surround you, and you need to find the exit.

Much like Phasmophobia, this game is about using your investigation skills to complete the task. Instead of a ghost, you're against an alien. There are different types you will come across and have to identify; get it wrong, and it could spell disaster. I won't lie, for a lot of this game, I was terrified, it was tense, and it made my heart pound in the worst way possible. The noises I could handle, these are best experienced with a headset on to get that feel of playing the game from a first-person perspective. The lights going out were what scared me the most.

Before this takes place, I encourage people to play through the tutorial, take in the instructions carefully and use the first few missions as a learning tool. I struggled with learning what tools to use correctly and how to carry out my investigations at first. I was abducted more times than I would like to admit because I sucked at the game, or it could be that it's easy to get abducted; I'm not quite sure at this point. There are 9 alien types to identify, each with its own unique look, each just as creepy and scary as each other, standing around in the dark, ready to get you. I hated it. 

When trying to identify them and log it on the laptop, I found the constant back and forth to the van to be annoying at first, then it became my safe spot when I needed to run away from the aliens, I was able to pull myself together soo I could go back inside and exucute the plan of action whilst collecting any items the task had put in place for me. It would have been a lot more fun and less scary for me to have a multiplayer option. I think I would work better as a team than alone in a situation like this. I was pulled in, constantly telling myself one more run and I will get better at this.

Knowing you're facing something that is otherworldly gives the game that unnerving feeling, where in the silence, you feel a heavy feeling on your chest, and your heart starts to pound. The lighting and mood within this indie game do a great job of bringing this feeling out in me. As soon as I spotted the alien, I felt deep discomfort and ran away straight away. I'm a terrible horror player; I can't help it. UFOPHILIA is definitely a game for those thrill seekers who love horror. You can repeat missions and play however many times you want, which helps with trophy collecting. This game is out now and available on PC and PS5. 

Have a cosy day

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