In the year 2084, a digital plague known as the nanophage has ended the lives of thousands. In the aftermath of this crisis, war and drug use have become commonplace in Kraków, Poland. To this end, Chiron, a powerful mega-corporation, has taken control of the country and has created the Observers – a specialized police unit with complete authority to hack into the minds of anyone. On one fateful morning, Observer detective Daniel Lazarski receives a call from his estranged son Adam. Upon reaching Adam’s apartment, Daniel discovers a decapitated corpse, and so the mystery unravels. This sets the stage for Observer, Bloober Team’s follow-up to Layers of Fear.
Do not let the fist person perspective fool you – Observer, much like the team’s previous outing, is an atmospheric adventure. While there are gameplay mechanics, do not expect to handle all that rampant crime going in hot with guns blazin’. The dystopian future is a mere backdrop to the gumshoe detective work at hand. As an Observer, your primary objective is to scan crime scenes for clues, anything that will help piece together the greater mystery. As you explore the dilapidated apartment complex you’ll come across rooms with a healthy smattering of blood; nope, nothing wrong here. Like any detective worth his salt, you can knock on doors of any tenants’ apartments. It is an especially nice touch that really adds to the atmosphere as the complex feels like a character unto itself. The world around you feels lived-in, genuine and insanely believable despite its Blade Runner motif. Oh, did I see motif – more like lifted whole cloth. but hey, if imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, what better to imitate than one of the single greattest sci-fi epics in motion picture history.
To aid in your pursuit of the truth you are equipped with two distinct types of augmented vision. Using the L Button you can highlight biological life and signatures which you can scan and gain further insight into what happened around you. The R Button allows you to check for electromagnetic waves which is useful in getting passed an obstacle or solving a minor environment puzzle. This is where the setting and the detective premise is pushed to such an incredible degree of detail as the act of just peeking into every crevice and every corner looking for clues is such an absolute joy. You’ll come across the occasional collectible as you comb over each and every room you have access too. But playing Dick Tracy is nothing compared to Observer’s nightmarish memory dives. Observer is horror game first and it plays to the genres greatest strengths. It is all about the atmosphere, the sort of which gets under your bones at times. And the memory dives act is little vignettes of madness that will more often than not have you checking to make sure all your windows are shut and the doors are locked.
Its a shame though that the beauty of the game is lost on the hardware limitations of the Nintendo Switch. Aside from the noticeable framerate drops, the game does not look its best in Docked Mode as the comprised visuals stand out a bit much on the big screen. Fortunately for a game that isn’t built around constant action, it isn’t as noticeable as it would have been for DOOM or Wolfenstein 2. But having played Observer originally on steam, the graphical difference remains. It mars the experience, albeit every so slightly and it is one that cannot be helped. Regardless, it remains a stunning title on the Nintendo Switch and it does not impact the atmosphere or the eye-catching visual effects one bit. And speaking of atmosphere, Observer is absolutely dripping with it.
The ability top open a door slowly adds to the tension and build on the game’s suspense. Each room is like an art gallery of horror and go hand-in-hand with the game’s exploration mechanics. The tension and the anticipation of what awaits you builds quite beautifully throughout your journey. Sure, there are a few jump scares that I could have done without, but its expected.
Even it plays its Blade Runner game a bit too closely to the chest, Bloober Team has crafted one fine horror experience in Observer. It is the sort of title that the Nintendo Switch needs more of. It is constantly engaging and it will keep you on edge for a many nights. Work of this quality needs to be celebrated and I can’t hardly wait to see what Team Bloober has in store for horror fans next. If you own a Switch and have a love for slow-burning, atmospheric horror, look no further.
A review key was provided by Evolve PR for the Nintendo Switch.
