As survival horror games are one of my interests, I’ve been fallowing several different ones. The one that recently catches my attention is a game called the Blair Witch and has a really impressive environments and gameplay that works along really well.

The first and quite interesting fact is that the dog that is our companion, is guiding the player throughout the environment. The idea isn’t anything new, but the way it is implemented in this game is very impressive. The dog added a lot to the mood creation, immersion into the game and implement an emotional connection. The dog gives out signals when the danger is coming and pushing the player to explore the environment by walking in front of the player. This is a unique way of connecting the gameplay with the environment and through that companion, interact with it a little bit more. The player can give out commands to the dog (to go to the places the main character can’t reach), or pet him as much as they want, which builds a strong connection between the characters. This makes the game even more unique, as while playing, the user will probably care more about the dog than the main character. This in it’s purest form is a really wise move to create even bigger tension and immersion into the game.

The companion isn’t the only impressive feature in the game. The action takes place in the woods, and I have to admit, the care for details is at the high level. Although the game is dark and creepy for most of the time, the developers have been paying a lot attention to the actual trees and foliage. Even if the gameplay mostly considered walking around a forest, it’s changing the shapes, atmospheres, lighting and other crucial elements. I would like to apply similar feeling so my own project as by those small changes in mood, the environment doesn’t seam to be repetitive or boring.

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The game is available for pre-order now and should be released at the end of August.

Xbox, 9 Jun 2019, [online video] ‘Blair Witch – E3 2019 – Reveal Trailer’, Avaliable at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=74&v=bdTB4YNvOps [Accessed: 25 Jul. 2019]