By akademiotoelektronik, 10/01/2023
Test Maid of Sker: a survival-horror inspired by Welsh folklore
The Maid of Sker game test, edited by Wales Interactive and developed by Wales Interactive, was carried out on Xbox One.
:Maid of Sker
Wales Interactive is a Welsh company created by David Banner, a former employee of Pivotal Games and Eidos Interactive and by Richard Pring.The two partners met at the university and share the same idea: promote Wales in interactive achievements such as electronic books, interactive films, and video games.Since 2012, the young independent company that produces and distributes its achievements, has released many projects on almost all the supports of the moment.The last realization of the studio is called Maid of Sker.
Maid of Sker is an adventure game, taking place in an isolated hotel, and whose story comes from British folklore.Here is the Maid of Sker test on Xbox One, also available on Steam, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 since July 2020.
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The history of the game takes place at the end of the 19th century.The player controls Thomas Evans, a musician engaged to Elisabeth Williams, the daughter of the owner of the Skerl hotel and the illustrious singer Prudence Williams.Elisabeth has just sent you an overwhelming message.In her letter, she indicates that she is retained against her will, within the Skerl hotel, and asks you to come and release her, by composing a melody supposed to ward off the fate of the family home.Decided to save the woman you love, you are plunged into this horrific adventure.The game begins on board the train, taking you not far from the Skerl hotel.
Unsurprisingly on the part of the developers, the story draws its influences from Welsh folklore to offer us a completely unprecedented version of House of Sker, the haunted house Welsh.In the original version of the story, dogs protected the house and Elizabeth ended up dying of grief.In Maid of Sker, Elizabeth is very lively and communicates with you, via service phones placed everywhere in the hotel.All you know is that she is locked up in the attic.To animate the exploration of the house, many parts are locked and individuals roam the hotel;they are called quiet men.They have blinded eyes and resume only sound, attack anyone on their way.
The exploration of the Sker hotel is really the part of the game that I appreciated the most.It's simple, barely descended from the train, I felt like I started to start the visit of Phantom Manor, the attraction of the haunted manor of Disneyland.Everything is (beautifully) dilapidated, there are strange sanctuaries, bizarre keys, the lights flash, we think we have heard or seen something...I constantly wanted to go even further in exploration to discover new pieces.Although the hotel is huge (lobby, floor, basement, garden, mine, etc.), its discovery is unfortunately fairly linear since the first wear blocked will be open with keys that you will find through the first open doors.And so on, exactly like the first episodes of Resident Evil.History for its part and the many manuscripts which once again recalls the way in which they are found in the Saga Resident Evil, left me in a marble.The game may lack a significant visual effect and a cinematic scene to really succeed in captivating me.In addition, Thomas is a totally silent character, even when he chats with his fiancée, which did not allow me to attach myself to this character.
But the similarity with the CAPCOM license does not only stop at the notes left by the former residents of the establishment and the first closed parts.The motivation of the protagonist already recalls that of Ethan Winters in Resident Evil 7, but that's not all.
Game System
Maid of Sker is a first -person survival horror, exactly like the 7th opus of the Resident series Evil.To put it simply, the game comes down to exploring the hotel, finding rollers of music and coming to free your fiancé while avoiding making noise.but it is not that simple.Your trips can awaken the suspicions of your enemies.Unlike other games of the genre, you will not be armed and get rid of Quiet Men is not an easy thing, even by reducing the level of difficulty you have chosen at the beginning.To prevent them from being too interested in you, you will have to avoid banging on the elements of the decor and not inhaling particles making you cough.If they are at your case, three possibilities are available to you: you can run, hold your breathing (well, it makes me think of the film Don't Breathe: La Maison des Dénèbres) or use a sphere that you will find ingame course, which will deaf your enemies to deafen.
Of the three solutions, none is really sufficient.It will therefore be necessary to juggle between the three according to the situations to escape death.And you will die often.Praying that the last backup is not far away.Because the weakness of the game comes from there.First, the Quiet men do not react in the same way.If the first time, you will go smoothly, the second time, they will be able to detect you from a distance.Second, there is no checkpoint.You will have to be satisfied with backups and often redo passages and puzzles that you had already made.Here, about backups, they are to be registered on phonographers.A process that once again looks like, a lot to the typewriter of Resident Evil.
If you run, know that your enemies will be able to open doors and continue to continue.If you hold your breathing, you will make noise by taking up your breath;The longer you hold your breathing, the more you make noise.Finally, the sphere you will find during the game, proposes to repel your enemies for a short time, using vials of charging distilled with drops;Its use is therefore ephemeral.
Finally, and we will stop there with the game of comparisons, Elisabeth's uncle is the compliant copy of MR X of resident Evil 2.It appears at any time and pursues you tirelessly.
Graphics
The graphic universe of the game is visually magnificent, but we still have the impression of browsing different paintings without real link between them.It's a shame, especially since he doesn't miss much, for a flawless.Perhaps a little more interactivity with the sets and objects?
Soundtrack
Maid of Sker is not a musical game, but the developers have managed to put the sound effects at the center of gameplay.If enemies can locate you at noise, you can also spot them at noise.It starts from a good idea, but the realization could have been improved.Indeed, I sometimes had the feeling of having a quiet man near me when he was in another room.
A final word on music that plays an important role in the hotel atmosphere.I let you appreciate the different songs.
Lifetime
I think that in a straight line, the game can end in less than 4 hours, with the resolution of puzzles in mind.But some passages seemed difficult to me and I had to take it several times.Especially since as I said, there is no checkpoint.6 hours were therefore necessary to arrive at the end of the adventure.Finally, know that the game ends with two conclusions and that there are a few items to recover by rummaging everywhere.The opportunity why not, to redo the game.
My opinion regarding Maid of Sker on Microsoft Xbox One
14/20In Maid of Sker, your survival will depend on your ability to remain silent.The strange atmosphere of the hotel has its little effect and looks like the manor of Henry Stauuf du game The 7th Guest (for those who know).In addition, the incredible soundtrack reinforces the mysterious side of the family home.Too bad your enemies with a dubious artificial intelligence come to spoil the party a little.
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