Infliction: Extended Cut

Infliction is so middle-of-the-road you might get run over.

Infliction nails most of the traditions horror tropes and does well to create a genuinely intriguing and anxiety-inducing atmosphere with is detail design and ever-changing environments. However, the lack of any real memorable scares and countless scripted deaths that get old quickly paired with recurring performance issues consistently break the immersion that was so brilliantly created.

Those who are willing to take the time comb through Infliction: Extended will find a horror experience will leave you afraid of the dark.

While some of the game’s mechanics, such as your limited defensive options, come across as a little half-baked, the oppressive atmosphere and genuine chills Infliction: Extended Cut delivers make it a standout survival horror title on a system that’s somewhat starved of them. Though many players will probably burn through the game’s five-hour story in just a few sittings, the New Game Plus Mode also does a good job of adding replay value with its revamped puzzles and more challenging gameplay.

I’ve had a long-standing fascination with horror from an early age, maybe too early. By the start of high school, I had been equally terrified and enthralled by films such as Candyman and Creepshow, had read The Shining and was devouring any horror novel that came my way. In 1999 Silent Hill dropped me right into a horror story, and I’ve loved horror games ever since. This week I’ve taken a shaky stroll through the psychological horror house of Infliction: Extended Cut.

Infliction Extended Cut was a fun, scary, mysterious experience. The gameplay itself is very simple, but the story and the things you discover are what make you stay until the end. I enjoyed my time with it.

Infliction: Extended Cut looks great on consoles and tells a good story but is hampered by its repetitive gameplay and lack of variety.

Horror is an intensely difficult genre to get right. You need to draw players in and immerse them in the experience to the point that they have an emotional connection to the game, and then hit them with things that are not just grotesque, but also deeply unsettling. Horror needs to engage the brain as it engages the more visceral reactions, and that's very hard to do. Infliction: Extended Cut doesn't get there. It's simply too pedestrian and rote to really work.

Horror adventure / walking simulation games have seemed to be quite abundant on the Switch but unfortunately they've all been pretty middle of the road without any clearly stepping up and achieving something great...

To conclude, I didn't expect this game to be so terrifying. I was CRAWLING through most of my playthrough and sometimes that got me killed. Overall, the game took me about 4 hours to complete the main story. It's short and sweetly nightmarish. If you're looking for something to kick your anxiety into overdrive then Infliction: Extended Cut is the game to keep you up at night. I'm giving this game a 7 out of 10. Now... if you'll excuse me I have to go find some salt and holy water.