Verho: Curse of Faces

Verho – Curse of Faces feels like I’ve stumbled upon a lost gem from the first PlayStation; it’s a dark adventure both tributary and impressive in its own right.

But it is very unapologetic in its dogmatic adherence to mid-90's first-person-rpg mechanics. Even with a fair amount of nostalgia for the style that Verho is aiming for, it can be hard not to feel like some light modernization would help smooth over the rough edges. But if you're willing to keep a notebook handy, are willing to grind through some occasionally awkward combat, and maybe draw your own map, Verho offers an experience that is otherwise largely lost to time.

While there’s something to be said for adopting a minimalist look when designing a game to give it a certain feel, failing to back it up with well-honed mechanics and overall polish just make it appear to be sloppy

There are very few games on the market that I would grant the title "King's Field-like". Verho - Curse of Faces stands as the best of them. This game could not nail the PS1 ASCII Entertainment vibes any harder if FromSoftware made it themselves. Newcomers will want to try the demo first, but King's Field fans should not hesitate to take the full plunge. You will not be disappointed.