PROJECT 13 unfortunately isn't quite what I expected — though that doesn't make it a bad game by any means. After playing through The Exit 8 (my first anomaly-finding game), the bar was set pretty high. But since this isn't about The Exit 8, I’ll stop with the comparisons and get to the point...
As with every game in the anomaly genre, your task is to find anomalies — in this case, in an mental health unit — and do so until you escape this nightmare. If you misjudge a situation, report a supposed anomaly, and get it wrong, you’ll be reset and have to start again from level 0. On the other hand, if you miss a real anomaly and fail to report it, you’ll face the same fate.
You have to survive through 13 levels to escape. I called it a Nightmare before, but the setting actually feels more like an instance from the Backrooms — probably because of the outfit you wear and the way everything looks through your own mask.
The atmosphere is, as expected from the genre, oppressive. The game is completely devoid of music... instead, you’re accompanied by the hum of electronic devices, your own breathing, the rumble of ventilation systems, and occasional coughing from the entities around you. What stands out most is the character’s exaggerated breathing — as well as the constant drone of the machines. It almost feels as if the suit amplifies every noise around you.
A weak point is the animation of the entities. They often look rough and at times are more funny than frightening... like the woman’s attempt to eat a bird. This unfortunately detracts from the atmosphere.
Additionally, many of the anomalies fail to impress. There are a few good moments, but overall, much of the potential feels wasted. Still, I’ll give the game credit for hiding some anomalies really well — I needed multiple attempts to complete a run.
All in all, the game does a solid job and is definitely worth a playthrough for fans of the anomaly genre. You can tell it was inspired by bigger genre titles... which isn’t a bad thing at all.
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+ PROS: × The "good" anomalies create some nice heart-pounding moments xD
× I actually really like the way the game tries to put you in the suit.
× The sound design makes the atmosphere uncomfortably tense in a good way.- CONS: × Overall, too few anomalies that really blew me away.
× Some poor animations and occasional graphic glitches do dampen the atmosphere — no sound design can save that.
× Built-in stick drift feeling... the character sometimes moves on its own which is weird.Graphics: 3/5 Sound: 3.5/5 Atmosphere: 4/5 Fun/Replayability: 2.5/5 Innovation: 2.5/5– All ratings are based on a maximum of 5 stars!
– The Graphics and Sound ratings take into account the game's design concept, age, and effects! 3.5