Posted on: December 18, 2023
maxav
Verified ownerGames: 423 Reviews: 7
Amazing Achievement
Speaking as someone who liked the first Stasis quite a bit, Bone Totem is one of the biggest leaps in quality I've seen in a sequel. Backrounds have gone from good to gorgeous, puzzles are better designed, and the terror has been ratcheted up to 11. The absolute best part about the horror in Bone Totem, and one of the returning strengths from the first Stasis, is an understanding of the human element that makes a story go from merely a collection of spooky set pieces to a truly haunting experience. As tempting as it may be in horror, especially when it comes to horror video games, it typically isn't a good idea to submerge the audience in a constant deluge of mysery and death. The constant pressure can often normalize the terror, making what should be a tense situation feel like just another obstacle in the game. Bone Totem overcomes this with grace, telling a story that is not just scary, but engaging and emotionally resonant, constantly driving the player forward to see what amazing new turns wait just around the corner. And there is always something just around the corner, keeping things moving a such a brisk pace that getting bored just isn't possible. Add to this an overhauled UI that makes pixel hunting a thing of the past without compromising the artstyle by making pickups stick out unrealistically, and what you get is one of, if not the best point and click game I've ever played. I couldn't recommend Stasis: Bone Totem highly enough to fans of horror, point and clicks, or just damn well-made games. I don't know yet if there are any plans for a third entry into the Stasis series, but after this, all future sequels will be day one buys from me.
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