Signalis – review

Survival horror experienced its massive expansion at the end of the last century through the Resident Evil and Silent Hill games. In the last few years, it has become relevant again in the gaming industry due to remakes of 90s horror classics, modernized and adapted for a wider audience. Among these major titles, a small gem appeared—developed by only two people—which draws inspiration from 20th-century games, both in style and core concept.

Of course, I am talking about Signalis—a game that, after eight years of diligent work, has appeared on the virtual shelves of Steam and other platforms. Time: checked. Diligent work: checked. Idea: checked. All that remains is to see if it’s worth the money and if all those years of effort paid off.

A search for answers in a cold world

After a short tutorial, Signalis puts us in the role of an Elster unit—an android with a clear goal: to find Commander Ariane. The action begins on a ship full of various machines, few of which are interested in a friendly conversation; they are more inclined toward action. You will have to find the answers yourself as to why you woke up there, what happened to the workplace, and other similar questions.

The story is initially told through many ambiguous scenes that successfully tickle the imagination. Furthermore, you learn about what happened from other Replikas by simply talking to them or by reading documents found in various rooms. The point of it all is to understand the relationship between Replikas and Gestalts, and as a whole, the story is excellent—it's only a matter of time before it completely pulls you into its world.

Gameplay: A nod to the classics

Specifically, Signalis is an isometric survival horror game and, as such, its gameplay is very similar to the old Resident Evil and Silent Hill titles, but it still manages to remain unique and build its own identity. Classic segments like exploring rooms, searching for much-needed ammunition, and fighting enemies are all here.

The core concept of the game is based on exploring the entire area you find yourself in to obtain necessary items and knowledge to solve certain puzzles and progress. A consequence of this central idea is that you will be forced to constantly return to places you have already been to unlock something you couldn't before or to pick up something you forgot.

Fortunately, to prevent you from getting lost, there is a very cleverly designed map marking all the rooms you’ve visited, those you cannot enter, and those whose doors remain locked. Additionally, you will always know where the save points are located as they are specially marked.

While the top-down view is the primary focus, there are short sequences where the player is switched to a first-person perspective. These are there to teach the player a new mechanic, like the radio which will have multiple uses, or to find an item that brings an additional piece of the story. It is worth noting that there is no combat in these sequences.

Shoot, run, or hide!

It is clear that combat (alongside puzzles) is a main focus. It features well-known elements, but they are worth repeating. You can kill enemies with firearms of solid variety relative to the game's length, but since you will be short on ammo throughout the entire experience, it is necessary to balance stealth and combat. More precisely, sometimes you will simply have to run or sneak through a room to avoid conflict, while other times it will be necessary.

Patience when shooting is vital because when you aim, a red square appears above the target's head, gradually narrowing; the narrower it is, the higher the chances the enemy ends up on the floor. Once that happens, you can finish them off with a knife to save a few bullets. Besides classic weapons, the repertoire includes stun batons to incapacitate opponents.

To heighten the tension, the inventory is limited to only six items, so among all your worries, you will have to carefully manage what you carry with you. Once you make that decision, other items can be stored in special boxes located in every save room. These boxes are interconnected, so there is no worry when moving to the next chapter.

It all comes down to the puzzles

As mentioned, progress always requires solving certain puzzles, which demands they be well-crafted—and fortunately, they are excellent. The puzzles are diverse: some require finding card pieces to combine into a functional one, others require gathering knowledge from documents about how something works, while others involve using the radio.

You might break a sweat solving some of them, but generally, most are not overly difficult. What makes the experience specific is that using a pen and paper to write down schemes won't be unusual if you decide to play this title.

The beauty of space

Within the first 10 seconds, it is clear that Signalis is not an ultra-realistic, high-budget project, but rather that its graphic style is modeled after games from the PS1 era. This style is adapted for the modern age, so all models have very fluid and smooth animations which, combined with the excellently designed environment, create a pleasant atmosphere. The cutscenes, as well as the character design, are undoubtedly modeled after anime.

Another segment where the developers absolutely won is the complete soundscape. The sounds throughout the 7–9 hours required to finish the game are top-notch. Whether it's the sound of weapons, screams, or footsteps whose sound dynamically changes with the surface being walked on, everything is at an enviable level. To complete the package, add the excellent music that raises the tension by another notch.