Welcome to Conarium, a game that offers a thrilling ride through Lovecraftian horror, where the plot is as tangled as a cat’s cradle and the ambiance would make even your darkest basement feel sunny. You’re Frank Gilman—because who wouldn’t want to play a character with a name reminiscent of a furniture store—and you wake up to find out that not even Google can help you remember where you are. Let’s dive into the chaos of Antarctica, where the only thing colder than the weather is the realization that you've got no idea what’s going on.
The essential mission here is straightforward: explore the Upuaut research base, solve puzzles, and figure out what happened to your fellow expedition members. Sounds simple, right? Wrong! The game plays out in first person, which means you will do a lot of walking around at a speed that would make a sloth look like Carl Lewis. As you wander, you’ll be solving a series of puzzles that range from trite to downright torturous. You can expect notes, journals, and equipment scattered around that offer clues but often lead to more confusion than clarity. It’s as if you’ve been thrust into a round of Trivia Crack with contestants who haven’t studied.
Visually, Conarium is as stunning as a postcard from Hell. The game runs on Unreal Engine 4, and the graphics showcase a beautiful, albeit creepy, world that perfectly captures a Lovecraftian feel. Just think of it as a visit to a haunted IKEA; the design elements are alluring until you realize they want your soul. The detailed environments are filled with moving lights, strange devices, and an array of mind-bending vistas that beg for a photo shoot—and potentially a therapist later. You might even find yourself looking for your parents after all that confusion. Worry not, the sound design complements the visuals like a horror movie score made by a deranged composer who’s gotten a little too cozy with the dark arts.
In a world littered with mindless shooters and open-world blockbusters, Conarium stands out as an atmospheric thriller that tickles the brain and chills the soul. While it doesn’t quite reach the pinnacle of horror greatness (we are not talking about Resident Evil levels here), it's a commendable attempt from a small indie studio. This game won't just tease your imagination; it’ll grapple with it like it’s playing a game of Twister. So whether you’re a Lovecraft aficionado or simply someone willing to tackle weirdness head-on, Conarium is well worth your time. Just remember to pack your emotional support tentacles.