It’s taken a bit longer than expected, but fans of classic horror can at last get their hands on the full version ofPost Trauma. Following both a major delay from October 2024 and then a surprise delay from March 31 (announced the day before, no less), Red Soul Games’ retro-styled horror experience has finally made it to PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Halloween-Adjacent Release Date Announced For Post Trauma
Do you want some old-school scares for Halloween? Raw Fury and Red Soul Games have you covered with Post Trauma, now set for an October release.
Initial reception seems to be mostly positive, but those who’d rather not take others’ words for it still have the option of trying Post Trauma’s free demo via its Steam page or itch.io. Is it an experience on par with other somewhat recent retro horror gems likeTormented SoulsorSignalis? Possibly. But that determination will likely depend on personal taste more than anything else.
For those unfamiliar with Post Trauma, it’s something of a callback to the sorts of horror experiences one would find on the PS2. The focus is on puzzle-solving and atmosphere over combat, and retro techniques such as fixed-camera angles and save rooms are employed to help drive tension. Saves even become limited on higher difficulties, making every decision that much more impactful. Those that playedResident Evil 7on Madhouse difficulty will likely remember the feeling.
Retro techniques such as fixed-camera angles and save rooms are employed to help drive tension.
As for what exactly the situation is in Post Trauma, players will primarily be dealing with its strange world as a man by the name of Roman. He’s just an average guy for the most part, driving trains for a living and making his way through the daily grind just like everybody else. He does, however, seem to have something dark in his past, something that catches up to him in the game’s outset.
Following a nasty panic attack and passing out, Roman awakens to find himself in some sort of nightmarish otherworld, one filled with monsters and what seem to be callbacks to memories he’d rather leave buried. Whether he’s able to deal with it all and make it out the other side, though, will likely be up to the player and the decisions they make.
Roman isn’t the only one stuck in this terrible place.
Roman’s isn’t the only troubling tale present in Post Trauma, however, as Red Soul Games has stated that players will be able to experience its story from multiple perspectives. Perhaps there are other characters in similar positions who must deal with the ghosts of their past. Will everyone make it out, or are events going to play out in a manner similar to those ofSilent Hill 2?Only one way to find out, yeah?
It’d be better if the game didn’t stick too close to its inspirations and carved out its own space instead, you know?
Based on what’s been shown in the demo and what this writer experienced in its TGS 2024 demo, though, it looks like Post Trauma is a decent horror puzzler if nothing else. Is it worth the price publisher Raw Fury is asking for? Perhaps, perhaps not. But it’s definitely worth a try at the very least, so those with even just a passing interest should ensure to give the demo a try.
Post Trauma is available now on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Post Trauma
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