By Ben Wright (@iamzavagno | www.xgeeks.co.uk)
This review is spoiler-free.
Synopsis: The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow is a folk horror narrative-driven adventure. Explore the isolated moors of rural Victorian England as you uncover the mysteries of Hob’s Barrow. The answers lie in the soil…
From Shaun Aitcheson and Cloak and Dagger Games comes a new tale of English folk terror that is sure to lure gamers to a world of expansive moors, secretive locals and one hell of a mystery to solve… welcome to The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow!
In terms of the story, it was that classic slow-burn horror with plenty of stories and character build-up before the curtain is drawn back fully and the last thirty minutes of the game is really turned up to eleven! The setting of Bewlay and the inhabitants within were such a perfect combination to really create this haunting and uneasy aesthetic. I have a natural affinity to British folklore in general, so my experience with The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow really struck a chord with me naturally. There are a lot of references and influences from familiar bodies of work that are perfectly showcased, however, the heart and soul of the game ensure it’s also very much its own thing too!
As for the game design – the pixel art style is beautiful and the animated cutscenes fit perfectly with the gameplay. The audio production – especially the wind and rain sound effects – was so immersive and the game really sucks you in and makes you feel like you are there experiencing everything Thomasina is going through. The puzzle elements were well thought out and designed, and while they seemed to feature more towards the final act, they were very satisfying to overcome. There wasn’t too much back-and-forth trying to progress the story and I can only think of two incidents where I struggled. Looking back now at it now, the answers were actually pretty obvious, and it was more a case of me overcomplicating things.
When I played the demo, Incantamentum, there was no voice cast, so the inclusion of a full cast in the final release was a very welcome addition, especially as the level of performances was so high! Samantha Béart (Thomasina Bateman) takes the game’s lead role and to put it simply, her performance was incredible! It was only about halfway through the game that I realised I had experienced Béart’s work before – voicing Calliope (among others) in the Audible adaption of The Sandman. I knew that I had heard that voice before, but it took a quick Google to work out where I knew her from! Natalie Winter (Mildred Walker), Elsie Lovelock (Mrs. de Plancy), Richard Reed (Stanley Kemp) and Phillip Sacramento (Arthur Tillett) also gave very strong performances, however, this can be said for the entirety of the voice cast as there wasn’t a shaky performance to be found!
It took me 6 and a half hours to beat The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow and I think if I wasn’t recording my playthrough, I could have shaved off some of that time. However, I never had any intention of rushing my experience. I have waited a very long for this game, so I made sure that I investigated every nook and cranny of Bewlay to really get the most immersive experience possible! I also think that if you were new to this type of point-and-click game style, I think this would be a great entry-level game to play! With so much focus on the narrative and no frustrating puzzles to overcome, I think the game has that perfect all-around balance so you can really get a great deal of enjoyment from playing.
A haunting story, highly immersive gameplay and featuring exquisite full-cast performances, The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow is an exceptional point-and-click folk horror adventure certain to send chills down your spine!
Steam Page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1182310/The_Excavation_of_Hobs_Barrow/
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