"Haunted House" Remake Preview: Survival Horror Game Grandmaster Horror Returns

* This article is compiled from IGN US related content, the original author Jon Bolding, compiled by Tony, unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

"Survival horror" is a genre we have become accustomed to, but in 1992, a game called Haunted House Shadow began the history of the genre, allowing players to experience limited resources and investigative adventures in difficult situations. To bring the horror of this classic to modern players, Pieces Interactive is remastering Haunted House in a star-studded, atmospheric way.

The development team was led by Mikael Hedberg, writer and director of Amnesia and SOMA, and based on the answers he and publisher THQ Nordic gave in a media Q&A, they are quite optimistic about the development of the remake, and it seems that this journey back to Desito Estate will be worth looking forward to.

The big news is that Sheriff David Hubble in Stranger Things will play private detective Edward Kahnby, an energetic tough guy character who suits Haber very well, and who seems to like the role too. "Killing Eve" actress Judy Comer will play the role of Emily Hartwood, who hires Edward to investigate her uncle's fate, while she also explores the family's secret - the mysterious "Hartwood Curse".

Pieces Studios has retained many key elements from the original Haunted House in the remake, especially the classic melee mechanics of the series: in later survival horror games, being close to monsters often means death, and in this series, you can cut ghouls down with a sword, which is far better than wasting precious bullets.

The original "Haunted House" is an important work with far-reaching influence. People today may see it as nothing special, but that's precisely because countless games have since followed the example of Haunted House. That fixed perspective of 3D space? That way of investigating puzzles? All of them were created by "Haunted House".

Later, it all appeared in a game called Resident Evil - you may have heard of that game. Therefore, it is even more interesting to see that the new "Haunted House" retains its own characteristics while borrowing from those "Resident Evil" remakes. The over-the-shoulder perspective can certainly improve the experience when exploring and enjoying the scene, not to mention that it can also greatly affect the combat.

As a Southerner, one of my favorite things about Haunted House is its setting. Louisiana's lakes and marshes are not so famous for nothing, and "Southern Gothic" is also a genre older than existential horror.

I asked Mikael Hedberg if the remake of Haunted House would explore these aspects, and he gave me a satisfying answer, saying that the remake expands the plot and gives Pieces more creative space, such as better representation of local historical traditions and a deeper connection between the plot and voodoo. He also mentioned the oppressive atmosphere of the 1986 psychological horror film Angel Heart, which I think could show him the way and help him make some classic old-fashioned Southern horror.

While the setting makes me feel very intimate, what makes me even happier is the music Pieces chooses. Jazz was popular in Louisiana, but the developers of Haunted House added a European twist to it, using Doom Jazz with Doom Metal tinges.

Most horror games are reluctant to risk a flamboyant soundtrack, but Pieces seems to understand how a noir-style work (including a black horror) can not have a good saxophone. Pieces also invited doom jazz legend Bong-Ra to create the soundtrack, which was also a great choice for the aesthetic direction of the remake of Haunted House, with eerie plucked ambience and dense drums providing a powerful appeal that few pieces of music achieve.

Overall, I think the creative team is a good choice, and the developers seem motivated to create a much-anticipated remake of this classic horror game. I'm looking forward to learning more about the remake of Haunted House in the future, and needless to say, I'm already downloading the free Prologue Demo to play it.