Jess Briars joins the Prismic Science Spiritual Retreat on remote Glory Island to get over her past and move on with life, where she meets Tyler, the leader of a spiritual retreat. Unfortunately for Jess, this picturesque paradise hides dangers beneath its seemingly peaceful surface, and it is up to her to discover what lurks in The Chant‘s shadows. This story has some interesting concepts, but technical issues inhibit its full potential from being revealed.
On the remote island, Kim, Tyler, and others – search for peace within themselves. Through snippets of conversations and evidence found across the island, we discover their hidden demons and our protagonist’s guilt from her sister’s passing weighing heavily on her heart. As more secrets are revealed through exploration, an intriguing story begins to unfold about redemption gained in spite of darkness that surrounds them all.
Developers Brass Token makes Jess feel defenceless and in a vulnerable state, adding to the survival horror aspect of the game. After an eerie chant goes wrong early on, it is up to her own resourcefulness with makeshift weapons crafted from flora against looming threats that could cause serious harm – or worse! Although attacking can be clumsy at times when faced with multiple enemies surrounding you, there still remains a sense of tension that something dangerous lies ahead around every corner.
Jess’s journey takes her across a mysterious island blighted by the Gloom, an insidious plant-based parasite. She is forced to face off against fearsome foes like Mimicrawlers and Canker Toads while avoiding unhinged cultists wearing animal masks. However, she can defend herself with weapons crafted from materials found around the island – giving her just enough of an edge for survival!
Witch sticks can be used against Gloom-based foes while sage sticks are effective in swarms of flies and fire lash will burn cultists with impressive results. Oils can be thrown for trapping and causing damage then to escape quickly by throwing salt at them when feeling overwhelmed! But do not forget that you are a normal person so sometimes it is better to just get outta there – dodge incoming attacks or find yourself flat on your back, vulnerable as ever!
Players can expect an adventure full of suspense as they progress through The Chant. Along the way, Jess will gain access to items such a two-way radio and flashlight that enhance her survival chances on this mysterious island. Additionally, she will obtain Prisms which offer unique abilities like slowing enemies or dealing damage – empowering players against threats! Keeping up with Mind, Body and Spirit levels is key too since those gauges impact how well weapons are used or prevent Panic Attacks among other effects; luckily, there’s natural resources scattered around in lavender plants, gingerroots & spirit caps refilling these stats when needed.
The Chant‘s visuals are quite eye-catching, but some of the lip syncing is off. Characters sometimes move in a way that feels out of place on modern consoles and jittery transitions do not do it any favours either. It was disappointing to come across moments where clumsiness reared its head during gameplay.
Conclusion
The Chant offers a thrilling foray into the survival horror genre. The acting and crafting elements make Jess’ plight feel incredibly dire, while the story remains gripping throughout. Despite some technical limitations, this grim island teeming with tension is still an eerie paradise worth exploring – especially when confronted by the mysterious Gloom!
This game was reviewed based on Xbox S|X review code, using an Xbox S|X console. All of the opinions and insights here are subject to that version. Game provided by publisher.
