She's Leaving Review - Survival Horror Meets FORENSICS?
She's Leaving Review - Survival Horror Meets FORENSICS? She's Leaving is the debut survival-horror game from Blue Hat Studio, putting players in the unique role of Charles Dalton, a forensic analyst specializing in blood splatter. Armed only with a taser, Charles must investigate the mysterious Tudor Mansion in the snowy region of Haywood to solve a series of disappearances attributed to a suspected serial killer. This review dives into whether the game's brilliant forensic concept delivers a satisfying horror experience. The Pros: 🩸 Engaging Forensics Gameplay: The core mechanic of examining blood splatter (cast off, contact, flow) is incredibly satisfying and grounded in real-life practices, genuinely making you feel like a detective solving a complex case. 📜 Solid Story: The narrative, delivered through forensic work, written notes, and radio dialogue with your partner, is interesting and engaging, providing a strong incentive to push forward. 🎙️ Good Presentation: The voice acting is solid and adds believability to the detective work. The Cons: 🗝️ Over-reliance on Keys: The majority of the 4-6 hour playthrough revolves around frustrating cookie-cutter mechanics of finding and using keys or safe combinations, making progression stale and uncreative. 🚶 Boring Stalker AI: The serial killer, reminiscent of Resident Evil's Mr. X, starts terrifying but quickly becomes a predictable nuisance with static AI. He never evolves (no traps, new weapons, or hiding tactics), reducing encounters to running or tasing. 🧠 Pointless Brain Fog: The "professional guilt" mechanic (Brain Fog) which reduces movement speed is meaningless as it dissipates too quickly, failing to create a lasting consequence or replayability incentive. She's Leaving is a game with a fantastic, unique premise that makes for an intriguing short playthrough, especially given its low price point. However, the reliance on basic survival horror tropes outside of the forensics system leaves the overall gameplay feeling barebones.
