Killing filth in filth.
QUEST LOG #41: PIGFACE (DEMO)
PIGFACE, developed by titolovesyou and published by DreadXP is like the blended product of mashing together the likes of Max Payne, Condemned, Hotline Miami, and Manhunt. It essentially boils down to a first person shooter set in a dystopian world of strange gangs, pressganged contract killings, and grime. The setting, tone, level design… every aspect of it screams 90s to early 2000s PC gaming FPS, and it’s incredibly evocative because of it. The aesthetics and design choices ape this era, but there is a solidity behind it all, a sturdy structure - it has the DNA of older games, the grim setting mostly, but it’s infused with fun and solid mechanics.
You start out the demo with a vague introduction to the strange and brutal world you find yourself in, and you wake to find that you’ve had an explosive device implanted in your head, and that is apparently leverage enough to turn you into a contract killer. The tutorial area is as grim a warehouse level as you can imagine, and it’s here that you get to grips with the combat mechanics, movement, healing, and level navigation. After a bit of a rough and tumble with some loons and a bit of a firefight with some balaclava guys, you enter a van and are shipped off to your apartment, which serves as the hub of the game.
From your disgusting abode, you can change your outfit - just sleeves and gloves, I think, although you can wear masks too. You can also accept new missions, and purchase equipment using the money you make - these include a raft of melee and ranged weapons, as well as upgrades such as silencers and the like, as well as special weapons and armour - the choices here seem rather broad and certainly geared towards having fun.
The combat is pretty rudimentary, as is the intelligence of the NPC. They seem to just charge you for the most part, but the ragdolling and general gunplay is quite amusing, wacky even, and offsets the general dark tone of the game quite nicely. Combat is quick, and while it seems there is some sneaking about to be done, it feels to me that the game should be played at a quicker pace, utilising your reflexes rather than strategy. Having said this, there is only one full mission to play through in the demo, so this may change as you progress further into the full release.
Overall, from the small slice afforded by the demo, PIGFACE delivers on exactly what it appears to offer - a nostalgic first person shooter with some modern refinement, and a lot of grime.
Have you given this one a go? Do you like games that immerse you in filth and grime? Do you like to be reminded of 90s and 2000s PC FPS games? I’m definitely interested in playing more of this one when it comes out. While you’re here, check out previous Next Fest posts, perhaps you’ll find something that has passed you by!
STEAM NEXT FEST
Demos hold a lot of memories for people of a certain age - the fabled disk of unreleased treasures stuck to the front of a magazine. Often the only source of new gaming experiences outside of occasional gifts, rare renting opportunities, and negotiated trades amongst friends. For a long while, demos seemed to fall out of favour, but in recent years they have made a comeback, thanks to the easy of access afforded by Steam, and the Next Fest, which regularly shines a light on new and upcoming releases, allowing developers to show of their games to a wide audience. What follows is a list of games I’ve covered from past Next Fests.
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Jamie B