Exorcist Simulator Review (PC)

When I scribbled my name down to help exorcise the demons plaguing over the underbelly of a forsaken cavern, I figured I’d be holding a symbolic cross to the husk of a pensioner and reciting some biblical verses. And yet, here I am, channeling my inner Rambo whilst clutching onto what I believe to be a blood-smothered piece of plywood, rummaging through the dark completely against my own will, and incubating that all-important RAGE MODE that may or may not save my skin come nightfall. I haven’t the slightest clue what will happen next, but if the deaths of those around me have taught me anything since embarking on this not-so noble mission, it’s that demonic spirits aren’t the most welcoming of entities, and that, even with a 4×4 wedged between my fingers, the chances of surviving a night in Exorcist Simulator are slim to nonexistent. Marvelous.

I’ll level with you. I didn’t know what to expect when I first rolled into Octo Games’ first-person multiplayer horror IP. I’d say I was pretty ambivalent about it all, given the fact that I was expecting something along the lines of a semi-traditional ode to Midnight Ghost Hunt. But what I wasn’t expecting, however, was a love letter to DOOM with mixed infusions of combat, spell casting, and horde-like tower defense elements. Well, DOOM might be a bit of an exaggeration — but it does take a leaf out of the same textbook, what with the addition of demonic armies, bloodthirsty warriors, and even a RAGE MODE, to boot. In other words, it caught me a little off guard. That didn’t make it any less of a sight for sore eyes, mind you. I suppose it was refreshing, in ways. But, was it a breath of fresh air worth exorcising?

The Power of Christ Compels You

Exorcist Simulator plunges you into a network of haunted locations—abandoned buildings, decrepit monasteries, and various mythical cesspits of a rather peculiar nature. In a typical labyrinthine world, you’re goal is to sink your teeth deep into the maze and, with the tools and resources at your disposal, vanquish the demonic foes that shroud the corridors, whether it’s by hiding and using strategic maneuvers to conduct research, or by wielding one of several weapons, both melee and ranged, to dismember the enemies by the motherlode in a last-ditched effort to survive the onslaught.

As an exorcist, you have the power to venture inside one of the realistically rendered locations either alone, or with friends via the in-game multiplayer mode. Once aboard the paranormal locomotive, you have a couple of tasks to complete: explore the map, fashion traps and other means of defending your operations, and quell the demonic armies’ efforts to defeat you. Think of it as a game of hide-and-seek: the same rules apply here in the sense that, as an exorcist, you must use the veil of darkness to carefully move between areas, and whilst working to hatch a plan to thwart the opposing forces. That said, the rules here aren’t what you would call ironclad; the game doesn’t mind if you tamper with the guidelines and choose to pursue an alternate, more aggressive route. And that’s great, as it makes sure that no two runs are ever the same.

The Devil Among Us

This is where things get interesting. In addition to the exorcist role that you have the opportunity to play, the game also allows you the chance to play the puppeteer—the devil, if you’d prefer—and bring pain and misery down upon your enemies à la PvPvE tradition. It’s all rather textbook in that regard; it’s good versus evil, but with the inclusion of a paranormal setting and some cliche, albeit theme-appropriate religious tools and symbolic gestures. Aside from these few things, though, what you have here is a transparent online horror—a game that blends atmospheric storytelling with nonlinear progression and quick-fire gameplay. It isn’t anything we haven’t already seen a thousand times before, but it works, nonetheless.

Exorcist Simulator takes advantage of another trope—the one that frequents the “silence is golden” rule. In a similar fashion as its counterparts, silence and a lot of forward planning are two very important parts of the gameplay experience. There’s combat, for sure, but there is also that alternate avenue that you can take the time to explore—the stealthy cloak-and-dagger path, which is a great deal of fun in its own special way — especially when you’re saddled up alongside a familiar bunch of friends in the online lobby and what have you.

Exorcise the Demons

Thanks to its inclusion of some generously rendered graphics, Exorcist Simulator brings an immersive feel to the table that, while still comical on the rarest of occasions, adds a solid level of depth to a treasure trove of unique maps and derelict environments. It also touts a brilliant selection of thematic set pieces, weapon choices, and elemental abilities, too, which further amplifies its core components to exceed not only my initial expectations, but other newcomers who also arrived to don the cross and bible, too. So it’s still a dime-a-dozen concept — but sometimes, if the correct amount of elbow grease has been applied, it doesn’t need to strive to be anything more than that.

Verdict

If it’s a copy-and-paste of Midnight Ghost Hunt that you want, then you might as well pack up your EMF reader and bolt for another paranormal adventure. This isn’t that sort of love letter; it’s a slightly grizzlier affair, with a lot more combat, challenges, and not to mention an incredibly unpredictable AI that is far more likely to put your head on a pike than carefully tiptoe you through the motions en route to your final destination.

The good news is that the mechanics aren’t an issue here, which in itself is enough to cue a sigh of relief. On that note, it’s surprisingly easy to pick up and play, more so for those who might’ve spent a dozen or so hours in alternate realities à la Phasmophobia and, more recently, Unpossess: Exorcism Simulator. To say that it’s a beginner-friendly multiplayer game wouldn’t be accurate, for it does require a bit of forward planning and, on various occasions, a stroke of dumb luck to navigate. But that isn’t a deal breaker by any stretch, so don’t let the odd uphill battle sway you into thinking that it’s an insurmountable obstacle.

There’s a lot of room for Exorcist Simulator to expand in future updates, with the groundwork already being set for additional maps, weapons, and entities. If the devs can keep tabs on it and support its development post-launch, then there’s a good chance that it’ll stand out as a genuine contender in its chosen field. Fingers crossed, anyway.