Your Turn to Disembark Review (PC)

Train rides are not easily my favorite means of travel. Especially after watching plenty of films where train passengers are subjected to robbery, hijacking, and other heist scenarios. I mean, besides planes, it's the one travel model where, once you leave the station, you better pray to whomever you worship that you reach your destination. If you happen to be on board with a band of thieves, not even the ticket guy can help you. But hey, I don't mean to scare you. Think of it as the premise for an upcoming James Bond movie. Interesting right?

What's more fascinating is using it as a premise for a video game. But instead of being trapped with the bad guys, you wake up in a carriage, alone and with no recollection of how you got aboard the moving train. Well, it's another nightmare that can happen, which is evident in this new title.

Your Turn to Disembark is the latest project by Squidoodle Dev, a horror narrative that unfolds on a bizarre, ever-moving train. With a sci-fi theme at its core, players navigate the intriguing mystery of how they got aboard the train while trying to figure out how to disembark. Along the way, you do make friends who help you piece together the puzzles, but at a dear cost.  Stick with us as we peel back the layers of this new title, featuring its peaks and pitfalls. Here is Your Turn to Disembark, the review.

Run Away Train

Your Turn to Disembark kicks off with an eerie start. Our nameless protagonist seemingly breaks out of a pod and walks out a door. Then, a text on the screen suggests that this is not the first time it has happened, but it could be the last. Next, we are on a moving train that appears to be empty. There's no information on why or how we got there, but the game does an excellent job of creating a suspenseful atmosphere. 

Controlling the character is a simple task of managing the W, A, S, and D buttons. This allows you to move up and down the train. Shortly after, you come across a startled passenger who weirdly doesn't see you at first but then rambles something about you being involved in the godforsaken mess unfolding on the train. Where she stands appears to be the aftermath of a brawl. But in the two shakes of a lamb's tail, she disappears, and the place is suddenly transformed. The overturned benches are propped correctly in position. That marks the first sign that this is not your usual train. Perhaps you took the wrong train and are now on your way to Hogwarts? 

Who Are You?

It is almost an unwritten rule for some people. You meet a stranger while in danger, and your immediate thought is to make their acquaintance. You ideally think you are in the same boat, so they can't be the killer. Sadly, this is why most movie characters barely get past the first 20 minutes. Few get the sense of fleeing, sticking to the notion of ‘stranger danger.' But for our character and the other unknown passengers he comes across, forming a bond is the likely way to get them out of their misery. 

You first come across Albert, who, by the way, has a striking similarity to Batman's butler, Alfred. His look and mannerisms draw parallels to the Marvel franchise character. It may be a coincidence or an inspiration. Who knows? Like our character, Albert also has no recollection of how he got on the train but is happy to meet a fellow passenger. Together, you try to make your way to the front of the train. But then, a character jumps through the door like a deer caught in headlights. He appears scared and also questions his environment, which enthralls the duo to investigate the train further. 

Sci-fi Meets Horror

I must hand it to the game for keeping me intrigued at every turn. Beyond meeting Albert, you are also introduced to a cast of other characters, some from Earth and others from a different planet. But that's not all. Some characters are from a different timeline. Take Albert, for example. He is from the 90s, which explains his look and choice of words. But the game does little to explain how they all ended up on the same timeline. It, however, gives you the job of learning more about your fellow passengers, which forms part of the gameplay. 

You must interact with three characters at a given time, where they reveal bits of their background. It doesn't do much for the gameplay other than give you a hint of who they are and where they are from. However, it adds a layer of charm to the game's rich storytelling.

Moreover, the game's horror elements are rather subtle. No, you won't have eldritch creatures jumping out of the dark. Instead, the enigmatic train and its passengers create a tense, horror-filled atmosphere. The occasional blackouts that snatch passengers away one by one keep you on edge. Who will be next?

Additionally, exploration is one avenue you'll use to learn more about the ‘infinite train'. You'll come across closed doors, signaling the need to look for a key. Thankfully, this is not the type of game where you have to make complex guesses about where the next clue is. It's literally right next door. The other pieces of the puzzle are torn pieces of paper that hint at other passengers who traveled the train before you.  

The Hits

Your Turn To Disembark' is a relatively short but sweet game. Its eccentric cast of characters, each bursting to the scene with their very own set of personalities, adds immersion to the game. The game fleshes out the backgrounds of every character aboard the train, with diverse experiences and origins. Each character fulfills specific roles, with figures like Benny shining as the brains of the operation. Plus, being able to pick and choose whom to interact with lets you forge deep connections with a range of characters.

Moreover, the dialogue pop-ups cleverly depict emotions. You can tell when a character is agitated, excited and even angry. It certainly makes up for the missing voice acting, keeping the dialogue objective. Plus, the background music and sound effects complement the storyline, making it more engaging.

Furthermore, the game's direction is tied to your choices. In addition to interaction, you can respond to various multi-choice pop-ups, which ultimately result in a different outcome. Simply put, the game's storyline and gameplay are solid, offering an intriguing experience. The retro-pixelated art gives the game an arcade feel and complements its simple vibe. The suspense keeps you active and eager to understand what the bleep is going on. Every interaction bears a mystery, making you question everything, even your own existence. 

The Miss

Despite having a replayability feature, the game doesn't provide enough incentive to play it over again. The dialogue scenes are not skippable, meaning you have to sit through the tedious conversations even though you know what the character will say. The game has a pause option, but there are no saving points. So, if you exit, you are right back at the start. 

Moreover, the dialogue reads like elementary grammar with a handful of spelling errors. However, given the scale of the game, this is forgivable. I do commend the game's storyline and its approach to brewing mystery and intriguing character personalities. 

Furthermore, the pacing was a bit off. Just as I was getting acquainted with a character's attitude, a few interactions later, they switched sides. For instance, Bree, a mask-wearing figure, appears to have a carefree attitude and is not much of a team player. After her interaction with a new character, she brings out her soft side, but before you can even get acquainted with this, she is back to being Hyde. I get it; it's a short indie tale, but there's still more to be done about its tale. Also, the ending isn't really satisfactory and does little to communicate the events. 

Verdict

Your Turn to Disembark grabs you with its excellent premise and slick, pixelated presentation. Sure, it is light on the horror elements, but it excels at creating mystery and suspense. Every event in the game presents an enthralling experience, especially the interactive gameplay. 

Its biggest letdown is the storyline pacing and meh ending, which leave you hanging. It's like hopping on the hype train for a rollercoaster ride, but instead, you end up stuck on the kiddie carousel. Sure, it's cute, but where's the thrill? Thankfully, this is just the base game. And as an episodic narrative, thankfully, more chapters will be coming our way. Perhaps we'll finally get to the bottom of the mystery. 

For users with a Steam account, the game is a neat way to add to their achievements collection. The achievements are relatively easy, and you should ideally come across them regardless of how the storyline branches out. Beyond this, there are plenty of interesting things to discover. 

For a free game, Try Not To Disembark is quite the package, offering plenty more for so much less. So why not give it a try?