More and more indie horror games are appearing that try to combine simple gameplay and tense atmosphere in an interesting and unique way. The team from Cybernetic Walrus managed to do this a year ago with the game Order 13, which recently finally arrived on consoles. In the game Order 13, the player assumes the role of a worker in a warehouse that at first glance seems quite ordinary. But very quickly it becomes clear that a much darker story is hidden behind this seemingly normal workplace. Human organs and body parts are scattered around the warehouse, and its corridors are constantly roamed by a monster that will start hunting you as soon as it sees or hears you, with the clear intention of killing you.
Your task in the game is to receive orders, go to the warehouse to find the requested items, then pack them and send them on. You earn money for each successfully completed order, and the goal is to collect enough to meet the daily quota, which increases over time. However, you are not completely alone in this business. Your only "friend", the cat, is waiting for you in the office. You have to take care of her regularly and return to her from time to time, because if you leave her alone for too long, she can die of sadness, which also means the end of the game.
What is most impressive about this game is its very dark and creepy atmosphere. Almost all areas outside of your office are dimly lit, adding to the sense of tension as you move through the warehouse. For this reason, I would recommend anyone who plans to play to buy a flashlight as soon as possible, as it makes it much easier to navigate in the dark. The atmosphere of fear is additionally contributed by various visual and sound jumpscares, which appear randomly during the game. Sometimes you'll see a body moving across the floor or hands sticking out from behind a wall, and sometimes you'll just hear a whisper right next to your ear. Such moments often come unexpectedly and can easily freeze the blood in your veins. In addition, there is a monster with a humanoid shape, a large head and a thin body, whose heavy steps echo throughout the warehouse.
[foogallery id="17113"]During the game you can buy various things that make the job easier, such as a scanner, a bag or better running shoes. You can also buy toys or food for the cat to buy more time before you have to return to her. You can also purchase certificates that give you access to other rooms, such as the basement and the Human Resources department. There are even more bizarre items that you have to send. The monster in these areas remains the same, although visually it looks somewhat different. That part of the game is a bit more difficult because the space is smaller, so there are fewer places to hide. However, orders from the basement and Human Resources bring more money, so it's more worthwhile to work there in the long run.
The pace of the game gradually changes as you progress through the game. At the very beginning, it is necessary to play very carefully and patiently. You move more slowly, listen carefully to the sounds around you and try to avoid meeting the monster, which is faster at first and poses a big threat. Every trip to the warehouse then feels tense because you're still learning the layout of the space and how the game works. As time passes and you get better, you start buying various items that make your job easier. They allow you to move faster, find packages more easily, and generally complete tasks more efficiently. Because of this, over time you can afford a little more risk when moving around the warehouse. At the same time, the game becomes more and more demanding as the daily quota you have to earn increases. This means that you can no longer play as slowly as at the beginning, but you have to be faster and more organized in order to complete all the orders on time. It is this change of pace, from slow and careful exploration at the beginning to faster and more stressful work later, that makes the gameplay more tense and interesting.
On consoles, such as the PlayStation 5, the game runs smoothly and stably. You can adjust the frame rate yourself in the settings, and the controls are intuitive, which allows for a pleasant experience even during tense escapes from monsters.
The sound design especially contributes to the tension – from the heavy steps of the monster that echo throughout the warehouse, to random whispers, screams and the sounds of falling objects, to ambient noises that heighten the feeling of isolation. The sound is designed to often warn the player of danger before they see it visually, thus increasing stress and tension.
All in all, Order 13 is a horror game that manages to combine simple gameplay with a very tense and creepy atmosphere. It is intended primarily for fans of horror games and suspenseful indie titles, as well as for those who like psychological horror and real-time strategic planning. The game is not too long, so it is ideal for an afternoon of intense gaming, but thanks to the different rooms, the possibility to buy items and variable jumpscares, it also offers a certain replay value. Personally, it managed to really scare me a few times, which is the most important thing for a horror game, and at the same time it provides enough challenge and fun to be worth playing more than once.
A copy of the PlayStation 5 version was provided by the publisher JanduSoft for review purposes
