NOTE: No chickens were harmed in the making of this video game
There are many ambitious titles in the psychological and survival horror genre, but there is definitely none like 'Saborus'. What makes this indie game special is its unique perspective – we are not in the role of a human, soldier, or killer, but in the role of Gisela – a chicken trying to escape from the industrial slaughterhouse of 'Saborus'. We played the PlayStation 5 version, which is currently priced at 11.99 euros on the PS Store.
The concept of the video game is simple but fun, with an unprecedented twist – we play as a chicken escaping from the slaughterhouse, solving puzzles and trying to save its life. What may sound like a joke to some is actually an interesting video game from a completely new perspective. 'Saborus' is a game that was actually conceived by Jean Lima, a developer from Brazil, after his pet chicken passed away. What started as a passion project caught the eye of publishers QUByte Interactive, who are perhaps the largest publishers of indie video games in Brazil. The game was also noted at the OTK Games Expo, where it was presented as “Chicken Run meets Resident Evil.” The game consists of 15 chapters. We are always fleeing from the slaughterhouse workers. Fighting is not an option, so our only choice is to run away from them and avoid obstacles. We move through ventilation, bypass machines, jump across ceilings... Interaction is limited to what chickens can actually do – briefly fly, run fast, and peck with their beaks. Because of this, the controls are simple, and there is no tutorial needed to explain the gameplay. Death in this video game is very quick, and it will happen to you many times – for example, falling from not overly high places results in death or almost certain injury.
The best thing about this game is the atmosphere. The lighting and sound are top-notch. The dark corridors and ventilation are a total contrast to the illuminated machines. The graphics are solid for an indie game. It takes about 3-4 hours to complete the game, which may be too short for some. For others, who may not enjoy the game, it will feel too long. Those who don't like the game are probably the ones who will find the whole concept laughable. We do find the game's concept amusing, but that doesn't mean the game isn't interesting.
The main drawback of this game is definitely the mechanics. Movement and jumps are quite clumsy, and the controls always feel 'slippery'. The platforming part of the game, jumping from box to box, might be the worst part of the game, so every height in 'Saborus' feels like a lottery. And when you die, the game sends you back to the last checkpoint, which can sometimes be quite far back. As in similar indie video games, there is no guidance. The principle is – 'figure it out, buddy'. The tasks and puzzles that are interesting at first quickly become boring. It all boils down to picking up an item at point A and taking it to point B. In later chapters that are almost like mazes, it even becomes tedious.
But despite that, 'Saborus' is a video game that fascinated me. I love indie experimental games that strive to be different from the rest – and this one is definitely different. There is no horror (video game or generally horror, whether it's a movie or a novel) like 'Saborus'. The puzzles are repetitive and the controls are unstable, but the atmosphere, graphics, and music make up for it. This is a solid, ambitious work for all video game lovers who appreciate games that differ from some standard.
A copy of the PlayStation 5 version for the review was provided by the publisher QUByte Interactive
