Tarsier Studios’ REANIMAL is a true fright fest that stands out as one of the best co-op titles released in recent years, but the narrative can be difficult to get to grips with.
REANIMAL is considered to be a ‘spiritual successor’ to the Little Nightmares series, and there’s a lot that fans of that franchise will be pleased to see. Additionally, it’s a rare moment of celebration for couch co-op players who are largely forgotten in modern gaming, but narrative confusion is present throughout.
A Co-Op Great
While REANIMAL can be played as a single-player title, with the companion being controlled by the game in that case, it is certainly a title that is much more enjoyable with a partner. Whether playing online or through the aforementioned couch co-op option, REANIMAL jumps near the top of the list of co-op titles that need to be on your list.
I’m not sure ‘enjoyed’ is the right word, considering some of the scenes and environments can be disturbing, but REANIMAL is certainly a game made to be played together. In this case, I dragged my, albeit initially reluctant, wife to play alongside me—omitting the key facts that REANIMINAL is a horror title, instead promising her an experience like ‘It Takes Two.’
In a way, that wasn’t a lie. While there isn’t the charming narrative that Hazelight Studios has offered in its co-op titles, there are the same undertones. Communication is key, exploration is advised, and the journey through the game will cement memories in your brain for years to come.
I’m not much of a fan of horror games, nor is my wife, but we both thoroughly enjoyed REANIMAL, even the parts that made us jump. However, I still have absolutely no idea what the game is actually about, or what happened over the course of the story.
Sheer Confusion All The Way Through
REANIMAL is as confusing as it is entertaining, and I cannot truly describe what the core of the game is. Survival is key, the goal of reuniting with friends is clear, but I have no idea what is happening, or why, or what caused these hideous monsters to exist in the first place.
I thought it would become clearer as we got deeper into the game, but if anything, things just became all the more confusing. There’s not much similarity between the monsters, apart from their hulking size, and I have no idea why the seagulls, who appear to be normal at first glance, have such bloodthirsty desires.
There are also stages where it’s not clear what the goal is. We spent a good amount of time in one area of the game, trying to solve a puzzle with no luck, and having no idea what we were doing wrong. As it turned out, this large, eye-catching environment that takes center stage in the area we entered wasn’t where we needed to be. Instead, there was a cave on the far side that was easy to miss and needed to be visited first.
REANIMAL is also a completionist’s nightmare, as you can’t reload at a specific point to gather any missed collectables. Instead, you’ll need to start from scratch, which made me reluctant to even bother.
REANIMAL Review Verdict
Overall, REANIMAL is a title that any player, particularly those who enjoy couch co-op titles, should immediately add to their list of games to play. While not as strong as titles from Hazelight Studios, who are the masters of the genre, there’s more than enough reason to recommend the game.
However, the confusion with the game’s story and the aspects that make full completion a bigger nightmare than any of the monstrous beings I encountered make the replayability a chore, rather than an enjoyable pastime. Nevertheless, REANIMAL is certainly deserving of your attention.
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