Game Developer Brass Token released a gameplay overview trailer for their new horror game The Chant, which also contains the expected release date. The all-new deep dive focuses on The Chant's island, The Gloom, a supernatural realm in the game that releases dangerous creatures that serve as the main antagonists, as well as the protagonist's well-being affects gameplay in an interesting way.
Described as a third-person spiritual nightmare, The Chant follows Jess Briars who seeks peace of mind after a traumatic past. She goes on an island retreat that promises to help her on her healing spiritual journey. However, she finds instead a horrific psychedelic world of cosmic dread when a group chant leads to the awakening of The Gloom. With no way to escape, she must uncover the history of the island cult and hopefully reverse the ritual.
Brass Token’s latest look into The Chant is the deepest dive into the game provided at this point, and there’s a lot to dissect before the game's debut on November 3. Creative Director Mike Skupa gave a narrated breakdown of gameplay and all the horrors that await players in this cosmic horror action-adventure. Players will explore the island retreat camp and surrounding areas to find resources and collectibles, which players will use to piece together weapons and defense items. A significant point emphasized in the video was that the game’s difficulty derives from the player’s use of resources and choices made throughout gameplay. Players will aim to uncover the island’s mysterious dark past by solving puzzles and crafting items that aid the process.
The Chant also offers an interesting gameplay mechanic in which players have to tend to Jess’ mind, body, and spiritual status. Skupa mentions that every action made in the game “affects the balance” between all three, including common gameplay choices such as dialogue. Any choices made will affect how a player’s story ends. Another tie-in to the spiritually-revolved nature of the game is that as The Gloom grows in the main world, the supernatural aspects affect Jess’ negative energy through attempts to amplify and feed on it. In order to combat the various creatures and cultists from The Gloom, players will have to figure out their enemy’s weaknesses and use weapons and traps that make the best hit against them. To add to the horror of it, sometimes running away is the best option. Spiritual abilities become available as a means of attack as players discover more about the workings of The Gloom and its inhabitants.
So far, The Chant appears to grab inspiration from a lot of familiar horror media. It has a Midsommar meets Lovecraft air to it which adds to the eeriness of the mystery behind the retreat. Fans of the Resident Evil franchise will recognize some elements of the games in the exploration of the wooded island. The Chant also seems to up the ante through gameplay involving the protagonist’s mental and spiritual well-being, which is something very few games force as a major component. It’ll be interesting to see what else is going on at this not-so-peaceful getaway.
The Chant launches on November 3 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.