Developer: Game Atelier
Publisher: Game Atelier
Platform: PC
Tested on: PC
Follow Us – Preview
Have you ever played the We Were Here franchise and thought to yourself, “This would be even better if it were a horror game”? Developer Game Atelier is here to deliver with Follow Us, a two-player asymmetrical horror experience currently in Early Access. Like in the We Were Here franchise, don’t expect to hold your friend’s hand through the scares, since the game splits you up and requires good communication under stressful circumstances if you want to make it out alive. Personally, we regarded this more as a relationship test to see if you can trust your friend not to accidentally or purposefully kill you.
Follow Us is set in a sort of dystopian world, where people are shackled to their screens for entertainment since going outside is too dangerous. You and your friend are content creators, one of you vlogging in harrowing circumstances to amuse the viewers, while the other sits in a van to guide the production. Only teamwork will make for a good stream, and if you do well, you’ll unlock other ‘episodes’ of the show (or levels in the game, as you might have guessed).
Leaning away from the hyperrealistic look that plagues some horror games these days, Follow Us goes fully for the retro aesthetic, with pixelated graphics that are reminiscent of the old PlayStation era. The game currently has three levels, each with its own vibe that is mirrored in how it looks: from a colorful nightclub with constant strobe lights to a scary, winding industrial complex. While the player out on the field explores their surroundings, the player in the van can follow along by using several cameras, one of which allows you to view a first-person perspective of what the other player is seeing.
The game has a good soundtrack and even better sound effects. Again, every level has a different approach, so the music matches that, though what really shines is the blend of creepy noises coming from the darkness that keep you on your toes. The game uses a voice chat system, since communication between the two players is so important. This also means they can sometimes mess with you, cutting off the microphones during tense moments in a way that certainly will have you both freaking out.
Follow Us is what the Steam store describes as an asymmetrical co-op. This means that while you and your friend are playing together, you’re not in the same area or even experiencing the same gameplay. In this case, you can pick the role of either the EXY, the explorer who takes their camera into a dangerous location to risk life and limb for entertainment, or the OPY, the calm production manager who pulls strings from inside the van. While the EXY has a more classical horror experience, the OPY has to undertake puzzles to keep their friend alive. Though either way, teamwork is what makes the dream work.
Currently, there are three levels available, each with unique gameplay. The first one is called ‘Lost in OKAOU’. This one features the EXY going into a maze-like store where mannequins will try to attack them if they look the other way. The OPY will have to guide them through by using cameras and maps, as well as help them count the correct items based on the books found in the van. ‘A Night with DJ Susan’, the second level, is an anomaly hunting game. This means that the OPY will scan the area from the van, and then direct the EXY so they can find anomalies in that area. Once you’ve got all of them, you can proceed to the next stage of the level, but things get trickier to spot as you go, with more anomalies and a time limit to challenge you. Lastly, there’s ‘Meeting with the Employer of the Month’. This level is a return to a more typical horror vibe, with the EXY needing to find their way from the top of a building to the ground floor, while a monster is out for their blood. The OPY once again uses cameras and maps to help navigate, though they also are in charge of opening and closing doors around the building, meaning they have a more hands-on way to help (or screw over) their friend.
Which level you prefer is probably going to depend mostly on personal taste, just like how which role you prefer to play can differ between people. Personally, especially the first and third levels were enjoyable to us as horror fans, while the anomaly hunting one just felt like a frustrating and slow puzzle. However, the atmosphere was always excellent, and it was fun to see the game also throw in some scares for the OPY, like the power going out or creepy things happening in the van. The devs have expressed wanting to add more levels, so we’re certainly looking forward to more original ways to make teamwork the focus of a horror experience.
Conclusion
Follow Us already offers a lot for people who love getting scared alongside their friend(s). The asymmetrical approach allows for new dynamics if you play the game more than once, and it’s a take we’ve not seen before, so that’s certainly refreshing. We’re definitely going to keep an eye on the future of entertainment.
No Comments