Developer: Sunscorched Studios
Publisher: Sunscorched Studios
Platform: PC, PS5
Tested on: PS5
RATSHAKER – Review
We are no strangers to experimental horror games, and we have already reviewed quite a lot of them over the last few years. Many of these horror games, however, are often not more than walking simulators with a unique hook to draw players in. Most of these smaller projects tend to be interesting but fail to become memorable entries in an oversaturated genre. When we heard about RATSHAKER, we didn’t expect the title to be an actual horror game. We were mistaken, though, as what seemed like a comedic novelty title quickly devolved into something a lot more eerie and macabre.
Story
RATSHAKER begins with an unnamed protagonist standing in the middle of a field holding a cartoon rat in his hands. The rat can speak to you, and you clearly have issues with the evolved rodent. As you start violently shaking and choking the animal, it leads you to a house in the distance, where you find more than one skeleton in the closet.
We won’t delve further into the story for two reasons. Firstly, we believe you should experience RATSHAKER yourself to get the most out of it. Secondly, we are unsure what the actual story is here. You are never explicitly told what is going on, but you know it’s not good. More than likely, the protagonist was up to no good. There are quite a few interesting theories online, but we suggest you only look these up after you’ve beaten the game.
Graphics
The game combines several visual styles. On one hand (literally), you’ll have the sentient cartoon rat that taunts you, while on the other hand, you’ll have the somewhat pixelated, gruesome visuals that make up the rest of the experience. While we use this term loosely, the somewhat realistic gore elements are not for the squeamish. We loved the presentation, and it truly drove us to the edge of our seats.
Sound
Not uncommon for a horror title, but RATSHAKER has an understated sound design for the most part in terms of music and its environments. The highlights here are the voice acting and the screams of the rats. What originally started out as something hilarious when first shaking the rat quickly turned into something more haunting and more gruesome. Our initial laughing turned into nervous laughter as we delved deeper into the interior of the mysterious house. The atmosphere was set quickly, and it persisted throughout the short experience that is RATSHAKER.
Gameplay
RATSHAKER is a horror title with a unique shtick, where you use a talkative rat to solve puzzles by shaking and squeezing it. You’ll have to shake the rat in order to fill a meter, and when you squeeze the rat, the meter will be depleted, but it allows you to interact with objects. The game doesn’t explain much, except for how the main mechanics work, and then lets you do your own thing to get through the mystery house in the distance. There’s some trial and error here, but for the most part, you’ll find your way fairly easily.
The control scheme has been updated for PlayStation, as you can use motion controls now. You basically have to shake your controller to shake the in-game rat. If that’s not your thing, you can also use the stick controls to do so. We actually preferred the motion controls, as it made things easier to control. Other than the shaking, there’s not that much to tell, as you only use a minimal number of buttons while walking around.
We’d argue that RATSHAKER’s biggest weakness is also its biggest strength in a way. It will take you only around 40 minutes to beat the game, and perhaps double that time if you want to unlock all trophies on PS5. While this may sound extremely short, it actually works for something unique such as this, as the gimmick doesn’t overstay its welcome. The game’s RRP is in tune with what is on offer here, as it will only set you back around three Euros/Dollars.
Conclusion
While RATSHAKER might not be the most complex and content-heavy horror game out there, it certainly is one of the more memorable ones. You’ll be treated to an intriguing experience that starts silly at first but rapidly changes into something befitting of the genre. Even though the game is short, if you’re looking for an original horror game with a quirky shtick, we suggest checking this one out. Don’t look up too much, though, as we suggest going in blind.
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