“You can’t call yourself a mortician till you’ve slept in a casket.” – W.H. Cameron
Overview
The Mortuary Assistant is an entertaining cross between an embalming simulator, demonic horror, and detective game. During a lengthy apprenticeship, the protagonist is called in late one night to take care of three new bodies … except something isn’t quite right.
Developer: DarkStone Digital
Released: 2nd August 2022
Price: £16.99 – £19.99
Engine: Unity
Narrative
The Mortuary Asistant’s narrative follows an apprentice, who after completing many hours of learning on the job at River Field Mortuary, is called in late one night to take care of three new bodies. However, something is different with these corpses, and a phone call from the mortician reveals there is a demonic presence that must be identified, located, and excised.
The game opens with a message that states the game is based on true events and gives instructions on what to do if you believe your home is haunted or possessed. This feels somewhat ridiculous and both hinders and delays the player’s potential sense of immersion.
Gameplay
The Mortuary Assistant begins with a brief but fairly informative tutorial that takes the player through the embalming process. The presence of demons is not introduced until the apprentice embarks on their first proper night shift, but information that can be found and read on the computer, recorded cassette tapes, and a phone call from the mortician explain and instruct the player in this regard.
Emablaming a body requires the player to complete several steps including checking for bodily marks and abnormalities, and then recording them, fastening the mouth closed, mixing the embalming fluid, draining the body, and fixing the eyes closed. It is a gruesome process that is both methodical and satisfying and is a key part of the gameplay.
It is quickly made apparent that one of the three new bodies is possessed by a demon and it is the task of the player to discover its name, work out which body it inhabits, and exorcise it via cremation. The name can be revealed by using letting strips which can be carried through the mortuary until they burn and leave a sigil on a nearby location. Once four sigils have been exposed the name can be deduced using the computer database. This is then indicated on a token that must be placed on the correct body before it is burned. Deciding which body is possessed can be tricky but is done by watching for movements, either small or full body contortions, as well as rechecking the body for new marks, often scratches or demonic markings.
The Mortuary Assistant applies some pressure to the player since the protagonist will become possessed themselves if they do not exorcise the demon quickly enough. It is unclear if this is implemented using a time limit or a scripted event based on completed activities but a very unnerving sound will begin to play when possession is becoming imminent. A constant, throbbing crescendo that instils panic and builds tension in a really imposing way. The events and scares will also increase in frequency as the shift progresses. Throughout the shift, the player can mindlessly scribble on a notepad and the drawing produced can indicate their current state. If the player becomes possessed the shift will be over without one of the five possible endings being reached.
The player can complete multiple shifts, with events and possessions changing each time. The location of tools and other required items will also be different during every shift, meaning the player cannot familiarise themselves with the layout too much to improve their efficiency when embalming. While the overall structure is somewhat repetitive, the variation in how each shift plays out along with the multiple endings that are available mean that things stay relatively fresh and interesting. The Mortuary Assistant also lends itself to both longer play sessions and shorter dips into the game such as playing a single shift which also helps prevent things from feeling tedious.
The scares range from subtle and creepy, to full-on jump scares and have plenty of variation to prevent repetition that would cause such moments to lose their fear-inducing potency. Incidents include figures looming in corners, or in doorways, the player being plunged suddenly into darkness, unexplained noises, and strange phonecalls, amongst a variety of other spooky occurrences, none of which feel cheap or tired. The game also features a number of larger happenings, such as a cellar door appearing and taking the player into a strange demonic basement, these are minimal but add an extra layer to the horror and the experience as a whole.
The Mortuary Assistant requires the player to use a range of skills such as deduction, observation, and efficiency in order to be successful. It mixes its different game styles and genres quite seamlessly and offers well-rounded and satisfying gameplay. For a more casual experience, players can utilise the optional ’embalming only’ mode.
Styling
The Mortuary Assistant uses a realistic 3D art style that is used well to enhance and intensify the horror elements and the visceral nature of the embalming process. The lighting is atmospheric and quite dramatic in places, using darkness to create unknowing and light to highlight or emphasise scary moments or interactions.
The sound effects are well-implemented and add to the player’s sense of immersion, accentuating the gory tasks, and building tension and apprehension, especially when the player is getting close to being possessed. The tuneless music very effectively creates a feeling of urgency and impending doom.
Summary
The Mortuary Assistant is a fantastically fearful experience that blends its horror, detective, and simulator gameplay to great effect. It is reminiscent of games such as Phasmophobia with its methodical and paranormal undertakings and success is highly satisfying. The scares, though they do include some recognised tropes, are implemented in a tactical way that prevents them from feeling tired or overused meaning the game feels genuinely creepy, fueling the player’s adrenaline and creating an intense atmosphere.
The systematic yet disturbing process of embalming is very grounding in comparison to the more full-on task of demon hunting and these two prominent gameplay aspects work in tandem with one another. Additionally, the realistic art style and imposing sound design really help immerse the player and emphasise the visceral and threatening nature of the experience.
Overall, The Mortuary Assistant has a lot to offer and has few drawbacks or flaws. It is a brilliant horror game and would definitely appeal to fans of the genre. It is perhaps not one for the faint-hearted due to its’ gruesome and intense style but I’d happily recommend it to anyone looking to feel genuinely frightened and I’d suggest playing it at night!
If you enjoyed this game you may also like these horror game reviews:
Martha is Dead – Disturbing New Psychological Horror – The Outlast Trials – A Disturbing Psychological Survival Horror – Nowhere Demo – An Atmospheric Mystery in a Fearsome Nordic Forest
