There’s a sure detachment that arises from staring loss of life within the face. Watching a automobile lose management, the occupant fumbling with the brakes as they try to deal with a 2-tonne slab of metallic designed for ease of journey, aiming straight to your fleshy vessel. The one factor stopping it? A lamppost made from the identical materials as a Nissan wraps round it, a reminder of how straightforward it’s to lose time to sleep; an anecdote that repeatedly sprang to thoughts whereas dwelling via No, I’m Not a Human.
That is the debut industrial title from Jap European builders Trioskaz: A psychological horror idea which has been making sheer waves since its preliminary launch as part of the Violent Horror Tales anthology in 2024. A yr later, with some larger and bolder tweaks to the story development, in addition to a writer pick-up within the type of Important Reflex, No, I’m Not a Human is ready to consolation you in these prying occasions.
You play as a self-imposed hermit, one who has been closed off from numerous the skin world, and in some methods, a lot to their chagrin. This all adjustments when the solar explodes, bringing with it deathly heatwaves, cataclysmic world struggling, and entities rising from the bottom calling themselves “Guests”. Posing as human beings with historical past, persona, and opinions, they and others will search refuge within the type of your property, with you having to decide on who to let in, whereas coping with the tip of the world, collectively or by your self.
At night time, the door will pound incessantly, a testomony to the wooden’s energy that it doesn’t simply fall off the hinges. Look via the peephole, and also you’ll see folks begging for shelter, explaining why they’re there, and who to look out for. Via the tough night-vision filter, it’s laborious to discern who’s a Customer or not, so it’s important to make the judgment name then and there. Saying no can’t be the choice each time.
Within the daytime, the warmth is simply too harsh to enterprise outdoors, so that you make your self comfy together with your new tenants. Learn the way they really feel, watch TV, and discover out that the brand new company FEMA has discovered “sure-fire” methods to identify Guests. Bloodshot eyes and soiled fingernails could possibly be your monsters in disguise, or they could possibly be an indication of lack of sleep and poor hygiene. It’s as much as you to determine whether or not they keep or exit with a bang, your trusty shotgun proving to be the choose, jury, and executioner.
It’s mechanically sound, and regardless of a distinct path being executed, it’s possible to attract numerous comparisons to the tense administration of video games like This Struggle of Mine or Influence Winter. You might be answerable for lives right here, and whereas most will disappear into the night time, it’s who you let in and what they bring about in with them that may hang-out you. Your new greatest buddy for the tip of the world might have his time lower brief due to your errors, and that brings with it new scrutiny.
Certainly, the listing of comparisons might stretch for miles for those who actually looked for it, in what’s one among No, I’m Not a Human’s extra egregious misgivings. From The Mandela Catalogue to Hauntology, the sport will give a sly little reference right here or there, which, inside its bite-sized framing of characterization, feels off-putting in precisely how a lot it could possibly be authentic. I imply, they actually rip a line from Twin Peaks: Fireplace Stroll With Me, and tie it to a central storyline.
It sounds nitpicky, and that’s right, but it surely’s the sort of execution that may make the participant second-guess themselves, and take into consideration how a lot of the sport isn’t paying its personal dues. With that in thoughts, No, I’m Not a Human must work fairly bloody laborious to carve out its personal essence – not solely that, however do it with such nuance that its potential to be accused of cribbing is instantly dwindled.
Not solely do Trioskaz work wonders to evade such criticisms, however they do it with a ardour and fireplace that makes No, I’m Not a Human an unbelievably horrific narrative to dissect in microcosms. Make no mistake, this isn’t a horror recreation, however a horror recreation, a sick little perception into the whole disintegration of a supposedly restrained folks. Guidelines could also be what separate us from animals, however the clock performs greater than only a bit half.
Lots of the load comes from the visible design. It’s straightforward to have a look at the surreal and crude compositions of the flavorful forged you’ll meet and assume they bring about with them jokes and screenshot-worthy out-of-context traces. Take time to learn what they’re saying, nevertheless, and discover that almost every line is filled with a lot emotion, distress, and splendor that it’s laborious to say no.
The encounters are randomized, so your mileage could range in how a lot zaniness you come throughout with every playthrough, however of the 4 playthroughs I trawled via, every one had at the very least one gut-punch. That one character who wasn’t laughing wasn’t painted with a joke in thoughts, however was human, and therein lies the important thing. It appears apparent, however the charisma of sympathy that No, I’m Not a Human showcases, even when it’s seeking to rip your throat out, is, frankly, miraculous.
There’s loads to unpack in its writing, which is why this overview may really feel so scanty. Structurally talking, numerous the teething issues from Violent Horror Tales are nonetheless right here, like lacking story beats concerning faith and common politicism. It positively appears like No, I’m Not a Human needs to seize a loudspeaker and make their case for these topics, but it surely’s suffocated by what’s already current and prescient.
What’s current is a reliable quantity of effort put into the administration side, regardless of its light-footedness. Of the 4 playthroughs, 2 of them had been experiments, wherein I performed the sure man and the dissident, respectively. Each playthroughs ended with extreme punishments in thoughts, so it’s good to see Trioskaz isn’t permitting an autopilot sense of thoughts to contaminate the way you work together with No, I’m Not a Human.
One other problem is that this recreation is gloomy. Actually unhappy, like, an unfathomably heartbreaking expertise that makes Important Reflex’s different darling Mouthwashing appear like an SNL skit, which is why I discover a few of its twee quirkiness fairly bothersome. It doesn’t occur usually, however No, I’m Not a Human isn’t nearly as good at tying the room up with a quip as it’s at pulling the rug from beneath you, however this may be thought of a mutation of traits that folks convey with them.
No, I am Not a Human Overview | Closing Verdict
No, I’m Not a Human is a recreation of ironies. Utterly faraway from pretension, it’s a relay of affirmations and luxury, regardless of its harrowing presentation of the way it seems when the gloves are off. Whereas it might be disappointing to state that this isn’t a horror recreation in its most blase definition, what lies in retailer is an unbelievably sensible depiction of paranoia, disgust, and what it’s prefer to lose management. Put together for the worst, and count on the very best.
No, I am Not a Human was reviewed on PC with a replica offered by the writer over the course of 9 hours of gameplay. All screenshots had been taken in the course of the means of overview.
