The Chant

The Chant has some good enemy design and interesting resource management, but its psychic-horror weirdness just doesn't get weird enough.

If only the rest of the game could reach those standards; it's a frustratingly average title that does nothing particularly well nor insultingly bad. The Chant is just very okay, which is probably the most boring route it could take.

The Chant offers a far-out setting, unique upgrade system, and some vintage charm, but restrictive level design, listless combat, and dingy visuals strike a sour note. While old-school survival horror fans may find The Chant appealing, wider audiences probably won’t be drinking the Kool-Aid.

After thoroughly analyzing The Chant, our evaluation focuses on the overall experience and the emotional resonance it leaves with the player. The Chant stands out as a contemporary psychological horror that does not merely recycle familiar tropes, but instead crafts an atmosphere and a sense of tension deeply intertwined with its narrative and game world. The interplay between the Gloom as a narrative force and Jess’s spiritual abilities creates a dynamic that transcends the typical “fight and survive” formula: players are tasked with interpreting symbols, managing resources and powers, and considering the consequences of their choices. This complexity, paired with the quality of art direction and sound design, makes the game both intellectually and emotionally engaging, a rare achievement for a mid-tier survival horror. Exploration is particularly compelling, intense, and often unsettling, with the world itself reacting to player actions. The island is more than a mere backdrop – it is a living narrative entity. From a technical standpoint, stiff animations and limited facial expressiveness occasionally break immersion, yet never enough to compromise tension or the overall experience. The game strikes an effective balance between artistic ambition and budgetary constraints, emphasizing atmosphere, audio, and environmental interaction. The soundtrack and sound design form the game’s core, guiding emotions and perceptions while steadily building suspense and anxiety. Strategic use of silence further amplifies the player’s experiential engagement. The game also excels in addressing complex themes. Faith, paranoia, psychological trauma, and the blur between reality and hallucination are explored with sensitivity and depth, enriching the narrative while prompting players to reflect on human perception under extreme circumstances. Multiple endings and divergent paths reinforce the weight of player choice, while the game’s ’70s retro aesthetic seamlessly complements the overarching story. Overall, my personal evaluation is highly positive. Despite minor mechanical shortcomings, The Chant demonstrates enormous potential. It lingers in memory not for fast-paced action or plot twists, but for unrelenting tension, a unique atmosphere, and cohesive world-building. This is a game I would recommend to anyone seeking a survival horror that engages both mind and emotions, proving that AAA production values are not a prerequisite for impactful, unforgettable experiences. Play it – you will not regret it.

Brass Token’s The Chant successfully combines storytelling, visual art, and quite engaging gameplay. I’m definitely not afraid to say that its psychedelic landscape and resonant themes of personal struggle, combined with cosmic horror, create an unforgettable experience. This title is aimed at both fans of H. P. Lovecraft’s cosmic horror and lovers of narrative games with a unique twist. In *The Chant*, you’ll find not only thrills but also a deep insight into the instability of the human psyche.

The Chant not only fills a current hole in the horror action-adventure genre, but also manages to bring an original take on the genre thanks to the story and themes it opens up. The authors do not want to confirm or refute the effects of esotericism, but point out that in certain cases it is a double-edged sword.

For fans of psychological games and games like Silent Hill or The Evil Within, The Chant is the perfect choice. However, it's not something that appeals to a broader audience.

The Chant demonstrates how the indie world is fertile ground for experimentalism in the survival horror theme. Brass Token inaugurates its debut with a bold product, somewhere between the suggestions of a taut, well-structured plot and openings toward a more action-oriented balance at the expense of survival. Paradoxically, the title's resourcefulness prevents it from fully focusing on its playful components, ending up as an enjoyable but not unmissable experience. A fluctuating technical compartment and an all too modest duration make it a title suitable primarily for horror fans who are nevertheless open to the more “eventful” hybridization of the action genre.

The Chant takes survival horror to the beach and beyond in a game that works in fits and starts.

The Chant is a promising start for new development team, Brass Token. Its premise on the most basic level might not be something unheard of, but the way that it’s implemented and explored is quite original. I was impressed by the diversity of the enemy designs and the efficient use of a relatively small map.