Crow Country review: "a lovingly built greatest hits mix of retro horror ideas"

GamesRadar+ VerdictFilled with great puzzles and an engaging world, Crow Country is a well made recreation of how you remember classic 90s horror games. It’s familiar enough to feel authentic but different enough to keep things mysterious.Pros+A fantastic recreation of retro horror+Great puzzles+Good atmosphere and world buildingCons-Art design feels slightly childish-Infuriating map GamesRadar+ Verdict GamesRadar+ Verdict Filled with great puzzles and an engaging world, Crow Country is a well made recreation of how you remember classic 90s horror games. It’s familiar enough to feel authentic but different enough to keep things mysterious. Filled with great puzzles and an engaging world, Crow Country is a well made recreation of how you remember classic 90s horror games. It’s familiar enough to feel authentic but different enough to keep things mysterious. Pros+A fantastic recreation of retro horror+Great puzzles+Good atmosphere and world building A fantastic recreation of retro horror Great puzzles Good atmosphere and world building Cons-Art design feels slightly childish-Infuriating map Art design feels slightly childish Infuriating map Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy. Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy. There is something very satisfying about Crow Country. From its size to its puzzles, the experience is compact and lean – with mechanics and narrative all bound together with as little connective flab as possible. It almost feels like a perfectly portioned handheld game recreating a flawless homage to, well, basically Resident Evil, with a little Silent Hill thrown in at the end because that is where all PSX retro horror begins and ends (I’m joking but also yes). All in, I wrapped Crow Country in a couple of sittings, about ten hours or so, and felt like there was barely a second where I wasn’t fully engaged trying to solve some puzzle or investigate the mystery ahead. It’s the kind of game that makes you realize just how often the cliche ‘small but perfectly formed’ is misused. Fast FactsRelease date: 9 May 2024Platform(s): PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4, Xbox OneDeveloper: SFB GamesPublisher: SFB Games Fast Facts Release date: 9 May 2024Platform(s): PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4, Xbox OneDeveloper: SFB GamesPublisher: SFB Games Release date: 9 May 2024 Platform(s): PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4, Xbox One Developer: SFB Games Publisher: SFB Games Given its fastidious recreation of Resident Evil’s systems, which I’ll get to in a moment, it’s almost a surprise that Crow Country doesn’t follow the usual zombie/outbreak or pattern. There are monsters, obviously, but the set up and story feels refreshingly unfamiliar as you investigate an decrepit abandoned theme park called Crow Country, initially following up a missing persons report on its owner, Edward Crow. (Image credit: SFB Games) Avoiding familiar plots and monsters is a wise move in a game lovingly built almost entirely from retro horror tropes – if I’d walked into a street full of zombies (with a car on fire somewhere probably) it would have all too quickly felt like a well made homage or pastiche. But the strange and unfamiliar fairground set dressing, and deliberately under-explained plot, means Crow Country captures that feeling of surprise and uncertainty of a classic old horror game perfectly. More than the mechanics, it’s this that recaptures the mood and, most importantly, makes you ask all the right questions: like, what the hell is going on? Why the hell is any of this happening? And who the hell builds locks that need poetry to open?! Stop it, don’t open that door! (Image credit: SFB Games) In terms of mechanics, as I mentioned, Crow Country slavishly recreates that Resident Hill memory to the point where it almost feels like a reproduction cast from the same molds. There’s weapons progression from handgun to shotgun, flamethrower, magnum, and so on; limited inventory space to manage, and puzzles where you have to find a jewel to put on a thing to get another thing you need to use elsewhere to maybe get a key. Obviously, there are monsters. In this case a collection of gristley, melty lump people and angry meat puddles with faces. Fighting them is another familiar twist on genre conventions from some of thebest survival horror games, mixing the ability to fight with vulnerability as you lock your feet to the floor, stationary, to freely aim at advancing threats. Or, run around in a state trying to make space to do it. It’s precise, immediately intuitive but still all too easy to mess up – while you can freely move the camera in Crow Country, it’s locked to a sort of close isometric third-person angle so you always feel a little disadvantaged while taking aim in a pinch. (Image credit: SFB Games) Much like Resident Evils old and new, Crow Country takes place in a sort of open-ish map that you slowly expand your access to as you crisscross it for clues and items. There are bronze, silver and gold keys that open banks of doors for example. Or puzzles that make no sense or lack key components until you reach a certain point and the ‘ohhhthatgoes withthat’moment happens. I loved just about every puzzle because they feel like they all hit that rare, perfect sweet spot – just enough friction to provide a challenge, but lubed well enough with clues to slide through without getting stuck. Puzzle it out (Image credit: SFB Games) That’s not to say that Crow Country doesn’t have challenges. I feel like I reached the final act of the game in one sitting, but then took a whole other evening to finish what felt like the final push largely thanks to one unclear puzzle where you have to find someone, and one other puzzle that took ages to click, mainly from my own stupidity. There’s also a range of optional puzzles to unlock weapons and other extras I spent much of my later time mopping up – once you reach the mid-game you’ll likely have a range of things to look into and solve alongside the main story if you want. As you retread areas – ticking off puzzles, fighting enemies, and opening up new sections to explore – there’s just enough fresh stuff introduced to stop things feeling too familiar or safe. Crow Country isn’t afraid to introduce new enemies or mechanics, all of which keep you on your toes as you enter a new area and realize something’s changed. (Image credit: SFB Games) I wasn’t initially convinced I’d entirely jam with Crow Country at first, largely because its play on retro horror heartstrings felt almost twee and cloying. It took me a long time to grow to love the overly childish feel to the art style as well. The theme park is a fantastically weirdly wrong place to explore but I wasn’t a fan of either the main character’s blocky toy shape, or some of the cartoonish enemies (there are some great, creepy things later on but early in most of the monsters look like they want to teach you the alphabet through song). But it’s probably a testament to how good Crow Country is overall that Ididgrow to love it. I devoured it in the end, getting a near continual sense of reward from solving puzzles and opening things up to see where it took me. The story is similarly rewarding, keeping just enough ahead of your second guessing to ensure a good mix of surprise and ‘wait what?’ moments. Well written characters and plotting keep things intriguing as you try to uncover [spooky voice]what’s really going on… CATEGORIESHorrorPuzzlePC GamingPS5PS4Xbox OneXbox Series XPlatformsPlayStationXbox CATEGORIES More about crow countryFrom Silent Hill 2 to Crow Country, the best horror games of 2024 brought the chillsAfter becoming one of 2024’s highest-rated Steam releases, this Resident Evil-inspired horror game is coming to Nintendo Switch and PS4 this monthLatest26 years later, Codemasters’ Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time"See more latest► More about crow countryFrom Silent Hill 2 to Crow Country, the best horror games of 2024 brought the chillsAfter becoming one of 2024’s highest-rated Steam releases, this Resident Evil-inspired horror game is coming to Nintendo Switch and PS4 this monthLatest26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do 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and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1 Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2 Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3 Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4 Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5 Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2 Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3 Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4 The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5 Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 1 Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2 Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3 Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4 Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5 Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”