With so many survival horror games out there, let’s face it: shooting zombies for the hundredth time gets a bit tiring. Don’t get me wrong, I love the genre, but it needs new ideas once in a while to keep it fresh. Well, leave it to DreadXP with its upcoming game, The Lacerator. Instead of escaping hordes of unholy creatures, you’ll be running away from a limb-chopping maniac. And, if you lose an arm or a leg, don’t worry; that isn’t game over. The show goes on even if you’re missing a limb, as this is part of the innovative gameplay The Lacerator is going for.
The Lacerator puts you in the shoes of a porn actor named Max. After his latest shooting, and we’re strictly referring to filming, he gets kidnapped by the titular villain. This limb-chopping individual will chase you for reasons unknown (that is, until we discover what the plot entails) and will try to remove your precious arms and legs. However, the biggest takeaway from this game is how losing a limb doesn’t end your game. As seen in the trailer, losing an arm might block specific paths but might also open new opportunities for you.
If the above isn’t enough to convince you, a quick look at its visuals and style of gameplay should suffice. DreadXP clearly pays homage to the old Resident Evil games of yore with tanky controls and an ’80s grindhouse thriller tone. Furthermore, there will be a big emphasis on exploration and puzzle-solving if that’s your cup of tea. And for the ones looking for replayability, the game will feature more than one ending, which sounds intriguing. If you ask me, that’s more than enough to put The Lacerator at the top of anyone’s wishlist.
For eager players, there’s a playable demo on Steam right now. The launch date for the game only mentions 2025, with no specific month or day. Yet, the developers will showcase the game at PAX West 2024. So, if you have the opportunity to attend, watch out for it because The Lacerator might be one of the most original survival horror games we’ve had in a while.
