Perception from The Deep End Games is an interesting game in which you play as a blind woman who uses sound to get a feel for her surroundings. Learn more about it in our Perception review!
The Deep End Games decided to take Perception to Kickstarter back in 2015 to secure the funds needed to complete the game’s development. The team managed to reach over $160,000 to develop an indie psychological thriller in which you play as Cassie, a woman who is blind and who must use echolocation, creating sound to make the environment “pop” so that she can make out obstacles in a given area. She ends up deciding she should investigate an old abandoned mansion: Echo Bluff, in Gloucester, Massachusetts. Something weird and supernatural is going out at the mansion, and those who lived in the house over many generations need Cassie to uncover the truth.
Before you can start your adventure, you’ll get to select between two options: Chatty Cassie, which means that you want to get to know Cassie a bit better, so you definitely want to hear what she has to say; or Silent night in which Cassie will only speak during plot-critical moments as she remains quiet for the rest of the game. After this, you’ll get to select from one of three game modes (more on that later) before you dive into an adventure like no other.
As the game begins, you read a message that says the game is based on true events, which you will understand once you’ve completed the game. The game will ease you into things by asking that you echolocate with the ZR button so that you can make out what is in front of you. After this very short tutorial, you’ll find yourself walking through the airport for a short bit as you practice how your cane paints the area around you thanks to how you use your cane to echolocate… before you find yourself at the steps of the mansion. You’ll move around with the left analog stick and look around with the right one as you make your way up to the mansion’s entrance. You’ll also be able to interact with things, which includes doors, tape recorders, postcards and more.
Along with her cane, Cassie also has access to a very handy sixth sense ability. By pressing the ZR button, you’ll be able to pinpoint the next important objective, allowing you to focus and redirect your attention towards this. It’s an important skill to have since the mansion certainly isn’t small and you might end up getting a bit lost at one point or another.
The game was previously released on PlayStation 4, but it has now been revamped and remastered to include newly recorded lines for main protagonist Cassie, new audio to enhance immersion, rebalanced gameplay, new checkpoints, and two new ways to experience the game, along with the original version. First up is Story Mode, which is a walking simulation version of the game so that those who want to explore the mansion without the lurking sense of danger around every corner can get to enjoy the story and setting. Then there’s Spooky mode, which is closer to the original experience with a mix of the walking simulator part along with some risk here and there as you must be aware of The Presence that is out to get you. And then there’s Scary Mode in which you’ll need to be careful and hide from The Presence and other dangers since enemies will be more aggressive – also when you die you’ll be sent to the game’s main menu!
There’s a great documentary you should check out to learn more about the making of Perception, which you can see below – trust me, it’s definitely something you have to see.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=destructoid+perception+gameumentary
Perception is an interesting psychological thriller that I definitely recommend you check out on Nintendo Switch. The unique gameplay premise of the game by which you must use sound to be able to find your way around the location mixes things up, placing you in the shoes of a blind woman who won’t let her disability get in the way. Abandoned houses are creepy by nature, but exploring an abandoned house as a blind woman who literally can’t see what lurks in the dark is a thrilling experience. Playing in the dark is the best way to enjoy this 3 to 4-hour release, especially if you’re playing in portable mode with your headphones on!
Disclaimer
This Perception review is based on a Nintendo Switch copy provided by The Deep End Games.
