Conscript is a game I have been thinking about non-stop since I completed it a couple of days ago, in fact I wanted to write this review right after I finished it, but I was so emotionally spent after that whole experience, especially with the dark ending I got. It is hands down the absolute best game to come out in the modern indie survival horror boom, at least in my opinion. It is a refreshingly original and wonderful take on the survival horror formula in setting, gameplay, storytelling, atmosphere and vision.

While flawed, the gameplay is mostly tight, impactful and a ton of fun. With loads of ranged and melee weapons to choose from, you have a ton of options dealing with any kind of scenario the game throws at you. It even has some light Metal Gear-esque stealth elements thrown in for those who wish to take enemies out with stealth kills or prefer a more combat-light approach (which nets you one of the many endings). It is packed with tons of replay incentives and difficulty settings and has the biggest and most complex maps in the genre that I've played so far. It's also extremely chunky as far as survival horror games go, with my playthrough taking roughly 17 hours to beat.

But while the gameplay is great, it's easily the atmosphere and storytelling that really makes Conscript so special. It is hands down the bleakest, grimiest and most harrowing depiction of The Great War I have ever seen in a game. The beautifully desaturated pixel art, the incredible sound design and the morbid reality of the horrors of war absolutely nails how much of a festering cesspit of nightmares the Battle of Verdun truly was. There is so much to say about this game, I feel my words don't do it justice, but as usual I break things down into pros and cons:

Pros:
- Deep and engaging survival horror mechanics and systems
- A diverse selection of guns that all feel different from one another, everything having its uses
- A good variety of enemy types that fits perfectly within the setting and gameplay
- A wonderfully bleak depiction of World War 1
- An incredible atmosphere, one that is unnerving and depressing in equal measure
- A very personal and upsetting war story, the kind of tale you would have heard a veteran talk about
- Incredible pixel art that was a joy to behold no matter how many times I backtrack through an area
- Excellent sound design, with an insanely rich soundscape for every little thing
- Amazing soundtrack with tons of range; with combat tracks being imposing, gas attack tracks being distorted and freaky and those rare moments of peace playing beautifully haunting melodies
- Tons of pixelated WW1 memorabilia littered throughout the game, as well as pixel art recreations of French propaganda posters at the time
- Huge, complex and labyrinthine maps, with so much to explore and tons of secrets to discover
- Incredibly beefy campaign, with a first time playthrough lasting much longer than most survival horror games
- Tons of replay incentives, with new game plus, multiple endings, different saving options and achieving better ranks

Cons:
- Enemies can be a bit too tanky, even basic ones
- Stealth elements feel underdeveloped, making non-combat approaches very difficult
- Inventory space is a bit too limiting, and you'll need most of it taken up by gear to fight
- Backtracking can get quite tedious at times and later chapters make previously explored areas a bit annoying to re-traverse
- The map can be quite confusing at times as some things get marked as you progress, while other things are strangely absent, making it tough to figure out where to go at times

Most World War 1 horror games often tend to avoid the trench warfare aspect in favour of fighting or running away from monsters and demons manifesting in the war. As interesting and compelling as that can be (I say this as someone who absolutely LOVES Amnesia: The Bunker), I feel Conscript is a cut above the rest for its depiction of WW1 horror for one simple reason; the most unique aspect of this survival horror game is the complete lack of monsters or any sci-fi and supernatural elements. The enemy lineup comprises entirely of your fellow man; be they low ranking conscripts like you, the brutal storm troopers, battle hardened captains and even the Wex soldiers. Surely you follow orders and fight for your country, or perhaps you kill them out of the sheer will to stay alive, but sometimes you will find photos on their corpses as somber and heartbreaking reminders of what they were fighting for.

These enemy soldiers aren't monsters, they are men with families and aspirations of their own, and you made that choice to pull the trigger. And now their child is without a father, their mother without a son, their wife without a husband, all in the name of survival. It really hammers home just how cold and unfeeling The Great War was, every small victory came with a huge cost and it is such an effective storytelling method, that I had to stop and feel immeasurable guilt for what I've done, it felt like I was the monster. All of this makes Conscript one of the most immersive and emotional survival horror games I've ever played. And I will admit, the deeply disturbing ending I got along with the text to go with it was the ultimate gut punch, on top of all the countless other gut punches, and it made my eyes well up as the credits rolled.

Conscript is a special game. On top of being a fantastic survival horror offering, as well as a hauntingly beautiful piece of art depicting the reality of one of the most pivotal moments in human history, it is also a deeply emotional and upsetting tale of the human cost of war and the horrors that follow those who were able to tell their tale. I implore anyone who has even an inkling of interest in survival horror games and The Great War to pick up Conscript immediately. Even at full price, this game is worth every single penny.

you can shoot nazis

Unfortunately great idea but ended up being very boring and confusing to navigate.