The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes – A Descent into Ancient Terror
3 min read
The Dark Pictures Anthology continues its journey into interactive horror with House of Ashes, the third installment in Supermassive Games’ ambitious horror series. Set against the backdrop of the Iraq War, this latest entry takes players on a claustrophobic journey deep beneath the Mesopotamian desert, where ancient evils lurk in the shadows of a forgotten Sumerian temple.
A War-Torn Setting with Supernatural Twists
House of Ashes is set during the “close of the Iraq War,” with the story kicking off during a hunt for weapons of mass destruction near the Zagros Mountains. What begins as a military operation quickly transforms into a fight for survival when American and Iraqi forces find themselves trapped underground with something far more dangerous than any modern weapon.
The game features a diverse cast including Ashley Tisdale among the voice actors, bringing together military personnel from both sides of the conflict who must put aside their differences to survive the horrors below. The cast and narrative are well put together and although there is some spotty dialogue at times, everything flows very nicely.
Gameplay and Atmosphere
True to the Dark Pictures formula, House of Ashes functions as an interactive horror movie with players watching lengthy cinematics and hitting surprise button prompts. The game maintains the series’ signature choice-driven narrative, where every decision can mean the difference between life and death for the characters.
Drawing heavily from the works of H.P. Lovecraft, House of Ashes does an incredible job of gradually ramping up the tension over the five hours it takes to play the game. The pacing feels more refined compared to previous entries, building suspense methodically as players descend deeper into the ancient temple.
Technical Excellence and Visual Spectacle
One of House of Ashes’ strongest points is its production value. The production quality is so high this could almost be Hollywood, with impressive visual fidelity that brings the underground environments to life. It features jaw dropping visuals and action-packed set pieces that showcase Supermassive Games’ technical prowess.
The game excels in creating atmospheric tension through its environmental design. The claustrophobic underground setting provides the perfect backdrop for supernatural horror, with ancient Sumerian architecture hiding unspeakable terrors in every shadow.
A Step Forward for the Series
House of Ashes is a notable step in the right direction for The Dark Anthology series, crafting a compelling story that’s fun, campy and terrifying in equal measures. While it may not completely escape comparisons to the benchmark set by Until Dawn, it represents a significant improvement over previous Dark Pictures entries.
House of Ashes is a fun horror romp with exciting set pieces and a fast-paced story, embracing its B-movie horror roots rather than fighting against them. The game doesn’t aim for subtlety, instead delivering straightforward scares and thrills that horror fans will appreciate.
Areas for Improvement
Despite its strengths, House of Ashes isn’t without its flaws. It has its issues, both technically and with not really having anything interesting to build into its Iraq War setting. Some technical hiccups and occasional dialogue issues prevent it from reaching its full potential.
While it boasts a cool antagonist and enjoyable moments, its scares and overall adventure lack the punch to make it a terrifying standout. The horror elements, while effective, don’t quite reach the heights that genre enthusiasts might hope for.
Final Verdict
The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes succeeds in delivering an entertaining horror experience that improves upon the series’ formula while maintaining its accessibility. It’s still a great adventure with some jaw dropping visuals and action-packed set pieces. A solid addition to the franchise.
For newcomers to the series, House of Ashes serves as an excellent entry point, offering a complete narrative experience that doesn’t require knowledge of previous installments. Veterans of the series will appreciate the refined pacing and improved character development, even if some technical issues persist.
Whether you’re a horror game enthusiast or someone looking for an engaging interactive narrative experience, House of Ashes delivers enough thrills and cinematic spectacle to warrant a playthrough. While it may not revolutionize the interactive horror genre, it represents a confident step forward for Supermassive Games’ ongoing anthology series.
Rating: A solid horror experience that improves on the Dark Pictures formula with impressive visuals and engaging storytelling, despite some technical shortcomings.
The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes is available now on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S for $29.99.
About The Author
