White Night
Overview -
What do you get when you take the aesthetic style of Frank Miller's 'Sin City' and mix it with survival horror? Osome Studios and Activision seek to answer that very question in 'White Night' a visually astonishing riff on a rather (in)famous genre.
Video Review
Visually, ‘White Night’ is worthy of high praise. The sharp contrast of black-and-white imagery handles itself nicely throughout. While there are times I questioned the overall character design and in some instances, specific lighting choices, ‘White Night’ is a truly unforgettable visual experience. Apart from some occasional issues with aliasing, the framerate holds up without any faults. Those intrigued by the game’s jazz-era noir qualities will not be disappointed, as ‘White Night’ delivers in spades.
Audio Review
Equally impressive is the soundscape created by the developers. ‘White Night’s approach to sound design is both grounded in reality while still steeped in genre standbys. Atmosphere is the name of the game and ‘White Night’ utilizes surrounds to great effect. Narration during cutscenes is admirable and fitting with the 1930s tone and setting; it is a minor disappointment, this narration doesn’t follow much into the game at large.
For as much as ‘White Night’ brings to the table on an innovative standpoint, it equally misses the mark by failing to ensure gameplay isn’t hampered by wonky camera angles and de-evolved save mechanics. Still, the noir setting, visuals, and clever puzzles to solve, coupled with a generally creepy back-story, makes ‘White Night’ at least a minor point of interest to genre fans (both those of survival horror and the 1930s hardboiled detective).