Scratches
is yet another game that began as an independently developed project
and then, after critical acclaim, found a publisher. I’ve always
had mixed feelings about Scratches. While it is a
wonderfully atmospheric game, it was also developed by valued JA reviewer
Agustin Cordes. So while we lost a knowledgeable writer, the adventure
community as a whole has benefited from the creation of his development
company Nucleosys.
You are Michael, a horror
story writer. You are invited by a friend, Jerry, to stay in an old
abandoned house known as The Blackwood Manor. You happily accept the
invitation as this would allow you to rest and work in a completely
silent environment. Completely? Ugh …. probably yes, except
for those strange scratching noises you keep hearing all over the
house… Soon you will discover that the house is not a place
of peace. An evil thing seems to have taken over the whole house,
locking you in and isolating you from everything else…
So, what does JA
reviewer Michael Chourdakis think of Scratches: Director’s
Cut & The Last Visit? Here are a few choice quotes from
his review: “The author of this review would like to warn
all of those with health problems – especially blood pressure/heart
problems – that exposure to this game may be hazardous to your health
and can result in serious injury or death.
In other words, this
game is scary. Very scary. If you
have played hundreds of horror adventure games and think nothing can
affect you, then Scratches: Director’s Cut/The Last
Visit is the game that will change your opinion.
Atmosphere grade: A+++++
Yes, there is nothing
to say. Please buy this game only for its great atmosphere, as it
overshadows even superb oldies like Alone in the Dark,
Gabriel Knight 2, Shivers and Black Mirror.”
8.
