Try to get home in time
Real Stories from the Grave: A Date to Keep is a free adventure video game wherein you have to explore an empty and creepy town. Developed by DeadByte, this 3D indie action game is the second episode of the “Real Stories from the Grave” anthology features an all-new story that is still inspired by the Silent Hill horror game series. It offers retro PSX-style graphics and first-person shooter gameplay.
The creepy saga continues
A Date to Keep is Volume 2 of “Real Stories from the Grave”—with The Body being Volume 1. Here, the story is much longer and features more direct references to Silent Hill. You play as Samuel Scowl, who awakens outside an abandoned town obscured by the fog. Urged by a judging disembodied voice, you start to explore the area and soon encounter strangely-familiar scenes that may shed a light upon your situation.
The gameplay entails exploration in the first half of the story and FPS mechanics in the second half. The first half is easy to play through despite the wide-open areas of the town, as there are still dead-ends and obstacles that give you a linear path. You’ll mostly just have to worry about spotting the collectible pawns scattered around—and you’ll need 14 of them for the secret ending that will play after the end credits.
The FPS combat, however, can be a bit tricky to grasp if you’re not used to shooter games. It feels like the Doom series due to the frenetic battles against creepy creatures sprinting up to you. Aside from that, the pawns you need to look for can sometimes be hidden in unfair locations; the game won’t really teach you certain mechanics like how you can actually shoot objects and break them.
For SH fans
Overall, Real Stories from the Grave: A Date to Keep is a great continuation of this indie psychological horror series. It perfectly captures the creepy PSX style of Silent Hill and offers a deep storyline coupled with FPS mechanics. However, it can be a bit difficult for some players unused to fast-paced FPS battles, and getting all 14 collectibles for the secret is no cakewalk either. The game contains some disturbing scenes and subjects, as well.
