True Virus (XSX) Review

Reviews XBOX One Xbox Series X December 1, 2023

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True Virus is a point-and-click adventure and is the fruits of a collaborative labor by 100 Games 100 Games and Farmind Studio. Set against the backdrop of a world destroyed by an aggressive virus has all but destroyed humanity, the post-apocalyptic tones continue to remind us what could have been; a reflection, if you were, on the collective fears of humankind, throughout the Coronavirus pandemic.

With it’s distinctly dark themes and eerie design, True Virus sets the perfect tone for a few enjoyably macabre hours in front of your Xbox. Here’s what I thought of this recent port from PC to console.

The World of True Virus

As touched upon in my intro, True Virus takes us to a strange and ravaged land, where a pandemic has resulted in the end of days. I’m not entirely sure which of the two studios were responsible for the design aspect of the game but whichever it was deserves a special mention.

The world of True Virus is wonderfully crafted in a strikingly creepy design. Subtle hues are used in abundance to give a drab and dreary atmosphere that ties in perfectly with the premise, while the designer’s keen eye for detail remains evident from the very first stage. The merging of minds in the design stages has here resulted in a world that drew (no pun intended) me in to the game and kept me relatively captivated throughout.

Level design is always a key factor of point-and-click adventure games and is quite often the difference in a hit and a miss. With so few characters typically appearing in such games, there’s usually very little else to retain player focus, yet True Virus does this so perfectly.

The Deeply Puzzling Experience of True Virus

With no charging enemies, gunplay, racing or any other adrenaline-inducing aspects to speak of, holding interest can be another challenge for point-and-click adventure game developers. With so little going on, it’s imperative that the clues and puzzles present themselves at a steady rate, while leaving as little dead time as possible. Again, True Virus has brought us the perfect balance by scattering the right amount of clues throughout the world and offering tough and challenging puzzles.

With a puzzle difficulty level reminiscent of the infamous Escape from Monkey Island franchise, True Virus is a game to avoid if you’re looking for a walk in the park. However, all of the answers to the puzzles often resulted in me metaphorically kicking myself. On the surface, they tend to present a challenge but to work them out you’re going to have to get your thinking cap on but after all, isn’t this why we play puzzle games?

WARNING – A Potential True Virus Spoiler

A good example would be near the beginning of the game where I found myself wandering from room to room, clicking on anything I could see that was clickable. I just couldn’t work out what it was I had missed. However, just before the point of giving up, I noticed a little detail that had before escaped my earlier scrutiny; the dolls’ eyes. I found that after switching a table lamp off, all of their eyes changed direction. This led me to follow their gazes and I realized that they were all looking at a ladybug on the wallpaper. I clicked said ladybug and found what I needed, it was quite the satisfying experience, given how long it took me.

True Virus Summary

With its atmospherically creepy hand-drawn design and well-balanced puzzles, True Virus was certainly one of the better point-and-click adventures I’ve played. The puzzles can at times pose challenges but those that like to think and solve will find a lot of enjoyment in True Virus.