1984, Carrion City. It’s a filthy, crime-filled underbelly of a city, and there’s a serial killer on the loose. Detective Dick Slater is on the case, and with his rookie partner, Robbie Knox, will put the reign of terror of The Skin Stapler to its grisly end.
This is the setting for Tainted Pact’s latest horror release, The Skin Stapler. A retro PSX-style grindhouse horror walking sim that oozes old school charm and aesthetic. Much like the rest of their catalogue, this is a more narrative experience like Mouthwashing or What Remains of Edith Finch, with some arcade elements thrown into the mix.
Carrion City is his Hunting Ground
The Skin Stapler is shown in first-person from the perspective of multiple characters of Carrion City. Usually, you will play as a character being tormented or hunted by our titular serial killer, then switch roles with the detectives to investigate the inevitable crime-scene aftermath. This framing lets you experience the before and after of each murder, drawing you into the experience.
While playing as the “victims,” you have to do their day job. This can vary from preparing hot dogs for customers, polishing bowling balls and drawing blood at a blood bank. This is very reminiscent of the current trend of “shop sim” games except wrapped in a gritty, chunky atmosphere and with dead-eyed, freakish customers. As a veteran of retail work, I found the depiction of the general public an accurate and apt commentary.
Dick Slater is on the Case
Switching to the detectives, we have to examine the crime scene. This involves searching for clues and finding evidence the killer has hidden to unlock a freakish puzzle. This involves finding objects, rotating in a separate investigation screen, and finding multiple puzzle pieces. The killer is obsessed with Dick Slater and leaves messages for him in a deadly game of cat and mouse.
This being a narrative experience, there is very little deviation from the main path, no side quests or alternate paths, and the game clocks in at about 3 hours from start to finish. But this is a jam-packed, handcrafted adventure that was a joy from beginning to end.
It Has Mirror Tech!
The Skin Stapler replicates classic PS1-style 3D graphics, with chunky models, pixel art textures, and basic character animations. You won’t get lip-syncing models or advanced micro-expressions, but in all honesty, it lends to its charm. In true mid-90s gameplay fashion, though, it does have working mirrors! A graphical element most modern games either have forgotten or chose to abandon in the AAA space, but I for one am happy to see it slowly returning.
The Skin Stapler has an original soundtrack composed by the creator of the game, Michael Cosio, and blends horror-synth-wave with classic noir themes and quickly switching to aggressive shredding guitars, all heightening the atmospheric horror.
Wait, is that….?
With a fully voiced cast, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that most of the cast are content creators often playing a twisted parody of themselves. I fully admit I’m not completely up to speed on most of them. Still, they all gave spectacular performances, and I’m fully behind the cyclical nature of content creators now actually turning up in games. I didn’t want to elevate one more than the others, but a special shout-out must be made to RJ Green’s Dick Slater, who gives us the darkest blend of Watchman’s Rorschach and Batman all into one.
A lot of work went into making Carrion City feel lived-in, with great hand-drawn art put through the pixel shader. There are also live-action sequences inserted on TV screens (starring and produced by real content creators), and a recurring radio talk show host broadcasting the events of the game in a constant reminder of the terror. Paired with neon lighting and mist-filled streets, The Skin Stapler gives Carrion City a grimey, decayed atmosphere that makes you feel like you need a bath after playing. It truly has a personality of its own, which is really impressive considering the self-imposed limit on graphics.
A Solo Developer with Passion and Talent
Tainted Pact has made an art form from making these retro horror games, each with a different aesthetic, which is impressive for a solo indie developer. I have played a couple of these in the past and am glad to see their quality is still consistently high. I appreciated the in-game cameos and noticed this has some ties to previous titles, but prior knowledge is not required.
I am enjoying the current trend of indie studios revisiting retro-style games and mechanics, not for cheap nostalgia, but by treating the genre with reverence and respect. With AAA studios and games currently burning out in a state of freefall chasing trends and profits, it’s studios and games like this that remind you that gaming can actually be enjoyable and deliver unforgettable atmospheric moments. The Skin Stapler won’t be for everyone, but for me this was a breath of fresh air.
Developer: Tainted Pact
Publisher: Assemble Entertainment
Platforms: PC
Key Provided By: PressEngine
About the Author
