Varney Lake XSX Review 8/10 "More Interactive Pulp Fiction From The Best In The Biz" 📑 @lcbgamestudio @ChorusWorldwide #IndieGames #GameDev

The second in the Pixel Pulp series from Argentinian developer LCB Game Studio (following Mothmen 1966), Varney Lake moves away from cryptids and towards classic vampirism. However, there are links throughout that connect the stories in an over-arching narrative.

Before I even go into the narrative, I have to commend the team for the astonishingly evocative introduction sequence, a wonderfully set up image of the story as if presented in a real magazine, complete with a schlocky cover, a missing poster of a child and a smoking match-head as beautifully melancholic music plays over the title screen (all too briefly!). I was instantly hips deep, it’s such an entrancing combination of visuals and audio.

The story tells of a group of three children who meet each other at Varney Lake, two boys and a girl who all have individual personalities and drives, and deals with how they cope as a unit when they come into contact with a wounded vampire. The story shifts from 1954 to the early ‘80s, where the characters reconnect to further discuss the events of ‘That Summer’.

The use of shifting narrative points of view and timelines keeps everything zipping along, and whilst there’s brevity to the way in which the text is presented, it’s done in such a way that maximizes impact and emotion is derived from relatively brief passages of text, something I also treasured when it was present in Mothmen 1966.

Of course, the classic pixelated visuals, economical but impactful animations and a subtly affecting soundtrack all weave their magic together and make the couple of hours that it takes to unveil the initial playthrough of Varney Lake a thing of gently horrific beauty.

Around the main narrative, there are also mini-games that be enjoyed such as card games, fishing, earning extra cash etc. that all add to how the game plays out. There are also secret scenes to be unlocked through multiple playthroughs.

SUMMARY

Whilst I’ve only played two of these Pixel Pulp titles, they’ve quickly become gaming highlights for me, much in the same way as the recently-covered The Creepy Syndrome, where bite-sized chunks of light horror really make for a satisfyingly spooky evening.

I hope LCB Game Studio keeps these coming for a long while yet!