My CONSCRIPT First Impressions (CONSCRIPT Review)
CONSCRIPT is a top-down survival horror game developed by Jordan Mochi, Catchweight Studio, and Team17, with mechanics that strongly resemble Resident Evil 1 and other survival games from the same generation. Set during World War I, particularly the Battle of Verdun in 1917, the game tells the story of a French soldier named Andre and his struggle to survive while attempting to save his brother, Pierre.
I finished CONSCRIPT on stream and it took me around 10 to 12 hours to finish it. I got ending 3A and it was worth the time and resources spent. This game is filled with puzzles, tragedies, momentary happiness, and so much more that I think they did an excellent job delivering entertainment with proper storytelling of the horrors of war. In short, I recommend this game for those who want something new in the survival horror genre and fans of games set in World War I or II.
CONSCRIPT Gameplay
CONSCRIPT revolves around exploration and survival.
The player must help Andre explore and survive the invasion of German forces in France. Exploration is cut up into multiple regions with each unlocked as the story progresses. Certain areas within these regions are also locked behind puzzles and story junctions. The player must then guide Andre, the protagonist, through settlements and trenches, gathering the necessary items to survive and defeat the German invaders.
Items such as weapons and tools—including Fuel, Shotguns, Pickaxes, and Keys—can be found and used to help Andre fight or unlock areas. Each weapon has its strengths, such as high firepower, faster reload times, or higher ammo capacity while certain tools help remove blockades, open locks, or heal Andre when he is hurt.
Unfortunately, Andre also has limited carrying space in his bag so you need to be mindful of what you make him bring. The game eases you into these mechanics in the first chapter by giving you items early on and then taking them away at the end to truly test your skills and survival instincts in the next chapter.
Eventually, you will learn that puzzles are a significant part of the game, requiring specific items to unlock doors or interact with certain characters. There’s also a lot of backtracking involved, so patience is necessary—I certainly needed it. Simply put, this game tests your patience and critical thinking.
Combat in CONSCRIPT is slow-paced, requiring you to stand in place to perform certain actions, like reloading or shooting. This means you need to practice proper distancing to give yourself time to act. Your aim also needs time to settle for accuracy, and with enemies sprinting at you, running is essential. Running is also limited by Andre’s stamina so managing it is very crucial. A quick tip, Andre is not superhuman so he does not have a large stamina bar and completely depleting it forces him to jog and disables dodge rolling; leaving him vulnerable to attacks. Morphine and Stimulants can be found and used to increase the maximum health and stamina of Andre. However, enemies also get stronger as you progress the story.
Simply put, CONSCRIPT is not for the impatient and I recommend those interested to prepare for a lot of reading, guessing, and backtracking.
CONSCRIPT Graphics
CONSCRIPT’s graphics, while pixelated, are effective in their simplicity. The game cleverly transitions between a top-down perspective during gameplay and a first-person perspective during cutscenes—most likely inspired by early Resident Evil entries which featured locked perspectives and then transitioning to first-person perspective during certain cutscenes.
Despite its pixelated appearance, the art style is well-executed, with color choices that enhance readability. I also believe that the minimalist visuals help the story stand out, focusing the player’s attention where it’s needed. While some may be disappointed with the art direction, the developers have included less pixelated visuals such as some faces in photos found in-game or certain objects Andre interacts with which shifts the perspective into first-person.
CONSCRIPT Theme and Setting
CONSCRIPT is set during World War I, particularly from 1915 to potentially 1933, depending on the ending you get. I should also mention that CONSCRIPT features multiple endings, adding replayability beyond Challenges and the Leaderboard. Anyway, the game is set during some time in the middle of or after the Battle of Verdun, with locations like Fort Souville and Fort Vaux making appearances.
The game’s themes include warfare, survival, horror, depression, mental health, and more. While I keep referencing Resident Evil 1, the game also seems inspired by early Silent Hill entries, which were effective in conveying horror and tension despite graphical limitations. CONSCRIPT is proof that compelling design can outweigh high-end graphics.
CONSCRIPT Story and NPCs
CONSCRIPT’s story is told from the perspective of Andre, the main character, who is forced to take part as a soldier in World War I, along with his brother Pierre. The game starts with you in a supply trench and the actual conscription of Andre and Pierre is shown in a flashback at the end of the first chapter where they are forced to enlist in the army. The title CONSCRIPT refers to this forced enlistment which is called Conscription. While most of the main story unfolds through cutscenes and main story progression, much of the narrative is left for the player to discover through exploration and environmental interaction.
Aside from Andre and Pierre, there are numerous other characters, such as Gaston, Medic, and Marcel. I won’t spoil too much, but some of these characters come and go, and each departure is heart-wrenching. Despite their brief appearances, the game makes these characters important, whether they’re helping you or just sharing a moment of conversation.
More CONSCRIPT Screenshots
CONSCRIPT FAQs
How long is the CONSCRIPT?
It took me around 10 to 12 hours to complete the game so it should be roughly that long. You can finish it quicker if you know what you are doing.
Is CONSCRIPT finished?
Yes, it was developed for a few years it seems.
Is CONSCRIPT co-op?
No. There are, however, leaderboards for you to compete with other players.
How long is the CONSCRIPT campaign?
It took me 10 to 12 hours so it should be roughly that long. I’ve seen some playthroughs that took them 5 hours to complete the game so there’s that.
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