For me there’s nothing quite like the smell of a new survival horror game. Especially one that goes straight for the retro feels. Case and point, today’s review subject. Post Trauma takes a lot of influence from classics in the horror genre, most noticeably the recently re-hyped Silent Hill 2, but unfortunately, despite some great ideas and great intentions, this project ended up failing to captivate me.

You play as Roman, a train conductor who wakes up in a world of nightmares, hunted by mysterious creatures in a twisted parallel of our own world. Unaware of what is happening or why, Roman must delve further into the nightmare to uncover the truth and find a way out.

Post Trauma borrows a lot from games like Silent Hill 2, where the story is more cryptic and abstract. Scattered throughout the game world are clues and secrets that help you piece things together with a smaller cast of characters who have their own motivations and demons within this nightmare world. Unfortunately, whilst Intrigued starts strong, it doesn’t really go anywhere, and I didn’t find myself getting attached to the characters you meet.

As for the gameplay, Post Trauma once again draws inspiration from past survival horror games but places a heavier emphasis on exploration and puzzle solving than on survival mechanics. Each location you visit is more of a puzzle box that has to be solved by finding a wide variety of clues that will push you towards the solutions. Take in every part of the environment.

The puzzle design is generally pretty great. I was rarely stuck on a single puzzle for too long, and didn’t feel like the game was trying to hold my hand through them. Everything you need to solve a puzzle is given to you, and there are some genuinely creative pieces in here. I wasn’t expecting this part of the game to shine as much as it did with some genuinely creative attempts at environmental puzzle solving that had me scouring the environments.

Ah crap, not another toilet ghost…

Much of the game will be spent exploring the world with a dynamic camera. Shifting from fixed perspectives to following you around the world. It’s one of my favourite elements of this retro-horror wave, with games like Tormented Souls doing it wonderfully. And for the most part, Post Trauma does this incredibly well, with some fantastic framing that makes the best use of the environment. However, it’s not perfect, and the camera will occasionally struggle to keep up. To mitigate this, some areas allow you to switch camera angles with a button press. There’s also some first-person puzzle solving, which provides a nice bit of variety.

Of course, whilst Post Trauma primarily relies on the puzzle side of the genre, there is some combat, and this is where things get pretty messy. Combat becomes the weakest part of Post Trauma. You will very rarely encounter enemies throughout the roughly six-hour journey through the nightmare world. There were maybe a dozen or so enemies to deal with. Whilst the combat as a whole feels just clunky, it makes the survival aspect feel undercut. Never having to really worry about item management or supplies as a whole.

Roman has limited stamina that allows him to sprint for a few seconds, but in combat, using melee weapons or dodging will drain that stamina faster. Combat encounters typically boil down to dodging, then hitting once or twice with generous i-frames. Roman’s primary weapon is a hammer that can take down most enemies in a few hits. You will also gain access to a smaller arsenal of weapons throughout, but I rarely felt the need to use them, other than to take down one of the few uninspired boss fights. Only the final boss provided anything interesting, with a puzzle to solve, but it didn’t serve up much of a threat.

Combat lets the rest of Post Trauma down

Despite a solid atmosphere that is layered throughout the entirety of Post Trauma, there’s just nothing that really stands out. Character models feel very plasticy, and with lacklustre animations, it gives a lifeless feel. It’s not all bad, though, with the world of Post Trauma having genuinely creative and unique designs that look visually striking.

Same with the sound. Voice acting is a key component in telling a solid, well-rounded story, but that’s just missing here. There are very few characters in the game, and none of them really did a great job. Roman is easily one of the most forgettable horror protagonists in some time, with weak line delivery that felt incredibly awkward. Elsewhere, the sound design is actually fairly good, with a tense atmosphere that works with the visuals beautifully. The sounds in the train station section give a sense of dread as you pass through the ticket barriers, with some highlights that helped immerse me into this world.

I wanted to like Post Trauma more than I did. A survival horror game that emphasises exploration and puzzle solving in a desolate world sounds like it should have been a good time. However, a weak plot and lacklustre combat make Post Trauma an uneven game that would be tough to recommend if it weren’t for its incredibly reasonable asking price. Though you could also always wait for a midyear sale if you want to…

Post Trauma is available now on PC, Xbox Series and PlayStation 5.

Reviewed on PlayStation 5.

A copy of Post Trauma was provided by the publisher.