Stormind Games have released the final installment in the Remothered trilogy, Remothered: Red Nun’s Legacy. Will we finally get the answers we need after an almost decade-long tale of torment and cruelty?
The Ashmanns
Our story starts with heartbreak. A string of child abductions and disappearances has rocked Sicily. A traumatised couple have lost all hope of finding their little girl, until a mysterious tape rekindles hope.
We play as Susan, the mother of one of the missing children, who will stop at nothing to find her Agata. Her journey has led her to the abandoned estate of the Ashmann family. Fans of the series might recognise this name from the setting of Remothered: Broken Porcelain, the Ashmann Inn; might we be getting more answers than we expected?
Resting at the base of Mt Etna, which looks like it’s on the verge of eruption, the Ashmann Villa feels like it represents the emotional state of Susan. Some of the villa is in ruins, while other parts still feel lived in with the lights on and hope…
The scene is set almost immediately, as the dark narrative starts to unfold; the themes of sexual violence and child abuse start to shape the story of a child who is punished for something that is completely out of her control, and the ramifications of the choices made by those who are supposed to protect her.
Neo-Giallo: A Throwback to Slashers
I’m a huge fan of the gothic, European feel of Red Nun’s Legacy. Stormind Games have done a great job of combining an 80s slasher feeling with the gorgeous backdrop of old-money Italy. As you are running for your life, finding anywhere to hide, you can’t help but stop and admire your surroundings.
Every painting, every chandelier, every lick of candle flame adds to your experience. Not to mention the shambling stalker nuns that want to pluck out your eyes or wear your flesh, screaming down the halls. Every turn leaves you with your heart in your mouth.
Remothered: Red Nun’s Legacy is a stealth-focused survival horror. You have weapons, but there is no combat. Every encounter is either escape or death. Your enemies stalk the hallways as they play cat and mouse with you. Unlike most survival horror games, there is no real inventory management. Progression items don’t take up inventory space – Susan can only carry three items; which can be filled with something to distract, something to heal or a melee weapon that can be used to stun while you make your escape. This, combined with no crafting of any sort, leads to a more cinematic experience.
With no takedowns or combat available, you must treat every encounter as prey. Use distractions or wait until the coast is clear. The prowlers tend to show up when you least expect it, triggering a chase. The chase mechanics are intense. The prowling Nuns are very unpredictable, so when you are spotted, they will chase you. You must escape their gaze and hide under a couch or table or in a cupboard. However, the Nuns won’t just walk past; they will investigate every hiding spot. A small mini-game will prevent you from being spotted. If you fail, the Nun will pull you out and punish you for hiding. And you will be punished.
Stop, Sinner!
One of the things I admire about Red Nun’s Legacy is its pacing, length, and puzzle-solving. Clocking in at just over 7 hours for my initial playthrough, often in survival games it’s obvious where you need to go; this snake key needs to go in the snake door. While Remothered has this, there is also an element of needing to read notes and remember where things are to help you solve puzzles to progress. There is no interactive map to show you where you are, so you must figure things out by yourself. Having to go off and count butterflies or fix puppets all while keeping as quiet as a mouse.
As you progress through the story, your mind starts to fracture, and you gain the ability to see memories in objects or use mirrors to show things that aren’t always visible to help you uncover the truth.
These work as both collectables fleshing out the story and needed information to progress through the story and are accompanied by uncomforting sound cues.
The Sound of Suffering
The soundscape in Remothered: Red Nun’s Legacy is fantastic. With the original score being composed by legendary composer Akira Yamaoka, who you might recognize if you have ever played a Silent Hill, the constant creaking and scratching, paired with times of silence as you hide from death, always keeps you on your toes.
The voice acting of the cast is superb; unfortunately, the facial animations of Susan are a little stiff at times, leading to her impactful dialogue not hitting the way it should.
Performance
Remothered: Red Nun’s Legacy was reviewed on the Xbox Series X and ran well on performance mode. There were a few textural issues but nothing that hindered the gameplay experience. As I mentioned before, some of the facial animations were a little stiff, leading to some of the more emotional story beats falling flat.
Verdict.
Remothered: Red Nun’s Legacy was the perfect end to this trilogy. The survival horror reduced item management and pacing led to an extremely satisfying game of cat and mouse, sneaking around the villa solving puzzles while being persuaded by twisted figures that simmered to an excruciating climax.
If you are a fan of classic horror or even stealth games, Remothered: The Nun’s Legacy is a must.
Gamer Social Club was supplied with an Xbox Series X code by the publisher.
Remothered: Red Nun’s Legacy is available now on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S
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