Like many works of horror, Town of Light appears to be based on a true story. It takes place in a real asylum, which stands to this day. But, of course, this is all part of the set-up. From the earliest Gothic novels to found footage movies, the air of authenticity is a horror trope with considerable pedigree, and Town of Light is consciously tapping into this tradition – blurring the line between fiction and fact to great effect.
Set in the Ospedale Psichiatrico di Volterra – a psychiatric hospital in the otherwise idyllic location of Tuscany, Italy – it’s an emotionally dark tale. Its developers, also from Italy, are keen to state there are no jump scares or literal monsters hiding in its shadowy corridors, But having played an early build of Town of Light, I still think it’s best to think of it as a horror game, but one that’s more firmly in the tradition of the psychological ghost story. And it’s definitely found the perfect location for this type of narrative.
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Set in the Ospedale Psichiatrico di Volterra – a psychiatric hospital in the otherwise idyllic location of Tuscany, Italy – it’s an emotionally dark tale. Its developers, also from Italy, are keen to state there are no jump scares or literal monsters hiding in its shadowy corridors, But having played an early build of Town of Light, I still think it’s best to think of it as a horror game, but one that’s more firmly in the tradition of the psychological ghost story. And it’s definitely found the perfect location for this type of narrative.
Continue reading…
Continue reading...