Project Nightmares Case 36: Henrietta Kedward - Don't Get Too Attached

Project Nightmares Case 36: Henrietta Kedward is quite the title, so let’s pat NC Studio on the back for something… memorable. In reality, even if the title was short and catchy, that’s the last thing on your mind. Stock up on the light bulbs and toilet roll: this is some scary shit.

When the details came through for this, I was hesitant as I’m not a fan of horror games, but I was confident enough in Feardemic sending over something good. Watching a quick trailer was pretty damn exciting, but there’s no way this’ll look good on the Switch. No way. Way.

Probably the most surprising element of Project Nightmares Case 36: Henrietta Kedward wasn’t solely the content but how good it looks and runs on the Nintendo Switch. I’ve played a few first-person games on the platform, and it’s never been the go-to version. Unless it’s Nintendo developing, the visuals end up being skimmed. Here, however, it’s excellent.

Project Nightmares Case 36: Henrietta Kedward Review Switch

Let’s confirm that visuals aren’t everything, but in the case of horror titles that rely upon lighting, it’s essential to get it right. Project Nightmares Case 36: Henrietta Kedward feeds upon our fear of the dark as a key mechanic in the game is lighting through consumable candles – comparable to the camcorder batteries in Outlast and just as freaky.

Set in the early 80s, you’ve been recruited to delve into the world of Henrietta Kedward. Scientists have somehow developed technology that links a person with psychic powers to a cursed object. That means you’re dropped into a creepy abandoned property, wandering around with melting wax on your hands and clenching your arse in the hope nothing jumps out.

Horror, like comedy, is subjective, and while you might say that Project Nightmares Case 36: Henrietta Kedward isn’t remotely scary, it put me on edge throughout, to the point that I didn’t want to play it. It’s not like the scariest experience, nor is it a bad game, but if you have an active imagination, you’ll end up filling any gaps with some atrocities that will never appear in the game. That said, there are some nasty visuals in this. Nasty, as is in beautifully grotesque.

Are You Afraid Of The Dark?

While it’s not on par with the PlayStation exclusive, this experience reminded me of P.T. and has the same sort of gameplay, albeit the candle mechanics work great. Though the visuals aren’t as good, they’re better than many newer titles of late, and it sets the mood. You’re delving into the paranormal – this needs to make you uneasy.

Gameplay is supposedly within a dream experience, but the subject you’re exploring knows you’re there and hunts you down. Anyone familiar with Silver Chains will get the gist, but in short, you have to keep moving and pay attention to all the nuances around, such as footsteps and the odd cackle.

Much like the walking simulators of late, exploration is guided, and looking through drawers sound and feel mundane. However, the foreboding ambience spun it on its head and had me playing with the lights on. Honestly, if this were on the big screen, I would have bailed as I was too much on edge. Once again, that’s a good thing, but strip that out of Project Nightmares Case 36: Henrietta Kedward’s gameplay and it’s not much different from similar titles. In summary, the presentation makes it a standout.

Verdict

Not the type of game I’d actively seek due to a lack of backbone, Project Nightmares Case 36: Henrietta Kedward can be a terrifying experience, depending on your imagination levels and where you stand on jump scares. Fantastic visuals and sound production for the Switch, but if you don’t scare easily, the puzzle/exploration activities might not cut it for you.