Skip to content
Home » Distrust Review – Fun-Theme Wrapped Around a Somewhat Disappointing Flaw

Distrust Review – Fun-Theme Wrapped Around a Somewhat Disappointing Flaw

Distrust
Cheerdealers

As an indie horror film director myself, I’ve been weaned on a lifelong diet of horror films, all the way from the 50s on up to around the early 90s, when the vast majority of them started becoming crappy. Even though there was the original version of The Thing back in the 50s, it was the 80s version (starring Kurt Russell) that really blew me away. Forget about the most recent, third film, which of course had to have a female protagonist replace Mr. Russell as the lead, and everyone had to endure watching her shamble around with a surprised look (mouth perpetually agape) on her face throughout the entire disaster of a film.

In fact, I’d count the 80s version of The Thing among my top five all-time favorite horror films. So it should come as no surprise that when I first learned of an indie game developer which was making a survival horror game “inspired” by that film, I was really looking forward to it. I began following its progress, but was careful not to watch much video of it, since I wanted my experience playing it to be as raw as possible. Well lo and behold, that game—titled Distrust—is upon us.

I fired the Distrust up as soon as I got my grubby little mitts on it, and was immediately impressed with its art-style. It also featured a handy tutorial that I dove straight into in order to learn its basic mechanics. I liked the fact that they weren’t too hand-holdy like many other games these days. For instance, although they do hint at ways that you can fix certain pieces of equipment, you have to actually play the game in order to figure out how to use tools in order to perform repairs. But the real test of a game—especially a survival horror title—is in its first play-through.

The backstory of Distrust details a remote arctic research base that has suddenly gone dark. In order to find out what’s going on with the place, a search and rescue team is dispatched via helicopter. The chopper, of course, goes down. Luckily however, it doesn’t crash-land too far from the research base.

The beginning of the game seemed promising enough. You guide the two people who survived the helicopter crash up to the base, and start searching through each of the buildings on its premises—in my game’s case about nine in all. I remember entering my very first building and wondering if there was some sort of slimy alien creature waiting for my survivors. I could imagined that it could have been hiding in one of the building’s rooms, just waiting to spring upon them. All that was actually in the building was a tool and a candy bar.

I entered the next building, and found a little more food as well as some notes about some sort of mysterious anomaly that the research team had discovered. It looked like a floating basketball. I thought to myself—that’s probably just some minor type of enemy creature, the developers must be saving the real scary ones for later in the game.

By the fifth or so building, I noticed that my survivors were growing a little tired. So, I backtracked to one of the buildings which contained a broken bed and quickly fixed it. After repairing the bed, I promptly plopped my most exhausted survivor down on the bed and waited for something bad to happen. What little I knew about the game included something about having to watch your more weary survivors when they sleep, since something could infiltrate them as they lie there snoring away.

I noticed that a bunch of floating lights buzzed around in the room while my survivor slept, and wondered what was going to happen. Suddenly, a large, glowing orb appeared outside of the building. Some earlier notes stated that these things were sensitive to light, and so made sure the building’s generator was fueled up sufficiently enough to keep the lights on.

Since the lights were on, the orb merely buzzed around the building for a little bit, and then shot back off into the snowy darkness. Again, I imagined that some sort of grotesque, shambling entity would appear at some point, and scare the bejesus out of me. So, I plodded on through the game, careful to keep a beady eye on my survivor’s hunger, cold resistance, and tiredness ratings.

Nothing of the sort ever came.

When I’d finally realized that the one and only types of antagonists were a bunch of floating light balls, I felt a big letdown. Not only were they not scary or frightening in the least, but they quickly became a nuisance more than anything else. Now you may thing that this was a game-breaking deal, but it really wasn’t. I still think that Distrust can be fun as a survivor-management experience, but it’s surely not survival horror one, at least in my opinion. That is, of course, unless some folks out there are frightened by glowing basketballs.

What I do appreciate about Distrust is its novel sleep deprivation mechanic, and wish that we’d see more of this sort of thing in survival games, in general. Becoming tired and worn out is one of the greatest enemies that a survivor can face in real life, because their reaction time becomes slower, their hand to eye coordination gets sluggish, and so on.

While I appreciate Distrust’s interesting concept, i.e. an isolated base and a small group of survivors controlled from an isometric, top-down perspective, I really wished that it had delivered a much more horrific antagonist/entity. Perhaps they still will in a future patch.

SCORE: 72%

Distrust features great graphics that make its survival theme come alive. However, you want to have a pretty beefy gaming PC or gaming laptop in order to play it at a decent framerate. So, you may just want to invest in a decent gaming rig:

Visit CyberpowerPC’s website to check out all of the other great deals as well!

 

Tags:

99 thoughts on “Distrust Review – Fun-Theme Wrapped Around a Somewhat Disappointing Flaw”

  9. etuljymin@gmail.com
    Reply

    My panel creates just over 18 volts Hey Guys. Thanks for the solar info. I made a photo voltaic panel similar to you stated through the use of 36 cells in series. My panel provides just over 18 volts which is precisely what type I used to be after. Anyway, keep up the great work. This is now tremendous stuff. I have actually informed a couple of work mates about this and we are going to construct solar panels and market them for a neat profit. I will be able to allow you to understand how that goes too! Carl Mayne, Ontario, Canada
    Mountain Hardwear jackets store http://www.mountainhardwearstore.cc

  10. mmkaat@gmail.com
    Reply

    Thank you for that sensible critique. Me & my neighbour were preparing to do some research about that. We acquired a good book on that matter from our local library and most books exactly where not as influensive as your details. Im quite glad to see such information which I was searching for a long time.
    belstaff for sale http://www.belstaffonsale.cc

  27. ibpxhjik@gmail.com
    Reply

    Just a fast hello and also to thank you for discussing your ideas on this page. I wound up inside your blog right after researching physical fitness connected issues on Yahoo guess I lost track of what I had been performing! Anyway I’ll be back once again inside the future to examine out your blogposts down the road. Thanks!
    vivienne westwood shop london http://www.viviennewestwoodsale.cc

  33. pbungzaoxlv@gmail.com
    Reply

    Hey there! Really good posting! I happen to be a ordinary visitor to your site (somewhat more like addict :P) of this website sadly I had a problem. Im just not at all positive whether it is the right site to question, but youve got no spam comments. I get comments just like watch movies online on a regular basis. May you assist me? Thanks a bunch.
    cole haan clearance shoes http://colehaan.angigreene.com

  56. paxgcnvgitm@gmail.com
    Reply

    Thank you for that smart critique. Me & my neighbour were preparing to do some research about that. We received a very good book on that matter from our local library and most books exactly where not as influensive as your information. Im quite glad to see this kind of information which I was searching for a long time.
    lk bennett handbags outlet http://lkbennett.easyinboxmailer.com

  57. wvnhehkyfjp@gmail.com
    Reply

    Ive been meaning to read this and just never acquired a chance. Its an issue that Im really interested in, I just started reading and Im glad I did. Youre a fantastic blogger, one of the ideal that Ive seen. This blog absolutely has some information on topic that I just wasnt aware of. Thanks for bringing this stuff to light.
    millet聽backpacks http://www.milletsale.cc

  59. dlocttsyd@gmail.com
    Reply

    Top notch post. I learn a new generation on different blogs everyday. Selecting stimulating to learn content from other writers and study a little something from. I want to apply certain about this content on my blog allow me to explain mind. Natually Ill given a link on your site. Great sharing.
    balmain silver jeans http://www.laberty.co.uk

  62. kbghlu@gmail.com
    Reply

    Took me time for you to check out all the comments, but I truly enjoyed the post. It proved to be in actual fact helpful to me and I’m sure to all of the commenters right here! It’s usually huge when you can not just be informed, but additionally engaged! I’m certain you had enjoyable writing this write-up.
    ecco shoe outlet http://www.fantistic.co.uk

  72. npiobiwfbnz@gmail.com
    Reply

    [PhD Nutrition] Pharma Whey: I agree completely with Mike. Strawberry tastes odd, it has a very bitter edge when used with water, for no apparent reason. Maybe some of their extra chemicals are giving it a harsh after-taste. Tastes better with milk, but not fantastic. The strawberry y does froth up loads after 5 seconds of shaking. You have to wait a while for it to settle before you can drink it like a normal shake. Try Boditronics Express Whey in chocolate. It s not amazing, but it s very easy to drink and mixes well.
    moschino cheap and chic http://www.alexandchloe.co.uk

  88. btagbjbqqez@gmail.com
    Reply

    Great items from you, man. I have understand your stuff prior to and youre simply too magnificent. I actually like what youve obtained here, really like what youre stating and the way in which you are saying it. You make it entertaining and you still take care of to keep it sensible. I cant wait to learn much more from you. This is really a great web site.
    mammut extreme jacket http://mammut.easyinboxmailer.com

  93. qsfnfiwwfnt@gmail.com
    Reply

    Hello!I am following your blog for some days now. I have to say that it is very easy to check out . It is added in my favourite list and i will try to track it recurrently. Thanks for the nice posts . On top of that, i actually like your web template and the way you have structured your page . Is it possible to tell me the name of your template ? Thanks
    discount patagonia clothing http://www.amapparel.co.uk

Leave a Reply