Is Project Mist the next big train-based survival horror? Recently, Project Mist entered early access. The developer was kind enough to send me a key to check it out.
Having a base that travels around with you on a train has always been a fun idea. You don’t have to worry about finding that perfect spot to set up a base. Since the train can be moved as you progress around the map. It solves moving around the map as well.
A good survival horror game needs to have quite an insane attention to detail in the environment. In many of these types of games, I feel that many just go with tons of blood and gore. They then consider it done for the day. While there are some rather deprived-looking areas in this game. Those are mostly contained in running the different dungeons that the game has to offer.
My first impression of the game was not that great. The game has received some backlash for the older asset packets it’s using. If your experience is just the open map at the start of the game. You have really missed out.
The game can also be quite unforgiving. You have a crossbow, and if you are not landing headshots. You could find yourself overwhelmed and in an early grave right away. There are, however, some massive things that are easy to overlook.
This game has a lot of environment situations going on. Sometimes there are barrels you can hit with your crossbow that explode and start a fire. Other times, you are able to electrify standing water. I have even taken out enemies with deadly gas clouds.
Then you have creatures that can flat-out go invisible. Oftentimes, you find yourself in an area where you have options of trying to work out where that creature is walking around. From being able to explode containers of water to see it walking. Along with just tossing rocks around, you are looking for the creature to bump any as it makes its next attack towards you.
Each section of the map, as you travel on a train, has a lot of points of interest. While the main quests will lead you to some areas along the way. As you see in the above map. You are, however, missing a lot if you don’t go out exploring.
I’ve found myself setting the train to travel backwards. So, I could check out areas I had already cleared. As it turns out. The developer loves to hide loot and points of interest as well. I don’t know how many times I’ve learned after exiting a dungeon. I should check the areas behind it as well.
Since this is a crafting game. Finding blueprints for things like ammo and other things is quite important. While you can still find lots of ammo and other items even without. Being able to craft your own shotgun to AK ammo is quite important. To the point where even if the game tells me to move the train forward to the next area. I know better and stay behind to further explore every area I can.
The place this game shines the most, at least for me, has been inside the dungeons. I can sometimes spend half an hour to an hour clearing one out. There is loot hidden everywhere. There are lots of drops and hazards awaiting you.
You can also just be running down a hallway, reloading your gun, and running from an invisible creature. When you find the doorway ahead of you has collapsed closed. You can even, as you progress in a dungeon, find new directions to explore in the dungeon to open up with explosions, among other things.
I’ve had a blast just exploring around them. Seeing if I missed any loot or doorways. There is one thing: clearing an area while a bunch of monsters is trying to kill you. It’s another when things seem calm enough for you to take a second look around a lab or down a dark hallway.
Each dungeon also has its own boss. In the first couple of dungeons I’ve explored so far. I’ve discovered the tools, weapons, ammo, and anything else you are going to need. Is usually leading up to or found within the boss room itself.
As you kill creatures and bosses, you end up looting blood. You can also find some in chests and other areas as well. It is used for progressing in the tech trees for unlocking upgrades. From more health to dealing more weapon damage. This resource alone more than makes it worth fully exploring areas. Trying to get as much of an advantage as you can for the next area you are about to enter.
This game also rewards you for being a loot hoarder. As you progress along, you find tons of gear and guns. You might find a crossbow that deals more damage. Or a helm that has more protection. Anything you loot you can sell for blood at certain locations on the map. At one point, I had a couple of chests full on my train waiting to find the next spot to offload it.
The area of the game I’ve not been so impressed by so far has been the train itself. It’s more or less just moving storage. Sure, I can put up some walls. There are also things like being able to smelt ores and collect water.
The most exciting thing regarding the train was coming across an abandoned section that I got to add to my own train. I ended up turning it into an area to grow plants in. Beyond that add more chests for storage. I don’t really need more space for now. Now, that could all change deeper into the game. I have about 15 hours played. With a lot of that, just exploring each area rather deeply.
Since this game has just hit early access. It’s not been without bugs either. I’ve fallen through the map a few times. I’ve had abilities bug out. I’ve had creatures bug out. I’ve had to save and reload a couple of times.
There has been a really cool system in the game as well. Usually, when making food in a game. You have a couple of possible outcomes, and that is it. In this game, you really can combine any food item as you like. That food item then gets a boost to each of the individual stats that make up that food.
While something like vegetable stew is just a generic name for a type of food. I have quite a few different ones, all giving their own food, thirst, healing, and even other benefits as well.
At one point, I made a very overpowered piece of food. That increased my walking speed. Along with reducing the amount of damage I was taking. It more or less looked like I was speed hacking, running around the map. Where anything that was able to hit me did almost no damage. I really need to go back out and find the bugs and other ingredients that went into making that meal.
For those who don’t mind the graphics of a game. This could be one to keep an eye on. With how early the game is into early access, I don’t feel it’s quite there yet. Perhaps once the bugs are fixed, and a little more depth is added to it. This game almost reminds me of the early years of 7 Days To Die, and that game has come a long way during its time in early access. Who knows what this game will have in store in the future only time will tell.
Screenshots were taken, and content was written by @Enjar about Project Mist.
Disclosure: This review is based on the game in early access.
Disclosure: A free game key for review was received.
