Summary
Console players are soon to get a brand-new horror title,Camp Sunshine, which draws heavy inspiration from classic slasher movies from the 1980s, setting it apart from its contemporaries with a unique visual style. The game was originally released on Steam in 2016 to “Very Positive” reviews, but is finally set to launch on October 9 for theNintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms.
Directly inspired by 80s slasher movies liketheFriday the 13thfranchiseorSleepaway Camp,Camp Sunshinepits players against a masked killer who begins stalking and eliminating their friends in brutal ways. The game takes on a pixel art visual style and is set within a remote summer camp for players to explore while they solve various puzzles, forage for supplies, and hide from the sinister slasher on their tail.
The game was revealed recently via a short trailer in which a narrator lays out the story, which involves a teenager named Jez going away to a summer camp only for his campmates to start being picked off, and confirms the console release date of October 9. According to the trailer,Camp Sunshineis the product of two 1980s horror film buffs who decided to adapt the genre into an interactive video game with an art style similar to that of otherRPG Maker horror games likeAo Oni.
Camp Sunshine Debuts on Consoles Next Month
As for how the story plays out, the player is placed at the center of a mystery surrounding the identity of the mysterious killer, who dons a bear mask, as they run, hide, and fight to survive. Steam reviews for the original release largely praise the game’s art style, voice acting and sense of humor, as the story doesn’t seem to take itself too seriously in much the same way as the films that inspired it.
Fans of classic survival horror have plenty to be excited about as well, as the game boasts a detailed map to explore and in-depth puzzlesakin to those found in theResident Evilseries. However, the main focus is on its mostly linear narrative, which is expanded upon through a series of in-game documents the player can find to dive further into the game’s lore and backstory.
Of course,Camp Sunshineis far from the only game inspired by 80s slasher franchises, though it sets itself apart by actually being set during that decade and seemingly embracing the campy tone the genre is known for. Other titles, likethe ill-fatedFriday the 13thvideo gameandThe Quarry, offer similar aesthetics, though they differ greatly in terms of gameplay.
