Another month, another visual novel finished. This time, I tried Corpse Factory, a psychological thriller released in 2022 for PC and Switch by the Australian studio River Crow Studio. The game initially began as a Kickstarter project and features full English voice acting, with actors from popular titles like Persona 5 and Final Fantasy VII Remake. Erika Harlacher voices the protagonist Noriko, known for her role as Ann Takamaki in Persona 5, while Aleks Le, the voice of Sonon in Final Fantasy VII Remake, brings Kojiro to life. The soundtrack, composed by Alec Shea and featuring vocals by Emi Evans, adds to the dark atmosphere of the game. While it has a user score of 8.9 on Metacritic, I’m not entirely sure I agree with all the praise. I’d personally rate it closer to a 7.
Corpse Factory is set in a near-future Tokyo, where a rumor spreads about a mysterious website that allows users to request someone’s death by uploading their photo. The victims receive photos of their own corpses before mysteriously dying, turning what was once an urban myth into a terrifying reality. The game explores deep themes like the power of rumors in the digital age, the dangers of anonymity, and the darker side of human desires.
Though the production value is high, I found myself losing interest at times, and the game felt longer than its actual runtime, which is likely around 20 hours. The multiple endings and unlockable artwork add replay value, but the chaotic conclusion leaves many questions unanswered.
If the themes sound intriguing, you might enjoy Corpse Factory despite some of its flaws. What do you think?
Corpse Factory
Platform: PC / Switch
Developer: River Crow Studio
Publisher: River Crow Studio
Genre: Visual Novel
Release Year: 2022
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