40. The Quarry [PS5] - Finished Jun 11th, 2025
STORY TELLING NIRVANAThe Quarry much like Until Dawn shares its mechanics, lineage and soul with its cousin. Both games were made by supermassive games although Until Dawn was under a wider sony studios and super massive sorta did Quarry more independently free from that umbrella. And tbh. In my opinion. The Quarry is 10x better. Which trust me. Until Dawn was fantastic. This game just got snug like a bug under the rug. The characters are rawly believable.
The Quarry is bleeding with 1980s horror tropes. Cabin by the lake (friday the 13th) camp councilor, crazy woman looking for her kid by the reiver (la llorona) it's basically old ghost stories meets a sorta wendigo werewolf monster hybrid meets sicko family cult. Meets EVERYTHING. This thing is a big juicy spook burger and we all can take a bite. But the fun thing is! It doesn't get overwhelming.
Instead of collecting totems. This time you collect tarot cards. Such a much more introspective thing. As tarot can provide insight in similar ways but also plays into the spooky circus level cookyness of the game. It is fun to find knowing the reveals they lead to. But you can also refuse the views into the future if you so choose.
Where Until Dawn had a wider plot of the sisters this game covers the hackett families mysteries. Which I wont share for spoiler sake. But the plot is deep as 7 layer bean dip. Its a glorious presentation.
ACTING CAST
These voice actors and body motion performers are excellent. I mean who doesnt love Brenda Song? David Arquette? It covers every trope. Angsty. Confident. Frat extroverts. Emotional turmoil. Jealousy. Its basically every emotion a clan of teens can express exploding outwards onto the viewer. The game really rocks in how it presents characters.
When you place a player into a pov format where you choose dialogue branches. I feel it makes every life or death moment feel more impactful. Like the trolley problem brought to life. Do you risk the A to save the B.
I began to engage deeply like a movie franchise with characters. In particular Laura who is a absolute Claire from.resident evil 2 level BAD-ASS.
Like until dawn theirs dozens of ways the game can end. Which is neat. The decisions you make effect the story unlike with some telltale games where its linear at the end.
The graphics are phenomenal. The layout is neat. The setting is fun to me. And the podcasts you can play in the menu is a cute touch.
It touches on the occult. Its a horror fans dream. I personally think it lured me and kept me gripped in its talons all the way through. Barely put it down in 2 days
The QTE events are easier but more enjoyable than others imo. And this is by no means insulting until dawn. Just comparing two games in similar bloodline. Supermassive had no issue with this juggernaut. I hope we can see more epicness like this!
The dread, fear. It's palpable. And this game cinematically is my 3rd 100 of the year. What a great great game! One that sticks with you.
Rating -
100/100