Crow Country Reviews
A charmingly old-fashioned survival horror that manages to make all the limitations of 90s gaming work in its favour, especially in terms of its enjoyably obscure puzzles.
Crow Country is the perfect kind of nostalgic trip, one that doesn’t bait players along in hopes of being more of the same thing they remembered. The best games of its type work to wedge themselves into the library of classics they were inspired by. Crow Country looks, sounds, and plays similar to old 32- and 64-bit games because it is, not because it wants to be.
Crow Country is a wonderful throwback to those early survival horror games that scared us years ago, with a couple of great mod cons.
Crow Country threw me back to my childhood days of sitting in front of a CRT TV with a controller in hand, while streamlining the less desirable, archaic sensibilities. Familiar elements and tropes are well-executed, and the perfect runtime of four to five hours allows it to end on a high before it overstays its welcome due to its smaller scope. Perfect for a weekend! I thoroughly enjoyed my time playing Crow Country and I am looking forward to what SFB cooks up next!
It does all of this with the trappings of the classics, yet makes the genre approachable to newcomers. It’s a must-play for fans of survival horror, whether you’re put off by the ‘90s games or itching for that old-school experience all these years later.
There’s nothing negative I can say about Crow Country; The puzzles were great and backtracking to different areas didn’t feel like a chore. I found controls very responsive and the enemies do great at being an obstacle and not a hindrance. Crow Country’s way of adding more difficulty as the game progresses by adding fake items, traps and larger creatures was great. Crow Country is short, sweet, and filled with a lot of personality! I am awarding it the Thumb Culture Platinum Award. If you love the classic PS1 style horror games like Silent Hill, Resident Evil and Clock Tower, then I highly recommend this game.
If you’ve been frustrated by the state of some retro horrors, or even if you haven’t, this is a fine addition to the genre that deserves to be ranked highly among the modern examples. Aside from those bastard traps, it’s a damn good bit of body horror.
Crow Country, a new PS1 style survival horror title from SFB Games aims to authentically revive the feel of classic early 3D horror titles.
Crow Country is a tribute to retro survival horror games, inviting players to embark on a nostalgic adventure that will keep players asking questions and investigating everything the atmosphere has to offer. SFB Games did a wonderful job emulating what had made the classic survival horror games truly special. The puzzles aren’t amazing or innovative, but they're still solid and provide enough information for anyone to solve on their own. Crow Country is relatively easy, but the developer does have a roadmap planning the inclusion of a Hard mode to hopefully add a significant challenge to it. While it is somewhat flawed, Crow Country is a solid and compelling experience for those who enjoy the genre, and it was a blast exploring and learning about the world SFB Games has created.
Crow Country pays loving homage to a golden age of survival horror while distinguishing itself with an enthralling story, excellent world design, and creative puzzles.
Like a well-crafted novel, taking its time to develop the plot and draw players into its world. Instead of relying on long cutscenes or complex side quests, Crow Country focuses on creating a slow, immersive journey that pays off in the end.
It is a good sign when a tightly paced, dense horror game leaves players begging for more. It’s preferred than a game overstaying its welcome and feeling like you never want to play it again. Crow Country is compact, but I found myself feeling very cozy in its world, never wanting to leave.
Crow Country is an excellent tribute to PlayStation 1 survival horror that manages to capture the spirit of what made those games so fun while including modern updates to ensure it doesn’t feel dated.
With neat retro visuals, smart puzzles, and an interesting theme park location, Crow Country is an appealing survival horror game that suffers a little from clumsy action and minimal challenge.
Considered on its own, with no space for nostalgia or positive past experiences, Crow Country isn’t a great game. The presentation is limited, and the gameplay never tries to do anything new. The puzzle design is good and the story, while starting off slowly, does have some great moments and one big strong twist.
Crow Country gets it right by incorporating the customs of old survival horror titles in a new guise, both attracting those nostalgic for classic horror and becoming accessible to those looking for another “ugly horror” to enjoy. Despite the ease of combat, the puzzles are creative and the environment, with the use of pre-rendered aesthetics, highlights it as a great option in the genre.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
One of the best indies of the year is a trip back in time that doesn't just pay homage and manages to find its own identity in a genre increasingly characterized by imitations.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
It’s hard to capture the experience of playing a PlayStation 1 horror game for the first time. Yet, somehow, Crow Country succeeds. Equal parts a love letter and a response to the horror of days long gone, it recaptures both the aesthetic and magic of early 3D horror games, balancing modern updates with classic touches. Though light on fear, Crow Country is a well-polished experience that expertly nails the old-school aesthetic.
Crow Country is a love letter to the classics of the survival horror genre, being not only faithful to the visual style but also packing impressive atmosphere and control over the main character, Mara Forest as she traverses the abandoned amusement park.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Crow Country is an homage to the whole survival horror genre of PS1 era.
Review in Russian | Read full review