There are two soft spots that, when utilized correctly, are sure to compel me into giving excellent marks to any game. One is ingenious design, where deceptive simplicity hides a well-thought-out system, and the other is a survival horror throwback. Combining the two is a certain way to ensure, in my eyes, an unforgettable experience.
I've been a scaredy cat for most of my life, but during my teens, something funny happened. I got depressed. Yes, I know, it's not funny. But what's funny is that I thought, probably while listening to emo music, “Whatever, I don't feel anything anyways”. And threw myself into scary media without looking back. From that point onwards, I became an avid enjoyer of horror.
The psychological aspects served as a beautiful mirror to my struggles, of course. But the exhilarating thrill of a losing fight, and the visceral rush of excitement that comes with on-screen violence… it stays with you. The dark, somewhat melodramatic thoughts of the depressed mind are usually hard to fight against. But horror engages in that very same language, of blood, gore, harm, damnation, and punishment. And it is at that very moment that the cogs are able to move. The sudden shock helps you react and your brain is maybe able to get somewhere, somewhere different. “Maybe it's not so bad.” “… maybe I can avoid my fate too.” “Maybe, I should do something different… if that's where my path is going.”
Canine may not be thematically deep, but it has an earnest message accompanied by excellent craftsmanship. Coming from the Argentinian duo PuKo Games, the game's a first-person horror throwback with PSX graphics, and it can be easily beaten in half an hour. As the player character, you'll be getting into a particularly shady clinic. Saddened by the disappearance of your dog, you hear rumors of pets being taken to a particular vet. So… you go there, and it becomes apparent that something very bad happened, and that you're not alone.
While exhibiting the now pretty familiar PSX look, Canine manages to create environments with a good level of detail and character. To me, that's an important part of the style. You can make a bunch of low-poly textures, but if you just use them in a succession of barren boxes, you won't get any memorable spaces. That's not a problem for this game: while there are some empty corridors, the rooms themselves are varied and there has been an effort to make them feel like recognizable places.
After an introductory part, the game delivers a wonderful surprise: it opens up. Rather than guiding you through a series of scripted sequences, Canine has the confidence to let you wander around the map while the chaser is managed by an AI. While I don't know the internal machinations of the system, I can attest that it's pretty well-tuned: the chaser will follow you around enough to feel like a threat, but you're still able to crouch around them and make clutch moves. It never feels like they're just making a beeline for you (unless you just made a lot of noise, in which case, yes, of course, it's going straight to you).
The solid base mechanics are complimented by three elements that deserve quite a bit of praise.
First, the map is really well designed. There are connections between rooms and hallways, ways to go around the creature and avoid places, and plenty of cover and clever hiding and distraction spots. The rooms where you are most in danger are mini mazes where you can see the chaser coming and can plan ahead, ensuring that the chances of you being unable to do something are kept to a minimum.
The second thing is a wonderful distraction mechanic. You get a ball! Being able to throw it around and send the creature in its merry way is really fun, and the level design is laid out in a way where you can take advantage of it very frequently, especially in those dangerous zones.
Finally, there's a safe room! I had a pretty big smile on my face as I entered a pretty well-lit room with comfy music and saw the chaser just take another route. I think that it's an excellent addition to the genre, as it allows for breathing room, lets you plan your next move, and, you can get more balls here! You can only carry one at a time, though.
All these factors combine into a game that may have familiar ingredients but avoids the usual problems of the genre. You can't just move to the next point and press a button, occasionally running through a scripted sequence. Every chase is dynamic and getting away unscathed depends on you. As a player, you get pushed into looking around, seeking useful distraction spots, and keeping the quickest path to the exit in your head. Isn't that what survival is ultimately about?
Canine comes with a heartfelt final message about taking care of dogs and not abandoning them. It's no Silent Hill 2, but you can't deny the reality it depicts. So many people just want to get rid of these animals, so many people just abandon them. Many do so knowing so little of where these puppies end up, and some care even less, they might as well end up in a horrible lab.
When I think about bite-sized, compelling, and fun horror experiences, it's hard to think what more could I ask for. It won't turn your world upside down, but the thrill is undeniable. We run for the thrill of the chase, like a dog chasing a ball.
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