New Steam Game is Basically Classic Resident Evil with a Medieval Makeover

As PS1-era video games become increasingly associated with the retro label, more and more retro-inspired indie developers on Steam are embracing deliberately dated visual styles. A handful of PS1-inspired soulslike games have appeared on Steam, as have some old-school-looking platformers, but it’s the horror genre that melds best with the approach. This is hardly a surprise, as not only did a wide range of horror classics debut in this era of consoles, like the original Silent Hill and Resident Evil, but many players find the low-poly looks of these games more terrifying than modern horror titles full of detail. Anyone who finds older horror games unsettling should consider giving False Oath a look, as despite its usage of knights and swords, the similarities to OG Resident Evil are paramount.

It will take only one look at False Oath for longtime survival horror game fans to think back to the genre’s formative years, as the similarities are self-evident. Looting items required to progress, solving a range of puzzles between combat encounters, fixed camera angles, and, of course, the visuals all serve as reminders of what used to be the norm. From grassy floors and building textures to blood splatters and character models, every asset of this Steam game feels delightfully old. For players seeking a time machine that throws them back into the games of thirty years ago, or those with an attachment to the increasingly rare camera angles and control schemes of the 90s, False Oath is worth keeping an eye on.

False Oath Features at a Glance

• EXPERIENCE the story of Elis, one of several knights working to create a potion that can protect the royals from an undead plague.
• EXPLORE a medieval setting via fixed camera angles and tank controls that hearken back to the survival horror games of old.
• FIGHT undead enemies via melee combat, wielding a sword against the undead.
• SOLVE a series of puzzles to progress, from item looting and combining to moving boxes out of the way.

False Oath’s Classic Resident Evil Inspirations Are Impossible To Miss

False Oath is practically drowning in Resident Evil similarities, with comparable traits going far beyond the look of the game. Mechanically, players will find two former staples of the survival horror genre that the industry has essentially evolved beyond: fixed cameras and tank controls. The former has been swapped out for more immersive first- and third-person perspectives, with remakes of games like Silent Hill 2 and Until Dawn retiring it in favor of newer approaches. Tank controls have always been divisive, with many finding them clunky and awkward, so it’s hardly a surprise that they’re rarely seen in modern releases. Still, because these mechanics were used in so many iconic games, there is a certain nostalgia for them that could make them a positive for this particular game.

Outside of the camera and movement mechanics, False Oath boasts the all-important balance between puzzle-solving and combat sequences. When players aren’t avoiding or cutting down infected enemies within the game’s fantastical setting, they’ll have to complete a variety of puzzles. Some of these involve environmental tasks, like moving a large box in a certain way so that a new area can be reached. Others will involve looting necessary items from bodies or locations and using them together to progress. There is even a limited number of healing items available, meaning that players need to be very careful about when they heal their wounds and by how much.

Lastly, the iconic save rooms of the Resident Evil series are confirmed to be present. How similar these safe areas are is unclear; they may or may not have an ink ribbon stand-in, storage crate, and dedicated music to let players know they’re no longer in danger. Regardless, it’s great that they’re present. All of these traits, combined with a very Resident Evil-like premise of trying to track down a cure that will help survivors fight back against a deadly plague, should make classic horror fans feel right at home within False Oath.

False Oath’s Setting Makes It Just Different Enough to Have Its Own Identity

While False Oath’s “powerful ranged weapon” sounds a lot like Resident Evil Requiem’s titular revolver due to ammo being extremely limited, its moment-to-moment combat should help it stand out from its clear inspiration. This is because False Oath relies primarily on melee battles, leaning into the idea of protagonist Elis being a knight. Sure, Resident Evil has had melee options like Leon’s flashy kick finishers, weak knife attacks, and so on, but guns have always been the main avenue of fighting back against foes in the series. In False Oath, Elis’ sword will kill basic enemies in a few swipes, and he can parry their attacks with his trusty shield as well.

Additionally, the game’s grassy fields, clean stone floors, farmhouses, and alleyways all look like they’ll be fun to explore. Sure, it’s not unheard of for survival horror games to take players to medieval castles and villages, but said titles often take players to versions of these locales that have long since been abandoned. With False Oath, players see how this kind of setting would look immediately after a zombie outbreak has taken place, making for an intriguing juxtaposition of a colorful fantasy world and horrifying hostiles. A title deliberately crafted to feel 30 years old may not appeal to every gamer, but for some, it’ll undoubtedly be a dream (or nightmare) come true.