Mysterious mysteries of a small town – review of the game “The Blackout Club”

Youth investigation club

Together with the friends we meet, we go on expeditions at night, during which we conduct investigations: we plant bedbugs, collect evidence, put up propaganda posters. The tasks are not easy, because the entire city is crowded with conscious beings called Lucids. We also have to deal with adult sleepwalkers who are under the control of evil powers. However, we try not to hurt them, as they may turn out to be someone’s parents. First of all, we can’t make noise and draw attention to ourselves too often (the stealth indicator at the bottom of the screen helps us with this) because the more suspicious we become, the greater the risk that the most dangerous creature called the Shape will come after us.

It is especially dangerous when played alone. Being caught then means the immediate end of the mission. In multiplayer gameplay, however, it is so much better that the captured character is only hypnotized and we temporarily lose control over it – until a teenager catches us and wakes us up. I really appreciate the fact that the creators thought about not getting bored when our hero is in a trance. At such moments, you can switch to the preview showing what others are up to and at the same time cheer them, give them advice or urge them to come sooner. Once, I had a problem with getting to the rescue due to a minor imperfection in the graphics. The friend was behind trees that I should theoretically be able to pass under, but it was not the fault of an invisible barrier.

It’s a good idea to stay close in co-op mode. Our heroes cheer each other up, thanks to which they regenerate their stamina faster.

With closed eyes

Do not think that this game is a horror game so horrible that you would like to cover your eyes. Although, of course, there are moments when you can feel light shivers on your skin. We owe them to dark rooms, mysterious underground labyrinths, peculiar looking Lucids, but most of all to the sound. Hiding in dark nooks and crannies, we listen to the sounds of footsteps, the door being opened, sleepwalkers talking to each other about children noticed or abducted. From the underground there are disturbing sounds produced on steel ropes. What scared me the most, however, was when, during complete silence, one of my teammates suddenly coughed. Importantly, it is possible to mute individual players during the game, if, for example, someone starts irritating us. Sometimes it is worth using this alternative, so that the conversations do not drown out the sounds of approaching enemies, especially the invisible Shape. Although when it is really close, there is also a pulsating red glow at the edges of the screen. In addition, our frightened hero will sometimes scream out of fear, “The shape is coming” or worse, “The shape is here”, thus giving us a clue to run away immediately. Fortunately, there are no obstacles to peek at this dangerous monster (even through the walls), thanks to the very important option of “closing your eyes”. It also allows us to see bloody footprints leading us to the goal. worse, “The Shape is Here”, thus giving us a clue to escape immediately. Fortunately, there are no obstacles to peek at this dangerous monster (even through the walls), thanks to the very important option of “closing your eyes”. It also allows us to see bloody footprints leading us to the goal. worse, “The Shape is Here”, thus giving us a clue to escape immediately. Fortunately, there are no obstacles to peek at this dangerous monster (even through the walls), thanks to the very important option of “closing your eyes”. It also allows us to see bloody footprints leading us to our destination.

Traces and clues

Tips that we can read while loading the mission will also be helpful. We will learn, for example, what to do in order not to attract the attention of encountered enemies. It is an enjoyable and useful use of waiting time.

In addition to reading the theoretical instructions, we can also practice the basics of game mechanics (such as sneaking, finding tracks or overpowering opponents) in a special training mission, which is the prologue to the entire story. It is very atmospheric, but also not too easy to go through. It gives us a very good taste of what awaits us in the real game. We will learn to follow the blood trail and discover the secret underworld, and ultimately, when we get out of the maze, we will get to the wagons, where we will join the “Blackout Club”.

A hideout in abandoned carriages

As befits a typical youth club, a group of friends has their own special hideout. It is housed in old, disused railway carriages. We can talk with other players in it, jointly developing the game strategy (although what mission we will get is a surprise), choose the basic equipment that we will take with us for the action, the appropriate outfit, expressing the personality of our teenager (initially we have a small wardrobe but it can be increased by paying with snacks received as a reward for completed tasks), expanding the character’s skills (with the next levels we gain points, exchangeable for cards with new abilities or disposable items with which we start missions).

You can also decorate the hideout with posters or other gadgets bought in the shop. Other people can admire our decor while we are the host.

In addition, the carriages also include a game manual and valuable instructions on posters.

There are traps on one of the tables, along with a description of their operation and information on how to disarm them. There is also a pin board with disposable items attached for inspection. Among other things, we can find a chocolate energy bar here, temporarily increasing the hero’s endurance and making it possible to run without getting tired; firecrackers that, when thrown in the right place, will effectively distract opponents, or a bandage that allows you to heal injuries.

Hero equipment

As the basic assortment of the hero, we can choose a stun gun, a crossbow or a climbing hook. Personally, I usually choose the first one, because it allows me to quickly break out of the embrace of my enemies. It is especially useful when the character has not been developed much and cannot overpower the opponents from the front. The crossbow initially has only one arrow, so if we do not find additional darts in boxes on the board and we do not have the option to buy it at the equipment point, it will actually remain a disposable weapon. The hook is useful if you take a long time to learn how to use it efficiently. It is useful when you want to have a chance to break into your neighbors’ houses through every open window. Then we do not have to waste time looking for a more convenient entrance. However, most open windows can also be accessed without it. The ability to climb quickly will be helpful in the basement, where there are very high rooms and there are often wooden beams under the ceiling, which are a great hideout. Of course, by looking around for a longer time, we will find ladders and platforms, from which we will also get there.

The hook with a rope, unfortunately, is used only for vertical movement, i.e. climbing up or sliding safely from high places, when falling, we risk breaking and losing a bit of life. It is a pity that it is impossible to use the released rope horizontally. We could then move, for example, between the roofs of buildings.

Lots of variety and curiosities

Obtaining new items, developing the hero and his skills, adding new tasks to the mission pool, as well as the desire to discover unknown areas, can very effectively bind the player with the game for longer. Among the more interesting abilities that our character can learn are making phone calls to sleepwalkers, or driving your own drone to check dangerous places. The creators also take care of occasional additions – for Halloween we got an update with a package of holiday decorations: pumpkins, tombstones, puppet witches, posters. They appeared both on the board and in the shop from which we can buy them for our hideout.

At a certain stage of development, when we get bored with friendly gameplay, we can activate the “stalking mode”, thanks to which we will enter other players’ missions, where for tracking their actions and documenting the “sins” they commit (such as breaking doors or killing) points. In this mode, we can travel through red portals normally reserved only for enemies. But beware, once we activate this system, other people will also be able to invade our missions and persecute us.