Computer Crow Country Review: A Survival Horror Masterpiece

Crow Country is a captivating survival horror experience that has taken the gaming world by storm. This atmospheric title plunges players into a dark and eerie world, challenging them to navigate through a nightmarish landscape filled with danger and mystery. With its unique blend of retro-inspired visuals and modern gameplay mechanics, Crow Country offers a fresh take on the survival horror genre.

The game's immersive storytelling and engaging gameplay have garnered widespread acclaim from critics and players alike. As you progress through the haunting world of Crow Country , you'll encounter spine-chilling enemies, solve intricate puzzles, and uncover a gripping narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat. This review will delve into the game's standout features, including its atmospheric visuals, compelling gameplay, and captivating storyline.


Crow Country stands out with its unique visual style that pays homage to the PlayStation 1 era while incorporating modern enhancements. The game's graphics create a perfect balance between nostalgia and contemporary design, resulting in an immersive and captivating experience for players.

PS1-era graphics

The game's visual esthetics draw inspiration from classic PlayStation titles, particularly reminiscent of games like Final Fantasy VII. The character models feature low-poly designs with visible joints on arms and legs, evoking memories of early 3D gaming. However, Crow Country takes this retro style a step further by incorporating smoother animations and slightly higher polygon counts than what was possible on the original PlayStation hardware.

The environments in Crow Country are a testament to the developers' attention to detail. While they appear to be pre-rendered backgrounds at first glance, they are actually fully 3D environments cleverly textured and lit to mimic the pre-rendered look of classic survival horror games. This approach allows for dynamic camera control while maintaining the nostalgic feel of fixed camera angles popularized by games like Resident Evil.

The game's art direction strikes a delicate balance between cute and sinister elements, creating a unique atmosphere that sets it apart from other retro-inspired titles. The character designs lean towards a more JRPG-inspired style, resembling characters from games like Final Fantasy VII or Xenogears. This artistic choice adds depth to the game's visual identity and contributes to its overall charm.

Grainy CRT filter

To further enhance the retro experience, Crow Country employs a grainy CRT filter that covers the entire game world. This visual effect is designed to simulate the look of playing on an old television set, even when using modern displays like OLED screens. The filter adds an extra layer of authenticity to the game's nostalgic esthetic, transporting players back to the era of CRT gaming.

As the game progresses, the visual effects become more pronounced, adding to the overall atmosphere. The passage of time is reflected in changing weather conditions and diminishing visibility. Fog, rain, and eventually pitch-black night descend upon the game's setting, creating a sense of unease and heightening the survival horror experience. When combined with the low-resolution graphics and CRT filter, these elements keep players on edge and contribute to the game's tense atmosphere.

Detailed environments

One of Crow Country's standout features is its intricately designed environments. The game takes place in an abandoned amusement park, a setting that offers a unique and visually interesting backdrop for a survival horror experience. The park is divided into different zones, each with its own distinct theme, such as "Fairytale Town" and "Haunted Hilltop." This variety in the game's setting allows for diverse visual experiences as players progress through the story.

The attention to detail in the environments is remarkable. Despite the intentionally low-resolution textures, the game world is filled with small touches that bring it to life. Spilled sodas, empty popcorn tubs, and other debris litter the ground, suggesting a recent exodus from the park. These details not only add to the visual richness of the game but also contribute to the storytelling, hinting at the events that transpired before the player's arrival.

The game's environmental design also plays a crucial role in gameplay. As players explore the park, they uncover keys, props, and items necessary to progress. This gradual unveiling of the game world allows the theme park to reinvent itself continuously, offering new set pieces, enemies, and secrets to discover. While there is some backtracking involved, the dense and detailed environments make each revisit worthwhile, especially when players uncover handy shortcuts and secret entrances.

Crow Country's visual style successfully captures the essence of PS1-era graphics while incorporating modern techniques to create a unique and engaging esthetic. The combination of retro-inspired character models, cleverly designed 3D environments, and atmospheric effects results in a visually striking game that appeals to both nostalgia-seekers and newcomers to the survival horror genre.

Exploration mode

Crow Country offers players a unique exploration mode that allows them to experience the game's story and puzzles without the threat of enemies. This mode is perfect for those who want to enjoy the atmospheric theme park setting and unravel the mystery without the stress of combat. Players can imagine themselves arriving at the park after someone else has already cleared out the dangers, leaving them free to solve puzzles, meet characters, and explore the eerie environments.

The game's exploration mechanics are reminiscent of Metroidvania-style games, where players navigate an unfolding space and unlock new areas by solving puzzles and finding inventory items. This approach encourages thorough exploration of the theme park, which is divided into four distinct areas, each with its own unique atmosphere and challenges.

As players progress through the game, they'll discover that the park reinvents itself continuously. New set pieces, enemies, and secrets are unveiled, making each revisit to previously explored areas worthwhile. The dense and detailed environments offer handy shortcuts and secret entrances, rewarding observant players who take the time to investigate every nook and cranny.

Combat system

While combat is not the primary focus of Crow Country, it still plays a significant role in creating tension and challenge. The game's combat system is designed to make players feel vulnerable, forcing them to think strategically about when to fight and when to flee.

Mara, the protagonist, has access to a variety of weapons, including a pistol, shotgun, and flamethrower. The combat mechanics require players to stop in their tracks to aim and fire, adding an element of risk as enemies can close in while you're stationary. This system is reminiscent of classic survival horror games, creating a sense of danger and urgency during encounters.

Interestingly, the game's shooting mechanics are intentionally fiddly, encouraging players to avoid combat when possible. This design choice helps maintain the threatening presence of enemies throughout the game, as players are less likely to feel overpowered by their arsenal. Some boss fights can even be completed without firing a single bullet, further emphasizing the game's focus on puzzle-solving and exploration over combat.

Resource management

Resource management is a crucial aspect of Crow Country, although it takes a slightly different approach compared to traditional survival horror titles. While the game doesn't feature limited inventory space or a restricted number of saves, it still challenges players to manage their resources carefully.

Players must make strategic decisions about when to use healing items, ammunition, and other resources. The game strikes a balance between providing enough resources to progress and maintaining a sense of scarcity that keeps players on edge. This approach allows for a more streamlined experience while still preserving the tension associated with resource management in survival horror games.

Crow Country's resource system extends beyond just health and ammo. Players must also manage other elements, such as the use of a flashlight with limited battery life, adding an extra layer of challenge to exploration. The game also incorporates environmental hazards that require specific items to overcome, further emphasizing the importance of resource management and strategic thinking.

By combining these engaging gameplay mechanics, Crow Country creates a compelling survival horror experience that challenges players to explore, solve puzzles, and manage resources while navigating the eerie theme park setting. The game's unique approach to combat and resource management, coupled with its atmospheric exploration, offers a fresh take on the survival horror genre that will keep players engaged throughout their journey.

Mysterious plot

Crow Country captivates players with its intriguing narrative that unfolds within an abandoned amusement park. The story centers on Mara Forest, a young agent tasked with investigating the disappearance of Edward Crow, the park's enigmatic owner. As players delve deeper into the park's secrets, they uncover a complex web of mysteries and encounter a cast of suspicious characters.

The game's plot is both linear and intricate, focusing on the discovery of a dark truth that has ruined lives and led to the park's closure. Players piece together clues from various sources, including documents scattered throughout the park and interactions with other characters. This approach to storytelling keeps players engaged and eager to uncover the next revelation.

One of the most compelling aspects of the plot is the way it blends elements of horror, mystery, and even dark humor. The game manages to strike a balance between creating a sense of unease and providing moments of levity, which helps to maintain player interest throughout the experience.

Environmental storytelling

Crow Country excels in its use of environmental storytelling to immerse players in its eerie world. The abandoned amusement park serves as more than just a backdrop; it's a character in its own right, filled with hidden secrets and untold stories.

As players explore the park, they encounter various areas, each with its own distinct theme and atmosphere. These environments are meticulously crafted to provide visual cues and subtle hints about the events that transpired before the park's closure. Posters, notes, and other environmental details offer insights into the park's history and the circumstances surrounding its abandonment.

The game's use of retro-inspired visuals enhances the environmental storytelling. The low-poly graphics and grainy CRT filter create a nostalgic atmosphere that harkens back to classic survival horror games. This visual style allows players' imaginations to fill in the gaps, making the experience more immersive and unsettling.

Character development

While Mara Forest serves as the player's avatar, Crow Country features a diverse cast of characters that contribute to the overall narrative. Each character is well-developed, with their own motivations, secrets, and connections to the park's mysterious past.

As players progress through the game, they interact with various NPCs, including Edward Crow's daughter, who filed the missing person's report, and Arthur Mole, a teenager sneaking into the park to capture photos of rumored phenomena. These interactions not only provide crucial information about the plot but also help to flesh out the game's world and the relationships between characters.

The game's writing shines in its character development, presenting each individual as a unique and memorable entity. Players will find themselves looking forward to each encounter, as these interactions often lead to new revelations or unexpected twists in the story.

Crow Country's approach to storytelling creates a rich, immersive experience that keeps players engaged from start to finish. By combining a mysterious plot, effective environmental storytelling, and well-developed characters, the game offers a narrative that is both compelling and satisfying to unravel.



Crow Country stands out as a remarkable addition to the survival horror genre, offering players a unique blend of retro-inspired visuals and modern gameplay mechanics. Its atmospheric theme park setting, coupled with a gripping narrative and well-crafted puzzles, creates an immersive experience that keeps players on the edge of their seats. The game's clever use of PS1-era graphics, combined with its innovative approach to combat and resource management, results in a fresh take on classic survival horror tropes.

All in all, Crow Country has a lasting impact on players, leaving them with a memorable journey through its eerie and captivating world. Its well-balanced mix of exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat, along with its intriguing storyline and character development, makes it a must-play for fans of the genre. Whether you're a nostalgic gamer or new to survival horror, Crow Country offers a thrilling adventure that's hard to put down.