Among horror games announced at Summer Games Fest this year, the headliner was definitely The Callisto Protocol. Showing off some brutal uncut gameplay, it looked to be the horror game to beat. But one other space-horror title also bears watching, if its trailer is any indication: Routine.
Originally announced in a trailer a full eight years ago, Routine made a rather explosive return at this year's Summer Game Fest. The new trailer has a lot to offer, and deserves to be experienced in full for anyone not there for the very first reveal. The game is coming to Xbox Game Pass on day one, and it really looks like it's worth checking out.
The trailer for Routine starts off with some imagery that doesn't link to the gameplay, at least not in any discernable way. The images are disturbing, to say the least, but not in the traditional gory sense like in Callisto Protocol's trailer, more in building some quiet dread. Soon this gives way to what is probably a pair of scripted sequences, although they're meant to look like gameplay. Both of these are cramped and uncomfortable, especially the first sequence in a vent, but the second sequence is the scariest.
In the first sequence, it's not quite clear what ends the protagonist, but it's terrifyingly visible in the second sequence. There, the player character heads down an escalator to confront a silhouette, after checking to make sure their gun is set up. The gun itself, a particularly blocky piece of hardware, does not help them against the robot that sneaks up from behind. Said robot, with a mouth and twitchy nature to rival the scariest Five Nights at Freddy's animatronic, puts an end to the PC. Hopefully, this robot will not end up another awesome horror villain in an underwhelming game.
For such a short sequence, it definitely leaves an impression. It won't be the first game that takes place in space where players have to escape a murderous A.I., but such games can often leave a lasting impact. Hopefully, it won't clash with the System Shock remake.
Of particular note is the soundscape of the game, which is impressive. Everything sounds delightfully mechanical, both the tools for the player, like the blocky gun, and the terrifying environment. All of this is to say nothing of the OST, which is credited to Mick Gordon, the man behind Doom 2016's soundtrack. That soundtrack is one of the reasons Doom 2016 made the list of the best games of 2016, and if the soundscape of Routine is on par with it, the game could be a true beauty.
Routine does not yet have a planned release date.