Nightfall: Escape Introduction:
Nightfall: Escape, a survival horror game developed and published by Zeenoh Inc., a Filipino company, was released for Microsoft Windows, OS X, and Linux on June 26, 2016, through the Steam platform. The game follows the story of Ara Cruz, a field journalist tasked with investigating an old mansion associated with mysterious disappearances. Despite receiving a mixed reception from critics, Nightfall: Escape garnered praise for its compelling narrative and unique monster designs. Notably, it received the "Most Outstanding Narrative Story" award from the Department of Information and Communications Technology in collaboration with the Game Developers Association of the Philippines. An awards ceremony for games and animation, hosted by the Animation Council of the Philippines, took place on November 27, 2015, at SM Mall of Asia Cinema 5.
The development of Nightfall: Escape initially began as a mobile game in October 2014 but transitioned to a PC game for the Steam platform after a Kickstarter and Square Enix collective announcement campaign. However, the team later withdrew from Kickstarter and released the game in early access on the Steam platform. It gained "greenlight" status from the Steam Greenlight service and became available for download starting with the Pre-Alpha PC Version on May 11, 2015, followed by the beta version on May 30, 2016.
Gameplay:
Nightfall: Escape is a survival horror game set within a haunted mansion inhabited by mythical creatures from Philippine folklore. The game's presentation draws comparisons to the Silent Hill series, with the protagonist becoming trapped in an alternate dimension with no apparent escape.
The player initially equips Ara with a flashlight, but she later acquires a shard that enables her to use a "bloodlight" to reveal hidden hints and items. While this feature is valuable, it also makes her more visible to certain monsters and depletes her life, although her health can regenerate. Players can gather tools and weapons for various scenarios and must uncover the mansion's mysteries by collecting light shards that depict historical events related to it. Additionally, hidden items aid in solving puzzles throughout the mansion.
The game provides a pause screen menu featuring three divisions: Inventory, Bestiary, and Gallery. The inventory employs a grid system, automatically accessible when interacting with unlockables and puzzles. The Bestiary and Gallery are presented in a panel system, where players can explore the origins and stories of encountered monsters in the Bestiary section, while the Gallery displays 3D models of the monsters, acting as collectibles or trophies.
Nightfall: Escape immerses players in the perspective of Ara Cruz, a field journalist tasked with investigating a series of mysterious disappearances in a remote area. As she delves deeper into the investigation, she discovers that these disappearances are more than they initially seem. With little assistance from her reliable assistant, Jolo, Ara must unravel the mysteries of the abandoned mansion infested with creatures believed to exist only in folklore. Her journey leads her to either uncover the truth behind the missing individuals or become another victim herself.
The game also weaves a historical narrative dating back to 1899 during Spanish rule in the Philippines. It follows the tragic tale of Maria, a wealthy mestizo family's daughter, and Simon, the family's maid's son. Their love story unfolds against the backdrop of the Philippine–American War and ultimately leads to a series of fateful events, including rape, murder, and suicide. This historical narrative becomes intertwined with Ara Cruz's modern-day investigation, adding depth to the game's storyline.
Final Words:
In the end, Nightfall: Escape concludes with Ara's triumph over the evil form of Simon and her role in reuniting the souls of Maria and Simon, who then depart to the afterlife. However, the game's final scene leaves a mysterious and unsettling note as Ara returns to her office and her reflection transforms into a demonic visage, raising questions about her fate. It remains unclear whether this is an illusion or if Ara has been possessed by the malevolent Manananggal creature.
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