Every so often, a little-known game with much smaller expectations than its AAA counterparts will come along and completely knock your socks off. Celeste managed it last month with its intricate 2D platforming, and no less than a month later, another crowning achievement has made its way onto the Nintendo eShop. Detention, from developer Red Candle Games, is a 2D horror game that manages to terrify with supernatural spookings, and yet still remains grounded in a lot of reality.
Set in 1960’s Taiwan, the country is under martial law. The game opens in a school, with Wei, one of the main characters, falling asleep in class. Eventually he awakens to find the school deserted due to an impending typhoon, and so it’s time to get himself out too. After bumping into a fellow pupil called Ray, the two head for the bridge that leads into town, only for them to discover that it has been destroyed. With the river below them running red with blood, they head back to the school grounds to find shelter and hope this all blows over.
Of course, things don’t go the way they want, and it’s this that lends itself so well to the message behind the plot. Detention isn't afraid to shine a light on the social struggles of the time, it challenges the free will of the main character, and it isn’t afraid to incorporate the atrocities committed at the time into its horrific themes and scares. All of this is viewed through the eyes of a child, which in a sense makes the entire ordeal even more saddening, as decisions made at the top of the food chain come home to roost in a surprising and sombre fashion. The plot pulls no punches, as it strikes at the gut of what makes us human.
Played out on a 2D plain, the experience largely consists of solving fairly simple puzzles within the environment and navigating the school and the surrounding grounds. Interactable items can be placed in your inventory for use at a later date, while you’ll learn more about the school, its characters, and the state of martial law through text bubbles when an object of interest comes into view. But this is only one side of the coin, as ghosts patrol the hallways in search of their next meal.
Known as Lingereds, these ghostly beings will suck the life out of you with just a few hits, but only if they know you’re there. There’s no combat whatsoever and thus they can never be killed, instead you must avoid or manoeuvre around them by holding your breath. You’re no longer detectable in this state, but obviously you can only hold it for so long. Because of this, you must time your breathing correctly to make sure you get by unscathed. But sometimes there simply isn’t a way to get around a Lingered, and this is where food offerings come into play. Placing one of these nearby will give a ghost something to chew on for a certain period of time, allowing you to sneak past while they’re distracted.
The gameplay is fairly simple, but it works. Save for a few late-game puzzles, the brain teasers are relatively easy to figure out, meaning you’re unlikely to ever be stumped by something. Every object has a purpose, and you won’t have to go far to find its use. Avoiding the Lingereds is never too difficult either, as even when they are alerted to your presence, they’re very easy to run away from, and it takes three swipes from them before you’re killed.
The main draw of Detention is its horror themes and scares, and the game absolutely does not let up in this department. Rather than opting for continuously recycling jump scares, the game builds its tension and terror through some graphic and alarming imagery, terrifying enemy design, and a soundtrack that we wouldn’t really even describe as music at all. This is perhaps the scariest element of all, as the audio design revolves around shrill screams, sounds reminiscent of scratches on a chalkboard, and ominous tones in the background that heighten the foreboding tension. When it comes to just setting atmosphere, Detention is perhaps the very best in its field.
And to cap it all off, the entire experience looks incredible. The art style can twist and change at a moment’s notice as it intertwines with the scares it’s presenting. Hand-drawn sprites gracefully navigate the classrooms, the edgy and twisted out houses are a sight to behold, and the enemies themselves are frighteningly detailed as they wander the hallways in search of you. It’s beautiful to just look at, and clocking in at around three hours, none of it outstays its welcome.
Conclusion
Hot off the heels of Layers of Fear: Legacy, Detention is yet another horror classic that deserves a place on your Nintendo Switch. Its story has an important message behind it as it introduces themes that seem almost unfair when viewed through the eyes of a child, but that only helps to escalate the horror. Through a terrifying atmosphere, chilling ghouls, and a soundtrack that will sink its teeth into you, Detention is a suitably horrifying title that needs to be experienced first-hand.
Comments 50
I had no idea about this, but after reading this review and checking out some media, I have never been so excited to go into detention!
Edit: What’s all that racket down there?! looks below for a bit Oh, dear.
Wow...I totally overlooked this game So i may have to add to my wish list now!
I'd watched videos and read previews about this game. The review confirms what I'd heard before. It's a very, very short game. I also noticed in the videos that while it has translated text in the game, not everything is, like Japanese writing on books will sail right over peoples heads. If you've seen trailers, you'll know what I mean. It's a very Japanese game. Also, there's some disparity between the £ price and the $ price. I'm going to look for the € price.
Edit: The price in Euro is €10.49, although if you pre-order it, the price is €8.39 until 1st March. The UK gets a much better price. £7.50 is €8.50 or $10.50. So Europe pays €2 more and the US pays $2.50 more.
Saw it on Super Bunnyhop's channel a while ago, but I didn't know it was coming to the Switch. Glad to see it score so high on the site.
@SLIGEACH_EIRE
Would you ever jog on?! I doubt you play any games because you spend so much time talking about all the things you think are wrong with them rather than playing them, you even said you watched videos of this game being played when it sbould be clear it is a game to played blind because it is so story based. Your negativity is boring and played out. Jog on son.
Whatever your response is to this I don't care as I will not be monitoring this as I will be actually playing some games and having fun you bloody saddo.
@SLIGEACH_EIRE Just to correct you, it's Chinese, not Japanese =)
@Jordan_SW Sorry. Still can't understand it.
This looks like what I was hoping The Coma: Recut would be. A quality, side scrolling, Asian horror game.
@SBandy I think what’s more sad is that people like you get so upset about his opinions, which he’s perfectly entitled to. Sometimes I agree with his comments, other times I don’t, but it still amazes me that people who claim not to care about what he has to say cry about his posts that can easily be scrolled past. Get a grip.
@SBandy I never said I "watched videos of this game being played". I've watched official trailers. You like name calling, do you? Calling me negative? You should take a look at yourself. I said positive things about the 2 previous reviews(Dragon Sinker and Toki Tori 2+) on this site. You claim that you'll be playing games, yet you've made time for another troll post and to throw around insults. Do you like jogging, "son"?
@Flowerlark No, I think you've misread what I've wrote, the price of the game on the eShop is:
£7.50
€10.50 (£7.50 in Euro is €8.50)
$13 (£7.50 in Dollars is $10.50)
I pointed out the differences. It's €2 and $2.50 more expensive than Sterling.
@Markiemania95
"people like you", I am also entitled to my opinion that he/she is a numpty whose act is very old at this point and who I doubt actually does play very many games. I also think what is really sad is you being offended on this person's behalf. Which you of course are entitled to do but, well, it is a bit sad really, in my opinion.
How does this compare to Coma:Recut? I bought that one and enjoyed it.
@SBandy You do like to jump to conclusions, don’t you? Where did I say I was offended? Hint: I didn’t.
And there’s a difference between an opinion, and what you call an ‘opinion’ that is really you throwing your toys out the pram and attacking somebody on the internet because they criticised a game you like.
@SBandy Hey, you said you wouldn't be "monitoring this", you're supposed to be "playing some games and having fun you bloody saddo."
@Markiemania95
You are jumping to conclusions I'm afraid as I have never played this game and have no opinion about it. Also I don't think you understand what an opinion is.
Plus it certainly continues to sound like you are offended on their behalf.
@SBandy When did I say you had played it?
Hint: Again, I didn’t.
I know full well what an opinion is, but I was stating that you seem to be using having an ‘opinion’ as an excuse to abuse other users who, despite how disagreeable you may find them, are really minding their own business.
I remember watching Cry play this one. It's not bad, but not something I'd play myself
I was curious about this one and watched a letsplay of the whole game. This game is definitely a 9/10. Since I spoiled it for myself I probably won't pick it up, but if you like horror games, this is a must-buy. I was encouraged to read up on Taiwanese history afterward. I had no idea their country went through a period where their own government was just as bad as the worst times of the mainland Chinese government.
@dereq
Thank you! Problem solved!
@Jordan_SW
i like your revews mate. no brown nosing intended.
for what its worth you dont look how you sound:)
Going to download the game tonight!!!!
@Jordan_SW It's Taiwanese. They hates China.
This looks good.will download it probally
@Nincompoop Well, I was commenting on the language which is Chinese. Plus, I live in China so I know all about it haha.
@SayGuh Thanks! Find it odd to get noticed outside of Switch Watch. Must mean we're on the right lines =)
And I've been told that I sound different to how I look many times haha
@SLIGEACH_EIRE or you can pay 67NOK (Norway) which is the equivalent of £6.12.
@Jordan_SW off topic, but loving your reviews on switch watch
@SLIGEACH_EIRE I completely agree with what others say to you. You need to chill off.
The number of top quality games on the Switch is simply staggering as we approach only its 1st birthday!
@Cosats Actually the people who keep saying things to him need to chill off. I don't like Sligeach personally, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion, as well as entitled to comment as much and often as they wish on this website. Be those comments positive or negative in nature, as long as they don't break the community rules, they are absolutely fine.
@Jordan_SW The language is Mandarin, Chinese is the race.
I've been looking forward to this one ever since it was announced. It may be short but from everything I've read about it, it's an experience horror fans definitely don't want to miss.
it's strange to see the UK price lower than the US, that doesn't happen very often. It's even cheaper on the South African Eshop at £6.71.
@Nincompoop You know exactly what I mean dude. =)
@Blizzia Finally, someone else gets it.
$1 more than the Steam price... I can live with that.
The price/length issue isn't really a problem for me, as horror games are almost always short (by necessity: even something like Alien: Isolation that was a bit over 20 hours felt very overlong for a horror game), and I'd much rather pay $13 for a 3 - 4 experience than $60 for a 9 - 11 hour experience.
More crucially, I've been looking forward to this game for a while now, and it sounds absolutely fantastic! As soon as My Nintendo updates its gold coins program, I'll be getting this.
I've been living in Taiwan and hacking at Chinese for the last couple of years- I've been really pleased that so many Switch games are getting traditional-character localizations- playing video games is guilt free if I do it in Chinese. and now, from nowhere is a game from Taiwan- and somehow it's also good! I hope this is a portent of things to come...
I'm happy this game has come to the Switch. A YouTuber I watch started playing this game on PC a while back, and after the first 10 minutes I had to stop watching, because I wanted to play it myself without being spoiled. I finally have a good excuse to pick it up! I love playing horror games on my Switch!
@Nincompoop You need to make up your mind. Is it Mandarin or Taiwanese? It's going to be one or the other.
@JimmySpades The nationality is Taiwanese. The language is Mandarin.
@dereq thanks so much for pointing out that option.
@JimmySpades Mandarin is the language, Taiwanese is the nation.
@Blizzia So which is it--people should comment less, or people are allowed to comment as much as they want? It can't be both.
@PanurgeJr Your little scenario is wholly irrelevant. People should be allowed to comment as often as they want, but they shouldn't ask others to stop commenting, as that is hypocritical. Now, I never wrote the people criticising Sligeach should stop commenting, I wrote that they need to chill off and let him/her write what he/she wants as long as it doesn't break community rules. They can comment as often and heartily as they want, but there is absolutely no reason for those comments to focus on making someone who is not attacking anyone or breaking any rules stop commenting.
There, ya happy?
I did not think a 2D game could be scary so I'm really interested in this. I don't think I want 2 horror games though so I need to decide between this and Layers of Fear.
I get that point and click-y, visual novel-y, vibe from this game, and I was hoping it was a good game. It shall remain on my wishlist, awaiting a sale
Its not bad. Defo worth a look if you enjoyed games like Lone Survivor. Its probably a 6 -7 for me but a 9 seems pretty high. Enjoying the creepy atmosphere, it isnt actually scary though ... and I just dont seem to be engaging with the actual "story" (if there actually is one) so far.
Had not been on my wish list until reading your review. I am only a short way in to this game and am quite enjoying it. As stated in previous comments, it is a visual novel type game somewhat in the style of Oxenfree in my opinion.
@SLIGEACH_EIRE shaddap, troll.
Hi new Switch Lite owner here - played the demo of this and it looks and feels awesome - definitely buying.
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