Rewind or Die is a survival horror game. It is set in a video rental store sometime in the 90s. I’m not exactly sure where and when, but VHS tapes are everywhere, so I’m guessing mid to late 1990s.
The game uses a first-person perspective and Playstation One graphics. I like this choice quite a bit, as it adds to the game’s creepy atmosphere. Everything feels dirty and grimy. It kind of feels like I’ve stumbled into a mom-and-pop rental store.
Anyway, there is a killer who has been active for some time before the start of the game. You learn about it quickly as a reporter and a policeman visit the store and ask you about the recent disappearances.
This is a short but fun horror game. It relies on jump scares, but I think they are handled well. There are also enough red hearings to keep you guessing who the killer is. I assumed it was Dave.
TLDR: A Short Horror Game that feels like a Forgotten 80s Slasher Movie.
Narrative
Like many horror movies from the 80s and 90s, Rewind or Die starts with you getting called into work. One of your coworkers called in sick, and you walk to the video store. Along the way, you run into a homeless person who warns you about not surviving the night.
This reminds me of the Friday the 13th movies and other horror films where someone tries to warn our heroes about a killer. It is an overused horror genre trope, but it is fun to have it here.
When it is time to close up shop, Dave leaves you alone, and you get attacked by the killer. After a long chase scene, you end up trapped in the killer’s dungeon. It is pretty cool and looks like a lost PS1 game.
A few other characters from the game are also captured: the dog from the beginning and the homeless person known as Captain. There are a series of puzzles that you must complete to save them and escape.
It is a short game with a fun story. It isn’t going to blow you away, but it is engaging enough to keep you going. It is also fun to speculate on who the killer is.
There is a post-credits scene that sheds some light on what is happening. You see the store manager, Keith, being interviewed by the police. After denying knowledge of what is happening, the killer’s pig mask is superimposed over his face. This ending suggests that he is the killer.
There is a good and a normal ending. Their differences depend on the items you collect, the people you save, and if you fight the giant pig boss at the end.
Gameplay
There isn’t much to this game. It is easy to understand, and the controls are minimal. It is an easy game to get into.
The gameplay is very simple. You move your character around with your keyboard’s W,S,A, and D keys, and the mouse controls where you’re looking. Here are the other keys you need to know about:
- Tab opens your inventory
- C causes you to crouch
- Shift is your run button
- E is your action button
You do get a gun later in the game. Aside from that, there are no weapons to gather. You’re just collecting items that you’ll need to complete the puzzles and unlock new areas.
Everything is set up to make the game easy for the player. Rewind or Die is an easy game to learn, and you can complete it in one or two hours.
Visuals
The game looks like a forgotten PS1 game. I like the graphics, and they make the game a little creepy. It is like stumbling across a game from a creepypasta or an old internet horror story.
There are also some VHS tracking effects added to the game. During the game, you’ll see some tracking static across the screen. It looks cool and goes along with the vibe of the game.
By going with this art style, the game looks grimy. Textures warp as you get close to them, objects don’t always look right, and you feel trapped in this dirty place.
When something important pops up on the screen, like a key item or something like that, a sparkle effect is added to it. This is a nice touch that helps the player out. I think it makes the game a little better because it helps first-time players know something is important.
Overall, I think the graphics work well for the game. It looks like one of the horror games I might have rented in the late 90s, and it reminds me of some older horror movies. It can also be a little scary at times, if you like jump scares, that is.
9/10. It’s a short but fun horror game that feels like a lost PS1 survival horror game. It has a story similar to the plot of an 80s or 90s slasher film. Rewind or Die is a fun game to get a few jump scares out of someone.
Pros
- Fun Story
- Creepy Atmosphere
- Good Controls
Cons
- Short
- Not Much Replay Value
- Graphics Aren’t for Everyone
Conclusion
Rewind or Die was a fun game to play. It felt like an interactive slasher movie from the 80s or 90s. It also reminded me of the survival horror games from the 90s.
This felt like a game I might have rented and played with my friends back in the day. It wasn’t all that hard to figure out the controls, and the tutorial does an excellent job of explaining them to you. It is a fun game that feels nostalgic even though it isn’t.
Because it is a short game, this feels like something you might want to try to finish the game faster each time you play. It took me about an hour and a half to beat, but I was using a guide in some places. It will probably take between 45 minutes and two hours to beat.
I’m not sure if this is a game that I’ll play again. I enjoyed it, but there isn’t much of a reason to play the game multiple times unless you’re trying to finish it as fast as possible.