### Reanimal Review: A Dance with Depravity in a Wartime Fantasy
#### Overview
**Developer:** Tarsier
**Publisher:** THQ Nordic
**Release Date:** February 13th, 2025
**Platform:** Windows
**Availability:** [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2129530/REANIMAL/), [GOG](https://www.gog.com/en/game/reanimal), [Epic Games Store](https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/reanimal)
**Price:** £35/$40/€40
**Reviewed on:** Intel Core-i7 12700F, 16GB RAM, Nvidia RTX 3060, Windows 11
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#### Introduction
In an industry often criticized for sanitizing themes for younger audiences, Tarsier’s latest title, **Reanimal**, serves as a stark reminder of the uncanny and disturbing ways children perceive the world around them. This horror fantasy game escapes the confines of its predecessor, **Little Nightmares**, plunging players into a terrifying and surreal voyage reminiscent of wartime imagery.
#### Gameplay Mechanics
**Reanimal** is structured around a narrative following an orphan boy and girl, with players controlling both characters in cooperative play. As they navigate a whimsical yet grotesque world filled with oversized structures and unsettling creatures, players will rescue friends through a series of well-crafted environments. Each chapter unfolds as players traverse on a motorboat, where the boy steers while the girl illuminates the way with her lantern. The partner AI proves competent, facilitating necessary interactions between the characters.
Contrary to its exploration-based gameplay, the title includes combat elements, such as hurling items or using makeshift weapons. However, the game remains largely focused on stealth, platforming, and puzzle-solving, with combat feeling more like an occasional necessity than a core mechanic.
#### Artistic Direction
The thematic atmosphere of **Reanimal** leans heavily into a darker and more oppressive aesthetic compared to **Little Nightmares**. The game embraces an industrial decay filled with symbols of lost childhood and looming danger, often drawing comparisons to the somber tones of Playdead’s **Inside**. It presents a world that feels both expansive yet constrictive, where the children’s small statures provide them with some protection against the larger threats that inhabit their environment.
The grotesqueness is amplified through artwork that intricately details the chilling landscape. Settings range from eerie mills to ashen car parks, all designed to evoke feelings of primal fear and anxiety. The narrative intertwines with the visual, suggesting deeper meanings in its representation of childhood trauma and survival.
#### Themes of War and Animal Imagery
The narrative’s exploration into wartime themes becomes more pronounced as players progress, with landscapes reflecting the desolation and brutality associated with conflict. Tarsier delves into the metaphor of animals—both as creatures to be hunted and symbols of suffering. The presence of monstrous entities among them serves as poignant reminders of sacrifice and survival, weaving a complex tapestry of fear and yearning.
However, while the integration of war imagery can be seen as a creative risk, some aspects feel like superficial engagements with a vast historical narrative. As the game approaches its climax, it occasionally succumbs to clichés reminiscent of the shooter genre, which detracts from its otherwise compelling story.
#### Conclusion
In comparison to the **Little Nightmares** series, **Reanimal** stands as a more ambitious yet uneven title. Tarsier’s intention to break free from traditional horror tropes is commendable, yet the execution variously oscillates between inspired genius and moments of frustrating familiarity. This title embodies the paradox of childhood—the inherent innocence juxtaposed with dark, creeping terror. As players guide the children through their harrowing journey, they may find themselves contemplating the weight of survival against the backdrop of a world fraught with the horrors of its past.
Ultimately, **Reanimal** provides a thrilling experience filled with visual splendor and chilling narrative undertones. While it may not entirely transcend its influences, it remains a significant entry within Tarsier’s repertoire, teasing players with what lies beyond the veneer of childhood dreams and nightmares.
