Horror adventure game Worse Than Death will be getting a sequel in the form of a comic book series, bringing its panel cutscenes to life in a new story.
Created by Toronto-based studio Benjamin Rivers, the studio dabbles in both video games and original graphic novels. Its latest project, Snow, was inspired by city life in Queen Street West and centered on a woman forced to confront fears which have haunted her across a lifetime. The comic also spawned an online browser game and a live-action indie movie adaptation directed by Ryan Couldrey.
Worse Than Death drew positive reviews from critics, including CGMagazine writer Pedro D’Avila who wrote “Worse Than Death is a game that brings horror to a different spectrum. While its storyline can at times feel overly cliché, the tight gameplay and feel for self that comes with tapping into the players’ sense of security overall creates an experience that is definitely worth a try.” The game also brought suspense through its puzzles while uncovering an unsolved, albeit terrifying mystery from the late 80s. The longer players navigate through its world, the more lasting its discoveries became.
The game also took carried its premise into creative uses. Protagonist Mia jumped from panel to panel in an effort to figure out why all of her first dates were seemingly killed. This also leads her into a race against time to find out the source (before it reaches her first). Its mix of 16-bit graphics were also mixed with comic-book drawn animations during Worse Than Death‘s puzzle and dialogue-based sequences. Text-based effects drove up the horror with atmospheric audio.
A trailer teased the first chapter of the sequel, available to read now through digital comic service ComiXology.
