–this article was originally written in July, 2020

Here They Lie is an atmospheric game that caught me off-guard. I went into the game blind, enticed only by the striking cover art in the digital game store. With such a cryptic title, I didn’t know what to expect from the Tangent Games (formerly Tangentlemen) 2017 release.

From the onset of the game I was injected into such a vivid, surreal world. Little did I know I was getting into some psychological horror that sometimes wrecked my nerves. The juxtaposition of the glow emanating from Dana, the mysterious woman that stands at the center of the game’s menu, against the dark and twisted world both she and the protagonist Buddy navigate effectively disarms the player of the ability to make sense of the game. This thick shroud of mystery and confusion veils several underlying themes.

Perhaps Here They Lie functions as an allegory with commentary on the human condition and its effect on the world, though it fails to do so effectively. In the beginning of the game, Dana makes several comments on the disconnection between she and Buddy, as well the uncertainty regarding their reconciliation. Maybe the game is an attempt to tell a story about the potential divorce of God and man – Dana and Buddy, respectively. Buddy made a decision that contributed to the twisted world he wanders, all while Dana displays pure warmth, patience, and kindness. Their contrast is interesting, but not as developed as the contrast between Dana and the environment. Despite this potentially engaging story, I found that Here They Lie was simply trying too hard. Sometimes it felt like I was being beaten ragged with the game’s messages. As I progressed through the game, I had questions about what was happening and why. When the credits started rolling, I still had more questions.

Confusion is one the game’s primary tools, which it relies on too heavily. The symbolism and imagery were obviously left ambiguous as to be open to interpretation by the player; the developers want the player to come to their own conclusions. This is a risky mechanic to practice because puzzles can get boring if they aren’t presented in an engaging manner. This is the game’s biggest downfall; its story is so convoluted that I couldn’t tell what was happening sometimes.

This convolution carries over to an aspect of the game done far better than the story – the setting. The world of Here They Lie is a twisted nightmare. Warped tunnels and flickering neon lights made me consider my next moves carefully. Sometimes an NPC would grunt at Buddy, making me retreat to find another way forward. The guttural croaks of the game’s monsters would often stop me in my tracks and make me proceed with caution.

Here They Lie was at its best during its first hour and a half. The tension and game pacing were perfect. The first two jump scares actually frightened me. The atmosphere of the first two parts of the game kept me on the edge. Then, there was what felt like an on-rails running simulator through a bit of the game before there was a massive change of pace. This new setting was a refreshing contrast from the previously bleak surroundings, but the sudden change of pace killed all of the suspense and tension the game had built up. Awe and disgust replaced all the anxiety I had before, which was a good thing since that is what this section of the game was going for. The pacing became less consistent and the revulsion I had felt originally wore off.

In the end, I was left dissatisfied that the second half of the game didn’t live up to the set-up lain by the first. Sneaking around monsters that were inconsistent in their reactions to Buddy’s flashlight or proximity got repetitive for such a short game. My favorite part of the game was near the middle, and it was completely different from the rest of the game. If you’ve played the game, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Overall, the cryptic story of Here They Lie didn’t do anything for me, but I think it functions as a good template for what could be. I enjoyed both the visual and sound design, but nothing more.