`DEAD LETTER DEPT. Review: Typing Horror Done Right`

by

As a devoted movie buff and gaming enthusiast, I can’t help but be captivated by games that break the mold, and DEAD LETTER DEPT. definitely does just that among its indie horror counterparts. Unlike many horror games that casually incorporate typing as a gimmick, this title makes it the core gameplay experience. The chilling atmosphere, coupled with masterful sound design and moments that have you questioning your every move, creates an unsettling experience that keeps me on edge.

In the game DEAD LETTER DEPT., you step into the shoes of an individual embarking on their first solo adventure, leaving the comfort of home for the bustling city. Uniquely, you have the ability to craft your own narrative from the get-go, by composing a letter to someone meaningful in your life. While you may choose to express optimism in this correspondence, it’s crucial to acknowledge that navigating a harsh urban environment on your own can be challenging, especially without the support of friends or family. To make ends meet, you take on a part-time job as a Data Conversion Operator, transcribing text from mail that automated systems are unable to interpret. When the system encounters an unrecognizable piece of mail, an image of it appears on your terminal for you to decipher and type up. On the surface, this task seems straightforward; however, the challenges you’ll encounter far exceed its simplicity.

The Dead Letter Department skillfully sets an ominous atmosphere right from the start, even without any supernatural occurrences. Your character’s living space, apart from their workplace, is a bleak and gloomy setting, yet it is also illuminated by harsh, neon-like lights streaming from windows and entrances. The environment seems chilling and unforgiving, with no friendly faces to find solace in, no one to converse with, and a protagonist caught between abandoning their aspirations or being ensnared in a nightmare. Music is sparse in the game, but when it does appear, it’s eerie and evokes some atmospheric Silent Hill tracks by Akira Yamaoka.

DEAD LETTER DEPT. Pushes Anxiety Without Feeling Cheap

In this game titled “DEAD LETTER DEPT.”, the gameplay primarily focuses on interacting with an old, malfunctioning computer terminal and software. The setting is a solitary room where players are positioned with their back to the only door, providing a view of a dark alley through two windows, adding to the game’s unsettling ambiance. Once at work, players are essentially confined to their seat, unable to leave or explore until tasks are completed, fostering a feeling of being trapped. The majority of mail arrives with highlighted yellow passages instructing the player on what to type. Although it appears straightforward and similar to real-world data entry tasks, legibility issues arise, necessitating skips or guesses. At times, typed responses seem as significant as simple CAPTCHA tests. However, it doesn’t take long for things to feel unsettling. The letters gradually turn ominous, containing angry messages, disturbing historical accounts, and glimpses of things that don’t appear to be mail at all.

The Typing of the DEAD LETTER DEPT.

In the game DEAD LETTER DEPT., the idea of navigating a typing-based adventure might initially appear challenging. However, the developers have skillfully designed it so that players can spend as much time as needed to decipher and input information on the screen. Occasionally, there are time-sensitive typing segments where you must finish before the timer reaches zero. But don’t worry if your typing speed isn’t lightning fast; the game adapts to your pace during these sections, giving you more or less time based on how quickly you type. For me, I had anywhere from a few minutes to over 10 minutes to complete the timed segments, depending on my typing speed prior to those sections. When typing at my usual pace, I found it necessary to concentrate and avoid dilly-dallying during the timed portions, but overall, it was quite manageable.

In addition, players are given a few simple tools to make entering addresses easier. Copying and pasting can be achieved with a pair of shortcuts, and an auto-fill function can finish a partially entered address and format it correctly. Players are free to use these shortcuts or type everything out manually, depending on their preference. The game is also fairly forgiving of mistakes for the most part, either accepting mail despite the mistake, or recycling it through the queue so the player can try again. With that said, being able to touch type is an absolute must. Players who struggle to find the keys or otherwise can’t type without looking at the keyboard may end up missing what’s happening on-screen.

The Show Must Go On in DEAD LETTER DEPT

Regarding its replay value, DEAD LETTER DEPT. offers an unexpected depth. Although the main narrative remains consistent, the game presents various conclusions that transcend mere victory or defeat. As players sort through the mail, they may start to notice recurring themes and names, uncovering intriguing tales if they pay close attention. The game also subtly acknowledges previous playthroughs, a detail that adds to its overall eerie atmosphere without giving away specifics here.

Players accustomed to the strategy of save scumming might find this game a bit challenging due to its unique approach to saving, which enhances the storyline and suspense but could potentially present some hurdles based on a player’s time availability and playstyle. In this game, DEAD LETTER DEPT., players are generally only allowed one save per playthrough, and once loaded, it gets deleted, requiring the player to finish their playthrough without pausing or risk losing all progress since the game is started. Each playthrough of the game typically takes under two hours in my experience, so it’s a reasonable amount of time to set aside for playing. Although some might find it aggravating, I felt it was an effective method of maintaining tension as players can’t simply save and quit whenever they feel afraid to continue. However, there is an option to switch between multiple saves if a player prefers that approach.

Without a doubt, DEAD LETTER DEPT. stands out as an exceptional horror game, one that surpasses typical genre conventions. It evokes a similar feeling to the predicament faced by the protagonist in the movie Dark Water, where characters find themselves in situations where something is palpably amiss in their new surroundings. However, their troubles are often dismissed or vaguely explained by others, causing the protagonists to question whether they’re merely overreacting. This doubt lingers until it becomes too late to escape the ominous environment.

The brief but impactful game titled “DEAD LETTER DEPT.” may be finished in under 10 hours, depending on a player’s speed in discovering its endings. Despite its brevity, it offers an intense experience that should be included in the collection of dedicated indie horror enthusiasts. Players daring enough to endure the game’s scares will encounter an intriguing narrative that doesn’t guide them step-by-step through their actions.

Read More

2025-02-12 10:05