Game Cover

I can't leave now even if I wanted.

Platform played on: Xbox One (Deluxe Edition)

# Review

“Distraint” is a legal term that means to seize someone’s property in satisfaction of a claim, such as falling behind in rent payments. The player controls Price, an employee of a company which seizes properties from different people. What follows is a short 2D psychological horror as Price questions his own morality.

Price doing his job

The atmosphere is well-designed, with some very well-made sprites. The sound design works really well with the lighting to create a creepy environment for Price. The gameplay and story are both pretty straightforward, with some very good foreshadowing. There are some light puzzle elements but the vast majority of the game involves following Price around in fairly linear levels.

Creepy atmosphere

The game is pretty simple with some very impactful messages; the whole story feels like a parable. One thing that I didn’t like is the slow pace that Price walks. I get that the creator probably wanted the player to take in the atmosphere (or pad the length of the game), but many of the levels require backtracking so it’s slightly annoying to be forced to watch Price shuffle slowly through environments which have already been experienced.

So much walking

# Conclusion

A 2D atmospheric parable about greed.

# Overall rating: 6.7

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