The Convenience Store: A Review of Chillas Art's Atmospheric Horror Game

The Convenience Store | 夜勤事件 (Yakin Jiken) is a first-person, 3D horror adventure game developed by Chilla’s Art. This indie title distinguishes itself with its photorealistic graphics filtered through a VHS aesthetic, evoking the feel of classic PlayStation-era horror games. While gameplay is largely a slow-paced walking simulator with limited interaction, the game successfully cultivates a chilling atmosphere and psychological tension, making it a compelling experience for fans of J-Horror and slow-burn suspense.

A Night Shift Like No Other

The game casts the player as a young college student working the night shift at a 24/7 convenience store near her home. The setting is immediately unsettling, a familiar space imbued with a palpable sense of unease. The player is largely alone, performing routine tasks, but the tranquility is constantly disrupted by subtle, unsettling events. These events aren’t your typical jump scares; instead, the horror unfolds gradually, relying on suggestive imagery, unsettling sounds, and a growing sense of dread that keeps the player on edge. The mystery unfolds gradually as the player navigates each night shift, attempting to unravel the source of the unsettling occurrences within and around the store. The narrative subtly builds, leaving the player to piece together clues and confront the unsettling reality of what lurks within the seemingly ordinary setting.

The game’s strength lies in its ability to create a genuinely creepy atmosphere without relying on cheap jump scares or excessive gore. The unsettling ambiance is amplified by the deliberate pacing and the game’s subtle sound design. The silence is punctuated by unexpected noises, creating a constant sense of anticipation and unease. This calculated use of sound design further emphasizes the isolated and vulnerable nature of the player’s situation. The game’s ability to build suspense and unease, leaving the player to interpret the unsettling events and develop their own theories, significantly contributes to its immersive and unnerving atmosphere.

Visuals and Gameplay Mechanics: A Retro Horror Aesthetic

The Convenience Store’s visual style is one of its defining features. The developers have cleverly combined photorealistic graphics with a VHS filter, creating a distinctive retro aesthetic reminiscent of early 3D horror games. This stylistic choice not only adds to the game’s overall creepy atmosphere but also enhances the sense of unease and nostalgia. The slightly wonky character models and the grainy texture of the VHS filter enhance the overall unsettling effect, making even familiar objects appear distorted and threatening. The use of this filter adds a layer of unsettling grain and distortion to the visuals, enhancing the game’s eerie atmosphere and creating a feeling of unease. The deliberate choice to use a VHS filter also serves as a homage to the retro horror games that came before, thus adding another layer of intrigue for players familiar with this style of gaming.

However, this stylistic choice comes with a trade-off. While the visual style is undoubtedly unique and effective in creating atmosphere, it might not appeal to everyone. The VHS filter, while adding to the unsettling ambiance, can also make the graphics appear somewhat dated or less visually appealing to players accustomed to modern high-definition graphics.

The gameplay is deliberately slow-paced. The player cannot run, and the movement of both the player character and the non-player characters (NPCs) is deliberately slow and deliberate. This deliberate pacing enhances the tension and suspense, allowing players to fully immerse themselves in the game’s eerie atmosphere. The slow pace encourages exploration and observation, as players are given ample time to notice subtle details and environmental cues that contribute to the game’s unsettling narrative.

While the gameplay is largely focused on exploration and walking, there are some light puzzle elements incorporated throughout the game. These puzzles are not overly complex, but they do require observation and a degree of logical thinking to solve. These puzzles, while not excessively challenging, provide welcome moments of interaction and a break from the constant feeling of suspense.

Multiple Endings and Replayability

The Convenience Store features two distinct endings. The inability to save adds a unique layer of tension, as players must complete the entire 40-minute game in one sitting to discover each ending. This design choice forces the player to be fully present and attentive throughout the game, which adds to the immersive experience but can also be frustrating for players who prefer a more forgiving gameplay structure.

The necessity to replay the game for the second ending adds replayability. While the playthrough itself might not be excessively long, the intrigue of discovering the alternative narrative and understanding the different outcomes encourages a second, attentive play-through. This encourages closer observation and exploration to unearth subtle clues that might have been missed in the first playthrough, adding another dimension of depth to the game. The emphasis on replayability enhances the overall value of the game, especially for players who appreciate narrative depth and alternate outcomes.

A J-Horror Experience for Patient Players

The Convenience Store | 夜勤事件 is a game of atmosphere and suspense. It successfully utilizes visual and audio elements to create a genuinely creepy and unsettling experience without relying heavily on jumpscares. However, its deliberate slow pace and lack of a save system might not appeal to all players. The game’s strength is in its ability to create a genuinely unnerving and deeply immersive atmosphere, but its slow-paced nature and the necessity to replay the entire game for the alternate ending could be a deal breaker for those players who seek faster-paced action or more flexible gameplay options.

The game’s overall success is highly dependent on the player’s preference for atmospheric horror games. Those who appreciate slow-burn suspense, psychological thrillers, and a retro aesthetic will likely find The Convenience Store to be a highly rewarding experience. However, those who prefer fast-paced action, frequent jumpscares, or a more conventional gaming structure might find the game’s deliberate pace and limited gameplay to be frustrating.

Pros:

• Unique VHS aesthetic: The retro visual style contributes significantly to the game’s creepy atmosphere.
• Effective atmosphere building: The game masterfully creates tension and unease without relying on cheap jumpscares.
• Intriguing narrative: The story unfolds gradually, leaving the player to piece together clues and unravel the mystery.
• Multiple endings: The presence of two endings adds replayability and encourages a closer examination of the game’s details.
• Easy gameplay mechanics: The controls are simple and intuitive, allowing players to focus on the atmosphere and narrative.

Cons:

• Slow-paced gameplay: The deliberate slow pace may not appeal to all players.
• No save system: The inability to save forces players to complete the entire game in one sitting.
• Limited interaction: The gameplay is primarily focused on exploration and walking, with only minimal puzzle elements.
• Potential visual issues: The VHS filter, while enhancing the atmosphere, might not be visually appealing to all players.

Ultimately, The Convenience Store | 夜勤事件 is a stylistic and atmospheric J-horror game that is best suited for players who appreciate slow-burn storytelling, suspenseful gameplay, and a retro aesthetic. While its deliberate pacing and lack of a save function might be off-putting to some, the game’s effective use of atmosphere and the intrigue of multiple endings make it a worthwhile experience for those willing to embrace its unique approach to horror gaming.