Sorry We’re Closed Review

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Fast Facts

Let’s Crack This Baby Open!

Sorry We’re Closed is a narrative-driven survival horror game which integrates decision-making throughout the narrative. It features a uniquely bright color palette, especially considering that the title is spooky. In addition to all the above items, Sorry We’re Closed features a novel combat system which helps differentiate it from similar titles. Do these elements come together nicely? Or was I sorry to have picked it out? Find out in this Rapid Review.

To begin the game, I was introduced to Michelle. She is a somewhat simple character recovering from a breakup. However, despite the first looks, the plotline quickly cascades into a dramatic and engrossing premise. Angels and demons are fighting and falling in love, too. Sometimes, these happen at the same time. Sorry We’re Closed is shamelessly dramatic, yet it works incredibly. Each of the characters in the story is memorable and left lasting impacts on the story. These characters and their problems make sense given the context of the story, and it was fun to interact with them to see how I could impact their day. The storyline as a whole was also engaging. The grandiose plot and biblical theming worked well, keeping me hooked throughout my journey. Sorry We’re Closed has a great narrative which kept me interested in the game. 

Another thing I enjoyed about the game was the multiple endings. Sorry We’re Closed does a great job integrating these unique flourishes within the story in a way that makes sense conceptually and adds interest to the plot. Seeing the different ways there are to finish the game was a lot of fun and justifies playing through a new game plus, too. As a whole, the narrative is quite neat.

Break Time!

While the narrative was a lot of fun to take part in, the gameplay always remains king for me. In Sorry We’re Closed, I got to explore different abandoned areas, fight demons, and search for treasure. Each of these things was fairly interesting. Combat in Sorry We’re Closed is unique. When getting close to an enemy and using a secret power, their heart becomes visible as a weak point. If I chain multiple attacks consecutively into weak points which appear randomly across the enemy’s body, the enemy will remain stunned. This is fun and works well, but it is fairly simple. Enemies do not have any variation in this system either. Some of them require more hits to dismantle, but as a whole, this is the combat. Still, I liked this system. It was an easy way to keep me engaged while going through areas and searching for treasure.

The enemy designs themselves were decent as well. While most of these creatures were visually unappealing, that was okay since they fit into their role as demons nicely. The issue I had with these enemies, however, was that they were often not varied in how they attacked. Often, just standing still until an enemy came into range and shooting their weak points was a simple strategy which worked every time. Despite this, I still enjoyed taking these enemies out. Additionally, the game features some novel boss designs which had some unique attack patterns and fun strategies to dismantle. At the end of the day, playing on normal made combat fairly easy, but I certainly had fun messing around with these enemies. 

Finding Resources

In addition to fighting, I got to explore different areas and find treasure. I found many of the areas fairly drab and unappealing. The corridors were quite dark and barren despite the fun and unique color palette of the game. However, finding treasures in these areas was a nice change of pace from the combat. These items were often hidden in clever places, so it was fun to find them. At the same time, while some of them were hidden, it always felt like they were placed fairly. I had fun finding these. 

In addition to collectable items, I had to manage my inventory of resources. Playing on the normal difficulty setting, I did not need to consider this much. I consistently had enough ammunition and healing items to get me through each stage without worry. It was neat, but it did not contribute to my playthrough. 

One thing I did like, however, was the ranking system. After each level, I received a score based on how many collectables I found, how much damage I received, and how long the section took me. This was great. I enjoyed seeing my progress and knowing whether I missed anything in an area. As a whole, the things which supplemented the gameplay worked well to keep my interest.

Sounds Like a Plan

Furthermore, Sorry We’re Closed bolsters its gameplay with stunning visuals and audio design. I thought the audio was particularly impressive here. For starters, vocal tracks interweaved with the gameplay during monumental moments, which worked well to keep my interest and make those moments particularly eventful. Moreover, even more traditional tracks resonated with me. Music throughout the game varies with the mode of the gameplay, which kept me hooked and on the edge of my seat.

The visuals, as I mentioned, were quite nice. Sure, some environments were a bit boring, and the enemy sprites did not enamor me, but the overall theme and art design were good. The characters looked distinct. They stood out not only from each other but from many of the other games I had played before this one. I particularly enjoyed how certain angels looked in the overworld, as they took clear inspiration from a traditional angel yet were imbued with dark overtones. The visuals overall were quite nice. 

As a package, Sorry We’re Closed is certainly no slouch. It features unique gameplay tied together with an immersive story and some excellent sound design. I can easily recommend it to fans of the survival horror genre, and I am certainly glad I got the chance to play it. It is a bit pricy compared to some other titles on the market, but the quality is certainly there to back it up. Check this one out!

Rapid Reviews Rating

4 out of 5

4

You can purchase Sorry We’re Closed on the Microsoft Store here.