Crow Country Review (PlayStation 5)

Rating: 9
Author: Jim Smale

by Jim Smale · Published July 12, 2024 · Updated July 12, 2024

Crow Country Review, The year is 1990. It’s been two years since the mysterious disappearance of Edward Crow and the abrupt closure of his theme park, Crow Country. But your arrival has broken the silence, Mara Forest. If you want answers, you’ll have to venture deep into the darkness of Crow Country to find them…

Crow Country Review Pros:

Beautiful 32-bit graphics style.
649.2MB download size.
Platinum trophy.
3 save slots.
Controller settings – Invert axis and sensitivity sliders, combat controls set to classic or modern, and set the shoot and reload buttons.
Graphics settings – gameplay Hud, and exit arrows.
Game settings – vibration, extra lives, and aiming camera swivel.
Three game modes are tied to difficulty – survival horror (danger everywhere), exploration mode (you won’t get attacked), and Murder of Crows (hard mode with aggressive enemies and fewer resources).
Has a Resident Evil feel from the atmosphere to the sound effects etc.
The cutscenes are beautiful using the in-game engine.
A full 3D world with 360-degree camera control.
You have an aiming reticule for shooting.
Anything you can interact with will show an examine button.
Handy camera click action to reset the camera.
When you take damage your character’s posture changes and in the menu, you have a lifeline beat showing how injured you are.
Can use the d-pad or stick for movement.
Loot bins etc for items.
Fortune teller machines can give clues on where to go but you only have a limited amount of uses.
Every section you go into is like a little diorama.
Shooting enemies in the head can sometimes cause them to get decapitated.
So much atmosphere and it feels so retro but modern.
Find and help characters.
Posters around the world have basic tips for the game.
Offers replay value as each game mode plays completely differently.
The game is set in the 90s.
Uses the handy quick turn and step back actions.
Has you feeling on edge at all times.
Fantastic set pieces.
A game that lives on way after you finish it.
It’s possible to have multiple saves for the different modes.
Kick vending machines to try and get resources.
Puzzle elements throughout.
Adds horror with jump scares and weird enemies and enemy encounters.
Playing any mode gives you a unique experience.
A lot of the puzzles and progression are reading signs and notes to gain knowledge.
Save rooms can be found and used.
When you find clues they go into a book so everytime you find that book you can read all the collected ones.

Crow Country Review Cons:

You don’t get any tooltips for the settings.
As you don’t know the game yet, the descriptions of the three modes/difficulties is too vague.
The aiming reticule is ridiculously sensitive and hard to see.
You get chucked straight in, with no real explanation or control help.
Shooting takes some time to get used to.
No graphics settings for things like the filters or darkness.
Having the scavenge item popping up everytime, it can get a bit annoying.

Crow Country:

Official website.

Developer: SFB Games

Publisher: SFB Games

Store Links –

PlayStation

9/10

Graphics - 9/10
9/10

Sound - 9/10
9/10

Accessibility - 9/10
9/10

Length - 9/10
9/10

Fun Factor - 9/10

9/10

Summary

Crow Country boasts a beautiful 32-bit graphics style, evoking a retro yet modern feel. The cutscenes, rendered using the in-game engine, are visually stunning. Players explore a full 3D world with 360-degree camera control, adding to the immersive experience. The aiming reticule aids precision shooting, and interactive elements are indicated by an examine button. Additionally, the lifeline beat in the menu reflects your character’s injuries, enhancing realism.

Crow Country captures the essence of classic survival horror games, reminiscent of Resident Evil. Atmospheric sound effects contribute to the tension, keeping players on edge. Each section feels like a meticulously crafted diorama, and shooting enemies in the head can lead to gruesome decapitations. The game encourages exploration and helping other characters, with posters providing useful tips. Multiple game modes offer replay value, each providing a unique experience.

The game’s difficulty modes—survival horror, exploration, and Murder of Crows—impact gameplay significantly. However, the descriptions for these modes could be clearer. Puzzle-solving involves reading signs and notes, adding depth to the experience. Save rooms and collectible clues enhance immersion, and the booking system allows revisiting discovered information.

Unfortunately, the game lacks tooltips for settings, leaving players to figure things out independently. The overly sensitive aiming reticule can be frustrating, and the absence of graphics settings for filters or darkness is a missed opportunity. New players receive minimal guidance, making initial control adjustment challenging. Additionally, the frequent scavenge item pop-ups can become annoying.

Overall, Crow Country combines retro aesthetics with modern gameplay, offering a memorable experience. It is clearly made by huge Resident Evil fans and have made it feel like those games but adds enough in to make it feel not only unique but like a new game.