Daymare 1994: Sandcastle Review (PlayStation 5)

by Jim Smale · Published August 31, 2023 · Updated September 5, 2023

For this Daymare 1994: Sandcastle Review, we play a third-person story-driven survival horror game prequel to the critically acclaimed Daymare: 1998. Step into the shoes of agent Dalila Reyes, a former government spy now in the service of the H.A.D.E.S. unit and prepare to face the true horror.

Daymare 1994: Sandcastle Review Pros:

Decent graphics.
18.85GB download size.
Platinum trophy.
Own in-game achievements called challenges.
Graphics settings – performance or quality.
Field of view slider.
Controller settings – Invert axis and sensitivity sliders, vibration, vibration intensity, and toggle run.
Aim assist option.
Many Collectibles and unlocks from challenges such as concept art, character models, etc.
Has some cool Funko-looking models and POG disc Collectibles.
3 difficulties – Story, normal, and hardcore.
Action survival gameplay.
Fast loading times.
Nine save slots.
Cutscenes are a mix of in-game and FMV.
Excellent voice work.
The game serves as a prequel to Daymare.
3rd person view.
A full 3D world with full 360-degree camera control.
Awesome soundtrack, very atmospheric and hard-hitting.
Uses the touchpad for inventory and reading notes.
Tutorial pop-ups as you play.
Weapons are equipped with directions on the d-pad for ease of use.
Strong Resident Evil vibes.
A dark game that uses lighting and torches to increase the tension.
Items can be examined in 3D and interacted with.
Button prompts and markers show on Interactive spots.
Save at computer terminals.
Goes for a lot of jump scares.
Handy zoom in the camera to look at a key thing button.
Puzzle elements throughout the game.
The scanner is used when a wavelength meter comes up then you find and scan the object triggering it.
The frost grip is a Gauntlet that allows you to spray liquid nitrogen, shoot a bullet, or smash frozen enemies.
Upgrading your frost grip Gauntlet is done via the special machines you find, you get to pick just one upgrade at each machine.
The nitrogen back pack looks cool as ice.

Daymare 1994: Sandcastle Review Cons:

Cannot rebind controls.
A few robotic-looking animations.
Faces look a bit bad, especially on the male models, it looks like too much botox and now any sort of expression is a mission in itself.
The immersion gets broken a lot with no animations for things like opening a door or picking up an item.
The cutscene transitions can be a bit abrupt and sharp in places.
In built-up areas, the detailing of the level can take a while to pop or load in.
The prompts for interaction are big and bright so it takes some of the tension and exploration out of it all.
Doesn’t make clear about the collectibles in terms of what they are and what to do to actually get them.
At times they feel the story in with a few paragraphs of text on a loading screen.
Mouth movements are real weird looking.
Every time something cool or in any way Interactive it cuts to a cutscene sequence.
Everything is staged in a way that you cannot get lost, but also you have no sense of exploration and it just feels like you are following a crumb trail.
At the start of every new segment, you start with your torch off regardless of whether you had it on beforehand or you start in a dark room.
Spelling mistakes in mission descriptions.
Frustrating boss fights.

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