Schuld (English Translation)

Schuld is a self-proclaimed psychological horror game about a man named Aaron and his trusty side-kick Vergil. It's a classic scenario about a dude that has no idea where or who he is. As in every game of it's type, it's your job to figure it out.

Visual - 4.5/5
I have taken into account that this is RM2k3. The graphics obviously won't be the best because of the capabilities of the game maker. However, they are still top notch. They really do make you feel unsettled in every which way, and do a great job of telling the story. They're all custom made as well, which adds big points. The only reason that this isn't a 5/5 is because there are some minor graphical glitches that occur. Nothing too noticeable, but things such as doors being overly crooked (almost like visual tearing), and ground holes on walls. Otherwise, the graphics are simply amazing.

Audio - 5/5
The sound and music in this game also work together in perfect harmony with each other and with the story. Nothing seems out of place for a horror game. I didn't notice any problems with the sound at all, and it was perfectly placed in every situation.

Game Play - 4/5
Schuld has many puzzles and mini games in it, all of varying difficulties and types. This offers a very diverse experience. However, there are a few puzzles in the game that you might end up rage-quitting over, or end up needing to use a guide or walkthrough. This detracts from the story and horror experience some-what. That being said, the game still has very unique systems, especially for RM2k3. There are some mini battles that use an Action/Strategy mix-up battle system, providing for fresh and challenging combat. Another puzzle calls that you grab a game dice from your Yahtzee box (okay, maybe not EXACTLY from there). Some of the puzzles though... really start to piss you off.

Story - 4/5
Most everything about this story is amazing. The twists and the turns, the ups and the downs, the clean and the dirty. Don't be fooled by it's cliche starting point of a main character with amnesia. The deeper you get into the game, the more surprising it gets. There are a few things that the story fails to even remotely resolve at the ending, however. You carry around a book with a few words written in it, which are the seven deadly sins (in German). The story never seems to tell us why he has the book, or what happens to it. It just seems like it's trying to connect us to something but fails, in a sense. You definitely can tell the game is about sinning, but what about the book? Once you play it for yourself, you will understand what I mean. The translation is also PERFECT! I'm glad it was translated so I could play it without my father (who speaks German) reading everything to me. Very convenient!

Horror - 4/5
This is where it gets a bit controversial. What is horror? That really depends on who is playing the game. Their fears, how many other horror games they've played... etc. I've played quite a few. I'm not afraid of much, really. Sure, jump stares are startling, but it isn't SCARY. This game has no jump scares (except for one part that could be considered one... but it isn't that bad), so you won't be annoyed by any of that nonsense! Anyhow, this game delves into a different type of horror. This seems to be true psychological horror. It taps into what most humans at least somewhat fear, and displays it with perfect harmony between the graphics, audio, and story. It doesn't seem scary while playing it, necessarily, but it does leave a bitter taste in your mouth and an unsettling feeling in your stomach. This, in my opinion, is the best kind of horror. The only kind better than that is realistic horror! Either way, the game isn't exactly scary, but it is unnerving at many points. I took off one point of this score because at many times it just seems like a puzzle or action game, and puts the horror on pause for a bit. Note that there are some areas with highly disturbing images and gore. This, however, does not come across and cheesy like it does in many games. It's been overused, yes, but this game uses it very well.

Conclusion
In the end, this game gets a rating of 4.5! It has a great story, and the graphics and audio fit almost perfectly into it! The game play is a bit rough at times, but ultimately is quite good. The horror isn't BOO! scary, but it's just unsettling enough to give you a bad feeling. And that's good! Huge kudos to the maker, and also to the translator. Thank you very much!

I would definitely recommend playing this for yourself. If you get queasy super easily, it may not be the best thing. There's a few parts with a lot of gore and disturbing images, so just keep that in mind. It doesn't swear like crazy like most horror games do. This takes away yet another cheesy aspect of horror games. Definitely play for yourself! You won't regret it... or will you ;)