Body Elements is a short horror game completely void of jump scares, flashing images and even the game over screen.
Instead, it is a creepy adventure of a criminal, and a fairly disturbing one.

You wake up in a cell, and prepare your way to .. freedom.


Yes .. yes indeed. Now come closer.

The whole game is a mixed package of peacefulness with a twist. The music is calm, but has a jarring subtone mixed in as well. Soft flutes as you wander the halls littered with body parts and blood without a care in the world.

The graphics are kept clean and simple, with most detail in the various cut-off or otherwise crippled bodies lying around, and one or two more elaborate "statues".
The halls almost all look the same, bare the different body arrangements. The continuity and repetition does suit it strangely well.
It also sets the focus on the bloody messes, as opposed to the bland main character or other living beings.

This very concept is almost all this game makes up - there is one click puzzle, but aside from that you simply pick up the keys and items scattered across the place to progress.
The violence displayed, too, is put in a simple and harmless frame - there are no screams, there is no agony, it is all peaceful. .. and safe.
There are very few soundeffects as well, which are all used well to break through this veil.

You may very well be aware of who you are and what you may do with the items you find, but progressing again and again through the hordes of bodies slowly creeps into you. You know exactly what you need to be doing, or might be doing, and it is appalling.

Logic need not apply - the whole set-up is .. ridiculous. But we can always play the "it's all an illusion"-game, so be it. A ward full of criminals is left alone, with keys scattered across the place. And only the exit to the outside world is properly locked. All happenings are ignored.


Why, hello Mr. Torso. You brought your family I see

What this game lacks is the cutting edge - it is disturbing, it is creepy. Evenmoreso when you think about what you are doing, but it is 100% build-up and no spike. No peak. I would have loved to see some climax somewhere.
It is a fairly mild horror.

A horror game may not need scares, but the ending left me without any impact - even though the actual happenings are highly dangerous.
Perhaps the effects of it would better be portrayed.

People looking for a non-jumpscare horror will be very pleased. It certainly is a strangely appalling and pleasing mix as far as horror goes, without going overboard.