Sight-jacking Japanese horror THE MADHOUSE will launch November 18 for Steam

Publication date of the original Japanese article: 2021-10-11 14:55 (JST)
Translated by. Ryuki Ishii

PIYOSHI CREATIVE STUDIO has announced that their new game THE MADHOUSE | Kansen Yashiki will launch on November 18. It will be available on PC (via Steam) for 980 yen (approx. $8.70). 10% discount will apply for the first seven days. The game supports both Japanese and English subtitles.

THE MADHOUSE is a survival horror game that takes place in a world where a new type of virus is spreading. The protagonist “slips and falls while hiking in the mountains outside Westbridge City” where “there have been a series of disappearances.” When he wakes up, he finds himself in the courtyard of an abandoned house. Now, the protagonist must try to survive, and escape from this eerie place.

You will explore the abandoned house in first-person view. Strange creatures are lurking, and the game is over when you get attacked by them and lose all HP. Therefore, it is important for the player to move carefully and avoid being spotted. The game incorporates “random roaming,” meaning, the creatures’ roaming routes are not fixed. Making their movement difficult to predict.

This is where the “stealth eyes” mechanic comes in. Stealth eyes allows you to see through creatures’ eyes, providing “multiple first-person views” to the player. This is similar to the sight-jacking system found in the Siren series. You can jack others’ vision and see what they are doing. Use the gained information to avoid detection and stealthily navigate through the house. Enemies react to sounds as well, so you’ll need to be extra cautious.

The amount of consumable items that can be obtained, and the number of items you can carry are both limited. Deciding which items to bring with you, and deciding when to use them, are going to be crucial parts of the game.

There are four difficulties to choose from. The “enemy strength and the number of items available for consumption” will differ. In the highest difficulty, MAD mode, you will die instantly if you are attacked by an enemy.

According to the developer, the game will take at least four hours to finish the first playthrough. There are four different endings, and the player’s actions will determine the outcome. It is possible to see all the endings without having to start over from the very beginning. In addition, “live game video streaming and monetization” are both allowed.

THE MADHOUSE | Kansen Yashiki will come out on November 18 for PC (via Steam).