El Paso, Elsewhere [Xbox]
Taking a trip down memory lane can evoke all manner of emotions, which is what James Savage has to face in El Paso, Elsewhere; a neo-noir supernatural third-person shooter developed by Strange Scaffold.
As a painkiller addict fighting his own demons - as well as some very literal ones - James must race against time to track down his ex, Janet, who is hell-bent on destroying the world. This is where I should probably mention that Janet is a little more than just your standard ex-girlfriend… she is Draculae - and her plan to destroy the world involves a strange ritual that is bending the fabric of reality, twisting it apart into a monstrous reminder of James’ time with her, as he tries desperately to track her down.
Heavily inspired by PS1 titles such as Max Payne, you can see - and feel - this all throughout: you have the ability to dive around levels in slow-mo, taking out enemies in a very satisfying lunge, dealing massive amounts of damage whilst dodging danger; and the grungy retro visuals work surprisingly well, whilst being crisp enough to keep things easily identifiable in the world. Innocents, whom you need to rescue, are highlighted with a massive beam of light, and you’ll hear them pleading for their lives as you get closer to them.
Different weapons can be switched between using the bumpers, from a pistol and shotgun to a tommy gun and even an Uzi - each of which will be added to your arsenal as you progress. You can also stake enemies in close combat by clicking the right stick to deal extra damage, which comes in handy if you feel that you’re being bombarded a bit; and if you run out, breaking wooden objects allows you to gain more stakes.
The visuals really took me by surprise. I love some good retro stylings, and I just kinda expected more of the same, but there’s something special here. Edges are crisp and smooth, and the environmental lighting is absolutely gorgeous, giving levels a stunning - if eerie - glow. Enemies are varied (though not quite as vast in number as I’d expected), with mummified vampires and werewolves to biblically accurate angels, just to name a few. Levels progress through the motel in El Paso - where James has returned to deal with this mess - to creepy cemeteries and warped, burning buildings; and with the Void looming over each level, ever-present and yet somewhat soothing in its vast, abyssal nature, it’s a constant reminder of the forces pulling this world apart. Levels begin with an overlaid chapter title, and you’ll be greeted with a thumping ‘You Keep Going’ when you die - and these elements all really add to the overall vibe of the game.
You’re also treated to some truly fantastic voice acting from Xalavier Nelson Jr. as James Savage, which enhances the compelling storyline. Cutscenes in between levels with further snippets of James’ inner monologue; reminiscing over the times he had with Janet. As you explore levels, he will react to certain things: a fucked-up vase, a familiar face; and the delivery of every single line just nailed the emotion of this confused, broken man. Collectibles in the form of projectors and audio-recordings hidden around the world will delve further into the past, allowing you to re-live moments of James and Janet’s lives, as well as hear snippets of other random stuff from this world, such as radio shows and ads. I should give some credit to the other voice actors, too, as everyone delivered an exceptional job that just made me want to know more and more about what goes on in this world.
There’s an intensely catchy hip-hop soundtrack that works perfectly with the super stylish gameplay. Though I can imagine this being quite a divisive soundtrack due to its uniqueness, but for me, it is amazing - and has remained firmly in my mind since I first heard it.
The one downside we felt was that El Paso, Elsewhere was not as challenging as it could have been, though admittedly there are adjustable Modifiers if you are looking to switch things up: Damage Taken Multiplier, Painkiller Heal Multiplier, Infinite Ammo and Infinite Painkillers; so whether you need to take things easier or want to amp it up a bit, you can. Slow-mo diving became almost unnecessary the further we went, even in spite of how awesome it looks, which is a shame - but utilising the slow-mo without the dive did save the day a few times. There’s plenty of ammo to be found around levels, as well as pills to replenish your health, and tonnes of wooden items to break - so you’ll never find yourself stuck - at least in our runs - so the infinite ammo and painkillers options were never required, here.
El Paso, Elsewhere remained thoroughly enjoyable throughout, with a captivating blend of its gameplay and deeply interesting narrative. The nuanced story, courtesy of Xalavier Nelson Jr., was so unbelievably believable - even with vampires in it. The feeling of obligation, to deal with preventing the apocalypse and facing all of the conflicting emotions along the way; it really grounds James Savage in reality, even if that very same reality is falling apart all around him.
Available on Xbox for £16.74, El Paso, Elsewhere is a fantastic game that I’d highly recommend everyone to give a go.
In the end, we decided to give El Paso, Elsewhere the Collecting Asylum rating of 9/10.
Are you interested in El Paso, Elsewhere? What do you think of it?
Let us know in the comments below!
- V x
Thank you to Strange Scaffold for the El Paso, Elsewhere Xbox review code!
