The Chant: The Gloom Below is a complimentary DLC for The Chant, originally released in November 2022. The core game unfolds on the isolated island of Glory, where a cult-like group inadvertently opens a portal to The Gloom, a dimension of pure negativity. As this dimension thrives on negative energy, the island’s inhabitants face imminent danger. Players must uncover the island’s secrets and attempt to reverse the ritual. The Chant: The Gloom Below directly follows the events of the original game, plunging players deeper into the perils of The Gloom. Maintaining composure is crucial for survival, a task that proves exceptionally challenging.
Having not played the original The Chant, I experienced a slight learning curve when starting the DLC. The expansion is accessible at any point, without requiring completion of the main game – an advantage for players without save data or those on new consoles. However, it is not recommended to begin with the DLC without prior experience of The Chant.
The Chant distinguishes itself from other titles through its emphasis on mental equilibrium as a means of overcoming challenges. Losing focus results in heightened terror, making the player vulnerable.
The environments are well-crafted and visually appealing, yet exhibit a degree of simplicity. At times, the animations feel somewhat rudimentary. While the game suggests a sandbox experience, mission progression is linear. The narrative depth of each character encountered is a positive aspect, offering potential advantages later in the game.
The enemies encountered are often genuinely frightening, contributing to a pervasive atmosphere of mystery and unease throughout both the main game and the DLC. Initially, the act of creating a burning torch to combat swarms of flies seemed somewhat incongruous, but its logic became increasingly apparent as I progressed. This is a highly spiritual game where conventional mechanics are often subverted.
A notable drawback of both The Chant and The Chant: The Gloom Below is their occasional, and arguably unnecessary, difficulty. The initial strength of enemies often leads to frequent player deaths, and the “maintain your mental state” mechanic would have benefited from a more gradual introduction, allowing players to acclimate before facing intense challenges.
The Chant: The Gloom Below is a substantial DLC, exhibiting the same level of quality as the base game. It offers a significant amount of new content to explore, maintaining a compelling experience until the conclusion. However, similar to the original game, it suffers from instances of unnecessary difficulty, both in combat and in navigating the environment to understand objectives.
Plaion provided a review code for this evaluation. The provision of materials does not influence our editorial assessments.
