Bloober Team’s Redemption: Cronos Could Follow Silent Hill 2 Success
▼ Summary
– Bloober Team’s Silent Hill 2 remake faced skepticism despite its success, but their new original game, Cronos: The New Dawn, aims to prove their creative capabilities.
– Cronos: The New Dawn introduces a unique “merge system” where enemies combine to form stronger foes, inspired by the studio’s desire to innovate beyond traditional horror gameplay.
– The game’s setting alternates between pre- and post-apocalyptic timelines, featuring grotesque enemies called “orphans” with varied abilities and attacks.
– Players must manage limited resources, like flamethrower fuel, to prevent enemy mergers or survive combat, creating tense strategic decisions.
– The game blends survival-horror tropes (e.g., puzzles, notes) with polished gunplay and exploration, showing Bloober Team’s growth from Silent Hill 2 and potential to redefine their reputation.
Bloober Team is proving its horror game expertise with Cronos: The New Dawn, a project that could solidify the studio’s reputation after the success of the Silent Hill 2 remake. While some doubted the Polish developer’s ability to honor such a beloved franchise, their latest original title showcases innovative mechanics and a fresh take on survival horror.
The studio has always been vocal about its passion for horror, and Cronos introduces a unique “merge system” that sets it apart from traditional survival-horror games. Inspired by mechanics like Dead Space‘s strategic dismemberment and Alan Wake‘s light-based combat, Bloober wanted to avoid simple run-and-gun gameplay. Instead, they crafted a mechanic where enemies absorb fallen foes, combining abilities and escalating into nightmarish hybrids.
Set in an alternate-history Poland ravaged by a catastrophic epidemic, the game shifts between timelines, revealing a world overrun by grotesque creatures called “orphans.” These monsters vary in form—some armored, others spewing acidic projectiles—but the real terror comes when they merge. Players must act quickly, burning corpses or eliminating threats before they fuse into unstoppable abominations.
During development, Bloober initially allowed unlimited merging, resulting in towering horrors that couldn’t even fit through doorways. While the final version imposes some restrictions, the system remains a standout feature, forcing players into tense resource management. Do you burn bodies now or save fuel for desperate fights later? These decisions create a relentless, strategic tension.
Beyond its combat innovations, Cronos already feels polished for a game announced less than a year ago. Gunplay is deliberately challenging, with headshots requiring precision even against multi-headed foes. Exploration leans into classic survival-horror staples—locked gates, cryptic puzzles, and eerie safe rooms—while environmental storytelling weaves a complex narrative inspired by Dark’s time-bending mystery.
Though still in development, Cronos: The New Dawn demonstrates Bloober Team’s growth. The studio isn’t just remaking classics—it’s forging its own identity with bold mechanics and atmospheric storytelling. If the final product delivers, this could be the game that shifts perceptions of Bloober from a divisive developer to a true innovator in horror.
(Source: Game Spot)
