Game Review: Prison Loop

By Al

Players: 1
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, XBox One, XBox Series, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5

It feels like I've played about a dozen anomaly games lately, and that trend continues today. This review will be focusing on Prison Loop, a prison-themed anomaly game that is coming soon to consoles by way of publisher Sometimes You. It'll be dropping on just about every major platform, and we're going to be taking a look at it on the Nintendo Switch. There really isn't a need for further intro, so let's get straight to the review.

I think a bit of explanation is needed for those that aren't familiar with anomaly games. Anomaly games are games where a scene loops repeatedly, and you're tasked with determining if anything has changed within it compared to the base version. These changes are typically referred to as "anomalies", and you have to choose correctly a certain number of times to win. Each loop typically has an entrance and an exit at either end, and you make your choice by going through the one that corresponds with there being an anomaly, or the scene being similar to the base version. Choosing incorrectly resets the loop, and you're sent back to the base version. I'm not sure if 2023's The Exit 8 was the first game to use this gameplay formula, but it was definitely the one that made it popular. Ever since its release, there have been countless games that have emulated its style to various degrees of success. I've personally reviewed a handful of these games in the past month alone, and I like to think of myself as a fan of the genre at this point. It is a very basic style of game, but there is a lot of enjoyment to be had if you're the type who likes "spot the difference" type puzzles. Simplicity doesn't always have to be a bad thing. Now that we have that explanation out of the way, let's talk about Prison Loop in particular.

As the name implies, Prison Loop takes place inside of a prison. There is a single corridor of six cells on both sides, and a staircase that takes to you to or from the current floor. Each of the dozen cells are similar to one another, and there are a total of four inmates spread between them. You technically can't enter any of the cells in the base version, so you'll be doing just about all of your investigation by way of looking into each of them one by one. This alone changes up the gameplay formula quite a bit, as you typically have a more diverse area to deal with in games like this. Prison Loop has more than its share of surprises, but I appreciated its take on the formula. There aren't as many random elements as other games might have, and there's a certain realism to the simple task of checking on a set of cells. Prisons are also dangerous places by their very nature, so the realism also gives the player a bit of uneasiness each time you go through a loop. Anomaly games often go for the "liminal space" vibes for their horror, but you get a more straightforward sense of creepiness here. I also liked the staircase that you're placed into between each of the loops, as it brings also manages to incorporate a hint of those "backroom" vibes too. This is not a horror game by any stretch, but there are elements that are hard to describe outside of playing it for oneself. All of this is cool of course, but it's the anomalies that can make or break a game like this, so let's move on to discuss those next.

Even though you only have a single hallway and a dozen cells to deal with, there are a surprising amount of anomalies that you can encounter on each loop. I don't want to reveal all of them in the hopes of leaving some of the cooler ones for players to discover for themselves, but there were far more than I was expecting to find. They range from small and easy to miss, to ones that will have you running back the way you came. The subtle ones include things like extra items in a cell, the bunks or furniture being slightly off, a light flickering that wasn't before, a cell open that shouldn't be, or other details you're definitely going to overlook your first couple loops through the game. More obvious anomalies include the prisoners holding contraband items, cell doors opening and closing on their own, or even some crazy ones that lead to an instant game over. These latter ones I found the most interesting, as they reminded me the most of the anomalies found in The Exit 8. I'm not sure if other developers aren't fans of such instant-death anomalies, as this is one of the few games that I've seen incorporate several of them. I really don't want to reveal them all, but these can truly give you a jump scare or two when you encounter them. It can be a bit annoying to fall victim to a game-ending anomaly in the 8th or 9th loop, but it's not like these types of games are very long to begin with. I guess that's the only other thing to mention as far as gameplay goes, as you really can't expect anything resembling a resolution when you complete the final loop. Things just sort of stop once you exit the final loop correctly, but this is a game that's more about the journey to the end anyway.

I really don't have a lot to say about the game's presentation, but I found the graphics and sound to be more than adequate as far as the genre is concerned. There is the usual "asset-flip" feel to everything, but the prison setting means that all the in-game items and scenery fit together in a cohesive fashion not often found in other similar titles. I only tend to care about a game using store-bought assets when they feel like they've been randomly slapped together, and that's not the case here at all. Everything looks good for what it is, and some of the effects for the crazier anomalies are downright impressive. Sound is as basic as can be, and you can expect to play much of Prison Loop in silence. This is pretty much par the course for any other game in the genre, but there isn't even a decent footstep sound here, nor any creepy atmospheric noises to set the mood. It's a small failing, but one that I think could've been easily solved in the development process. This could also be something that only I notice, but I feel that it's worth pointing out nonetheless.

All anomaly games have one big flaw to them that's very hard to overlook, and that's their longevity. I was able to fully complete Prison Loop in well under an hour, and I'm sure that most people will have the same experience. You can keep playing of course, and try to discover all of the anomalies, but the game never changes beyond that. There's no extra levels to unlock, and the all the loops are randomized in similar ways to the first one you played. Though this is a big negative that's hard to overlook, the game also comes at a price that reflects its level of content. It's hard to be too upset with the lack of shelf-life or gameplay length when you're only paying $4.99. I guess some might still see that as too high of a price point, but I find it to be more than fair.

While I do have to say that the genre itself might not be a good fit for everyone, I still have to give Prison Loop a solid recommendation. Fans of the genre will find something to enjoy here, and its low price of entry means that one can easily pick it up on a whim. Its setting and anomalies also make it a decent first go for those looking to get into these types of games. It doesn't surpass the greatness that is The Exit 8, but it's a solid take on the genre that it popularized. That's pretty much all I have to say on this one, so I guess I'll see you in the next one!

Check Out Prison Loop on Nintendo Switch:
https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/prison-loop-switch

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Story: N/A
Gameplay: B
Graphics: B
Music/Sound: B-
Value: A

Overall: B

Pros:
+ A great take on the anomaly genre.
+ The prison setting adds a realism to the game that's hard to describe. It also means that all the gameplay elements gel together in a way you don't always see in games like this.
+ There are a surprising amount of anomalies to find. Some of extremely subtle, and some will even end the game if you're not careful.
+ Priced very reasonably at $4.99.

Cons:
- This is a very short game, and there isn't a lot of reason to play it once you've beaten it.
- Even though I appreciate the different take on the gameplay formula, you really are just examining a single row of cells over and over again.
- The sound design is a bit lacking. Better effort could've been put into setting a creepy vibe via sound.

A copy of this game was provided to us free-of-charge by the publisher for the purpose of this review. This did not affect our review in any way.

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