Wabo Studios describes their new release, The Crimsons, as a mini interactive horror novella and they're not too far off the mark. It's a short and sweet horror themed experience, but outside of a few loud stings it's not going to make you jump out of your skin.

And this is a real shame as the game is truly invested in the experience over the action, with only basic controls to guide your character for most of the game. An analogue stick allows you to move forward, back and turn and when in range of enemies you'll be able to use your 'pyrokinetic' powers to set the monsters on fire with a single button. The lack of freedom in movement becomes especially frustrating when attempting to fight the creatures, then again they're rarely a challenge to deal with and are killed with such frequency as to render them innocuous.

The Crimsons uses a fairly standard approach to its visuals as well, with plenty of empty hallways and 'dark' or fog covered environments to obscure the screen. Despite their overuse, the creatures are still quite freaky, but after dispatching four at a time in one it's hard to remain invested in the suspenseful mood.

The Crimsons is an interesting, simple horror title and while it has its heart in the right place it fails to excite in story or action.