Corpse Party – Review

Our Score: 8/10

Corpse Party (2021) is a remastered release of the classic indie horror that was first released in 1996. Following that it got a release on the PSP which was considered the definitive edition of the game. That was until now. Corpse Party (2021) not only brings that experience to modern consoles but expands on it.

Suffice to say, this classic title still holds up in 2021. With a bit of polish here and there and a few great new additions, this game feels like a solid remaster. Do keep in mind though that it still retains its original gameplay and aesthetic which is good. Because that’s what made this game a favorite in the first place.

What is Corpse Party

“A friendship ritual gone awry transports high school student Ayumi Shinozaki and her friends to an alternate reality version of a tragedy-stricken institution that stood on the site of their own school long ago. As the vengeful spirits of elementary school students threaten their lives and their sanity, their only hope of survival–much less escape–is to uncover the chilling details surrounding the murders of those trapped before them.”

Corpse Party (2021) features five main story chapters with multiple, often gory endings and fourteen “Extra Chapters” that expand on the series’ lore, as well as a brand new extra chapter starring original characters Miku Shirayume, a high school-aged streamer looking to expand her audience by delving into urban legends, and her gentle but loyal friend, Ryoka Iwami. In addition to the art stills, music, and sprites fans love, this version’s “Extra Chapters” are also now fully voiced in Japanese. Experience a tale of horror and madness spanning generations and discover who will live to see another day.

And when they talk about gory endings, they aren’t joking. This game gets quite dark and is not for the faint-hearted or weak-stomached. While the game is primarily known for its main story, the addition of extra content is a bonus. Being able to go back and play one of your favorite classic games with additional stories is always amazing.

Look and Feel

In terms of visuals, the game still retains its 16-bit art style. While the game does have widescreen support, it’s not proper widescreen. The main game is in the center and instead of black bars to the sides, you have borders. Character art does make use of this space during conversations so that’s neat.

And the character art is updated and upscaled. Furthermore, they retain the original style of the PSP renders. The UI and all the text are also cleaned up and upscaled to better suit modern resolutions. It looks clean and readability was never an issue.

Another good addition here is fully voiced Japanese audio. That on top of the 3D recording techniques they’ve used really adds to the atmosphere of the game. I didn’t expect to be spooked in a 16-bit game but thanks to the combination of the creepy visuals and the audio, I stand corrected.

Final Verdict

Corpse Party (2021) is a fantastic remaster of the cult classic title that is perfect for both newcomers and fans of the original. It still holds up quite well in 2021 and if you’re looking for a good scare in an unconventional way, look no further.