Take a deep breath.
Threshold is an atmospheric light horror title by Julien Eveille. While his name may not be recognizable, he’s been a developer at Arkane, working on Deathloop, Dishonored, and even the eventual release in Marvel's Blade. However, why those are big AAA games, Threshold is as indie as it gets. It didn't quite grab me as much as Critical Reflex’s previous release in Mouthwashing, but I did find a little enjoyment with my brief employment at the Border Post.
You'll start your career by choosing a name and then what country you hail from. While it is unclear as to what this means, it will alter the difficulty of your short-term employment. You'll choose your name from a series of two characters and then meet Mo, who is your co-worker and a fountain of knowledge as he pulls some overtime to get you trained. And as oxygen is scarce, he will relay this precious info to you by writing little notes to you. Does he intentionally almost get you killed on your first day? Well, only Mo knows.
At first, you are simply tasked with ensuring the train that runs through little encampment continues to run at the company-mandated speed. Above the train are light indicators as to its speed; green is good, and red is bad. Sirens will alert when the train slows down, so you'll need to use a whistle and blow into the megaphone that is placed atop of the small podium facing the train. Blow it too much and the train speeds up, blow it too little and the train doesn't hit the speed you need.
As mentioned, air is scarce, and using the whistle, or even running for that matter, will cause you to start to gasp for air. You'll solve this by biting into a small glass canister and replenishing your supply. You'll be given your first one, but you'll need to use a ticket to earn another. Now, you might be thinking, wait, did he say a ‘glass canister’? And yes, I did. This causes your mouth to bleed and there is small little icon in the HUD that shows how bloody your mouth is.
While it is easy enough to get tickets, and then take them to the dispenser, you have to manage that among your other tasks. First, tickets can be earned by going to the ticket dispenser, then to the canister dispenser inside one of the buildings nearby. You can also collect what is called “White Matter” that builds up on a nearby grate. You'll take that to the recycler and earn a ticket. This White Matter is collected with a bucket which has a few other uses to earn yourself a ticket as well.
Again, this all sounds easy, but you'll often find yourself gasping for air while the train is slowing down, cutting off the use of each machine until it's fixed. The first time you pass out, Mo will be there. Was he trying to kill you? Only Mo knows. What happens when you pass out again? Well, it's game over but there is more to the story.
As you explore during your shift, you'll find a grave or that the backside of a mysterious building has a few planks missing. You'll soon be tasked with fixing it, but the grave nearby is something Mo doesn't want to talk about. However, as you begin to dig into just what he could be hiding, the secrets start to unravel a bit further. Part of what makes Threshold so interesting is that while it is unclear about what to do at times, you can freely explore this little area and often discover little oddities that don’t quite sit right. And, should you have questions, you can refer to your boss or rely on Mo, who has plenty of answers; maybe too many…
This is on top of the mystery inside the building you've applied planks to, one that is initially locked. Once inside, you'll be given the chance to ask questions, and additional content can be found throughout your day as you pay attention to your surroundings and take in a few key points of interest. I think one of the most bizarre, but also hilarious, was finding a small little friend that I could talk to and rename, just don't engage with your friend while Mo is around. Why is Mo staring at me?
Your time as a member of the Border Post does eventually end, but how that comes about is up to you. There are multiple endings that are wildly different. While Death is one of them, due to suffocation, the other three endings are pretty interesting, including one that I personally would do if I ever ended up employed there.
Threshold is interesting, but didn't captivate me in the ways that Mouthwashing did. It has an eerie charm to it, and the PSOne/Nintendo 64 visuals do a lot to give this a nice unique look among the tons of sprite-based indie games. It may be a short shift, but you'll always remember your brief stint as a member of the Border Post, just don't tell Mo.
Developer - Julien Eveillé.
Publisher - CRITICAL REFLEX. Released - November 19th, 2024. Available On - PC. Rated - (N/A) - No descriptors. Platform Reviewed - Steam. Review Access - A review code was provided by the publisher for the purpose of this review.
Jeff is the original founder of Analog Stick Gaming. His favorite games include The Witcher III, the Mass Effect Trilogy, Hi-Fi Rush, Stellar Blade, Hellbade: Senua’s Sacrifice, and the Legend of Heroes series, especially Trails of Cold Steel III & IV.