Project Songbird Review

Project Songbird tells the story of Dakota, a singer-songwriter currently experiencing a writer’s block. At the recommendations of her agent, she decides to leave and isolate herself in a cabin in the remote Appalachian forest with her instruments in hopes of finding inspiration. However, finding such inspiration might pull her into the darkest depths.

Project Songbird is a first person survival/psychological horror game. The game is split into two main worlds; the regular world and a nightmarish, dream-like world. The normal world allows you to find useful items such an axe, flashlight, firearms. Exploring the limited environments will pull Dakota into the alternate universe.

In this nightmare, you’ll be required to tackle a few puzzles in order to progress forward while dodging (or chopping down) giant walking trees. They do pack a punch, but thankfully our unexpected heroine can defend herself. With her axe equipped, she can block attacks and counter attack. Or you can simply shoot the trees with your pistol or rifle (if you have ammo). You can try to stealth your way around them, but it rarely, if ever, works.

Along with ammo, you’ll need to search for batteries for your flashlight, pain pills, metal parts. The latter can be used to upgrade or fix your weapons are various workbenches available throughout the game. You’ll also have a camera to take photos and microphone to capture nature sounds to inspire your songwritting. In between nightmare filled exploration, you can listen to some vinyls in your cabin.

The game looks fine. The overall atmosphere is dark and a bit unsettling. The forest is designed to be both safe and unnerving. The various environments in the nightmare setting are unique and overall well designed, expect one giant grey labyrinth like area in Act 2 which is easy to get lost in. There’s something missing to make it truly nerve-racking. Enemy variety is insanely limited.

The voice over work is enjoyable and performances are on-point with its star studded roster: Valerie Rose Lohman (What Remains of Edith Finch, Wolfenstein: Youngblood), Jonah Scott (Dying Light 2: Stay Human, Beastars), and Aleks Le (Persona 3: Reloaded, Demon Slayer). The soundtrack is filled of folk music. There is a lack of proper scoring during exploration sequences to heighten the tension.

So the first thing that baffles the hell out of me is the mandatory usage of your gun and waste bullet to break locks instead of using your axe. Also, the lack of maps is incredibly annoying. You’d think when arriving in a remote area in the middle nowhere, you’d take notes or draw a small map to easily your way back to the cabin and know where everything is. Also picking up a single bullet at a time is a bit annoying. Also some puzzles have to be solved randomly; during Act 2 if you don’t pay attention or forget what the voice on the walkie talkie on three occasions on three occasions, you’ll have to turn on three tvs on randomly to solve it.

Project Songbird is an enjoyable and worthy addition to the genre. While combat is basic, the atmosphere, exploration, story makes up for it. Each area is unique and brings its own challenge. Puzzles adds a layer of challenge and are entertaining (a few of them will definitely make you tense up). It’s also perfectly paced and the length is just perfect. If you’re looking for a unique experience and a new psychological horror game, I highly recommend Project Songbird.