In Reveil you play a man named Liam, or Walter–I'm not really sure, and neither is he. Reveil is a first-person walking game that features 5 chapters of confused delusions, puzzles and psychological horror as a tale of conspiracy, tragedy and murder unfolds.
A good-looking game with realistic yet surreal surroundings and dream or drug-like effects awaits you in Reveil. Waking up, you set out to search for your wife Martha and daughter Dorie. You and your missing family all seem to be circus entertainers, and a bizarre and disturbing plot unwinds as you explore and investigate a nightmarish world fiĺled with impossible weirdness.
Like I said, Reveil is a good-looking game but the detailed scenery lacks interactivity, and only a few semi-concealed collectibles add additional interest to the various items and objects that are vital to the story's puzzles. The puzzles vary from painfully simplistic to confusing, but there are some clever moments.
If I was having an "episode" like this I'd probably try and relax and sleep it off, or seek medical help, but the protagonist is driven on by fear that Martha has gone mad and will harm Dorie. I thought this was a bit rich coming from this seemingly drug-addicted man suffering from a lengthy, disturbing hallucination in which nothing is as it seems–and it turns out I was right.
Reveil has a couple of genuinely scary parts, one toughish speed/precision section and a couple of challenging, stealth-based sections, but there's nothing too difficult about this overtly unsettling game.
You probably already know whether you want to play this psychological type of game, but I’d find it difficult to recommend it if you're new to the genre. 5 different endings and 5 or 6 collectibles per chapter will probably keep you playing, and thankfully at least 2 endings are happier than usual in this genre.
The Funhouse Edition includes Black & White camera for atmosphere and developer commentary.
Pixelsplit, Daedalic and PressEngine for the review code