West-Side Massacre for Windows

An intriguing horror game with tank controls

West-Side Massacre is a free third-person horror game from developer Mark Aster. Currently, a demo version of the title is available for download and will only cover the prologue—which centers on Andrea. The game will have multiple protagonists and chapters, making for a gripping narrative. 

West-Side Massacre employs tank controls and takes inspiration from Resident Evil games, particularly the door transitions and the health system. However, you can choose to disable the Resident Evil-style door transition by going to “Options.” Although most bugs have been fixed, the player can be clipped when you’re in the attic.

Starts off strong

West-Side Massacre’s prologue begins with a short dialogue between an officer and Mark Williams—who is friends with Andrea—on November 19, 1995, in West Romania. After claiming that he did not know exactly what happened on October 19, 1995, Williams added that Andrea was all alone in the house. Once the player presses the space bar, they will then be taken to Andrea’s bedroom. 

Wanting to listen to music after finishing her painting, Andrea bravely attempts to get the speaker—which belongs to her parents—from the attic. Unfortunately, there’s someone or something in the house. As Andrea, the player must explore the house and find items, such as a flashlight, attic key, and many more, to progress in the game. You can also check your inventory as well as Andrea’s current health status. 

Her health is represented by an electrocardiogram or ECG reading. For example, a green ECG reading with the text “Fine” means Andrea is unharmed and healthy. Since it’s only a demo, the game understandably ends with a cliffhanger. The tank-based controls can get a little used to, especially if you play games with analog controls. On the bright side, you can choose between keyboard, Xbox controller, and PlayStation controller layouts.

An exciting title to put in your radar

With a prologue that pulls you right into the game, West-Side Massacre shows promise in the indie horror game scene. While the demo only features Andrea, players will soon get to play as different protagonists and unravel the whole storyline. Also, the health system and the door transitions are a nod to the Resident Evil games. However, bear in mind that the game has tank controls rather than analog controls.