Destructoid’s Indie Gems – Edition 10: Explore the cursed tape that makes Sadako look friendly

A life brutally taken on-air inevitably led to the cancellation of the infamous show, TELEFORUM. What sits outside of an evidence locker is a mysterious tape that may have had a hand in the tragedy. But how could a VHS tape carry such power? Moving from one hand to another, the curse passes like a chain email, but are you superstitious enough to keep the line moving?

A troubling mix of journalistic curiosity and fulfilling your own selfish desires, you head to the grieving widow, assuming she’s now in possession of said tape. In a classic tale of curiosity killed the cat, you put your life in jeopardy just to get that killer story. You might actually get the scoop you’ve been after—but as the face of the headline. Fill in the blanks, understand why you’re really here, and uncover the mystery of that cursed tape. Was it all planned from the start? Did something draw me here outside of my own curiosity?

There’s something on that tape

This is TELEFORUM, a free-to-play, bite-sized horror game. The Ring meets Videodrome, TELEFORUM hooks you in for its mystery and clever execution of its found-footage subgenre. A point-and-click first-person experience that’s packed full of dread, this title is a surprising gem that I think about often.

Playing as a cameraman working alongside his eager colleague, looking for her next juicy story, we traverse across the line of right and wrong in a desperate attempt to make it big. We’re interviewing the grieving widow, who only recently lost her husband. But we really want to see what’s on that curious tape. Has it only been in the hands of those who have taken their own lives? Could its contents have something to do with it? How could something so wicked and evil be captured and immortalized through a VHS tape?

There’s something cosmic about it, borderline biblical. It’s as if there’s something living and breathing, consuming the eyes of those who sought it out. The itch that demands to be scratched by your curiosity is so tormenting that you have to satiate it. So you say the real reason you’re here and hesitantly press play.

Don’t let it consume you

Everything about this title is unnerving and uncomfortable. From the liminal space corridors of the seemingly empty apartment building, to the ominous lighting that casts shadows against the widow’s face, almost granting her anonymity. There’s the sinking feeling that you may have walked into a trap. But you don’t know if it’s because of her or that build-up over asking about that tape. Every moment in TELEFORUM felt like something was wrong. The widow’s behavior, her words not matching our account of events, the perpetual feeling of a presence in the room. It’s as if the apartment walls are whispering the truth written in the static. “Get out,” and “don’t watch the tape,” it says, yet you don’t have a choice.

There’s a lot of subtlety in its horror, and it’s one you have to pay close attention to. Forced to replay the game again, you wonder if something’s broken or if this is how the game’s intended. TELEFORUM seems the same on the surface, yet there are small differences that confirm your fears—you’re not playing the game from the beginning. It’s easy to feel as though you and the contents on the tape are linked, like every second recorded on your camcorder is only strengthening—feeding whatever evil hides inside.

You won’t ever forget it

TELEFORUM is mysterious and eerie. It captures your attention with its still camera work, each shot lasting ever so slightly too long. It’s suffocating and claustrophobic as you cannot make much sense of what’s around you. This horror often dips into the uncanny valley, perfectly accompanying the liminal space design of the environment, raising the question whether what you’re experiencing is the game’s reality. It’s as if you’ve no-clipped into the backrooms, yet you don’t know when it happened.

TELEFORUM pulls you in much like Videodrome does; it’s addictive and makes you feel wrong for wanting to see more. An impressive title that succeeds in creating a tense atmosphere and keeping its mystery alive in the shadows, taking a peek at TELEFORUM might leave you wanting more from future indie horror games. It certainly had that effect on me.

TELEFORUM is available for free on Steam. Will you press play?

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