Mike Klubnika - s.p.l.i.t
Description: A short psychological horror game, where you attempt to gain root access into an unethical superstructure.
Played on: PC
Link: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3684610/split/
s.p.l.i.t is another entry into Mike Klubnika’s series of short horror games. It builds on the previous games of the series, specifically playing into Tartarus Engine. You play as Alex, a hacker trying to break into KETAS Electronics together with your crew. The game itself plays in a first-person perspective, supporting only keyboard controls.
Graphics
The game features strongly pixelated graphics, with strongly compressed textures. This is in line with the previous games of the series, and fits the overall aesthetic. My only real complaint is that the font used for the monitors is quite hard to read at times, especially given that the game is text-heavy.
Sound
The sound design is quite minimalistic, with a low droning track playing in the background. The background track follows the action quite well, speeding up during more intense moments. For actual sound effects, there are the sounds of typing, as well as the ambient sounds of your own computer. Overall, the sound design is quite effective in creating a tense atmosphere.
Specifically of note is the sound design during the ending, which is unsettling.
Gameplay
The gameplay of s.p.l.i.t consists of reading the IRC chat of your group and ‘hacking’ into the LK912 field kit that you have been given. The game itself is quite short (around 30-40 minutes) and linear, with only one choice to make at the end. The ‘hacking’ itself is done through a terminal with basic commands.
During gameplay, you will sometimes get presented with ‘key thoughts’, which need to be acknowledged by typing them out. The thoughts themselves are presented within the environment.
This feature is quite interesting, as it adds a layer of immersion to the game.
Overall, the gameplay is quite simple and straightforward, but it fits the narrative well.
However The gameplay was easy for me, as I am familiar with terminal commands. Watching a friend play the game, they struggled immensely and it took them quite a long time to proceed. He got stuck multiple times and it distracted from the experience. If you are not familiar with terminal commands, I would recommend looking up a basic guide before playing the game.
Story
Playing directly in the same universe as Tartarus Engine, s.p.l.i.t expands on the lore of the series.
You, along with Sarah and Viktor are attempting to stop the entire system.
The system itself being a massive superstructure that has matrix like prisons, where people are kept in a state of constant suffering, time being endless.
In order to achieve this, you need to gain root access.
Spoilers ahead!
Endings
You and your crew manage to gain root access. However you spring a trace, and a truck gets sent to your location. Even with the root access and the trace being stopped, the truck comes to your location.
Running out of time, you need to take your ‘out’. You have already been ready to take your own life, hinting at this during the start of the game. You want to avoid being captured by any cost. Just before Sarah and Viktor leave, they tell you that you need to cripple your brain, otherwise your brain will just get plugged into the machine.
This is where the endings diverge. Your mind being in despair, you need to quickly type in the key thoughts in order to properly cripple your brain and destroy any evidence to protect your friends.
If you manage to type in the key thoughts correctly, you successfully cripple your brain, and the game ends with the employees finding themselves at a loss. Them being unable to retrieve your brain leaves only one trace left, that being themselves. Facing even the threat of being plugged into the machine, they take their own lives.
If you fail to type in the key thoughts correctly, your brain is not properly crippled. The employees find you hanging, and your brain is captured. It is revealed that the centrifuge went down to 40%.
My thoughts
I honestly think both endings are quite bleak, but fitting for the overall tone of the game.
The graphic of lobotomizing yourself is quite unsettling, and the other choice for being tortured forever in the machine is equally so.\
The employees taking their own live with even the slightest threat of being plugged into the machine is a horrific thought. Especially given the line of dialoug where they mention that they cannot take their helmets off. They have no guns and the way they took their lives is with being crushed by their own truck, using a jack.\
This is a very good addition to the lore of the series and I am looking forward to seeing where the story goes from here.
Overall
s.p.l.i.t is a solid entry into the series, expanding on the lore and providing a tense atmosphere. With a short playtime it is worth the 2.99 Euro price tag.
I would recommend it.