Combining themes of horror and sexuality, Lust from Beyond: Scarlet starts off resembling a more grounded interpretation of the best moments of the Silent Hill series. Unfortunately, it quickly throws all subtlety out the window and turns into just another run-away-from-the-loud-monster indie horror game. The unapologetic depiction of sexual acts is commendably bold, though their execution leaves a lot to be desired. If you’re looking for a horror title that doesn’t shy away from topics few developers dare touch, you can definitely do a lot worse.
The story is too short to say more about it, except that its climax hinges on an absurd coincidence and it ends in an act of obvious stupidity. Scarlet’s real purpose, however, is not to tell a story of its own but to introduce the story of another, larger game. In this sense, I suppose Lust from Beyond: Scarlet succeeds. The erotic-grotesque aesthetic it tries to employ (especially combined with the first-person perspective) repulsed me, while the horror components and mechanics seem workaday at best. All this tells me the main event is probably not for me, but if you’ve read this far, then perhaps it’s for you.
Summary"Lust from Beyond: Scarlet" is a stand-alone, free introduction to the full version of "Lust from Beyond" - a horror game with elements of eroticism and occultism. This is not a demo version - you won't experience any spoilers here.