Review

Autopsy Simulator offers an exciting story, but boring gameplay

16/6/2024

Translation: Patrik Stainbrook

Autopsy Simulator lets you fulfil your forensic fantasies. Contrary to its name, however, this isn’t a classic simulator. The game is more of an interactive thriller with simulator elements.

Burnt, mutilated or waterlogged corpses – the sights in Autopsy Simulator aren’t for the faint-hearted. On top of that, you also have to examine the lifeless bodies to find out what they died of. However, as is so often the case, the real horror isn’t what you see, but what lies hidden beyond – in the human psyche.

The corpses aren’t exactly breathtaking. You can choose to censor genitals or not.
Source: Team17

Autopsy Simulator is only barely a simulator. During the game, which lasts around four hours, you always complete similar tasks. At least you’re rewarded for the repetitive gameplay with an exciting, well-written story.

The gist of it

You play forensic scientist Jack Hanman. In the game, you go about your overnight job: examining corpses. During the autopsies, you both uncover how the corpses died as well as player character Jack’s traumatic past. Just like in real life, you try to balance your job and your private life. From the very first body you examine, it’s clear Jack isn’t in his right mind and that not everything is as it seems. I don’t want to reveal any more about the story. It’s what made me want to play the game right through to the credits – even if they show up a little abruptly.

While you autopsy the bodies, you also learn more about Jack and his past.
Source: Team17

Interactive novel instead of simulator

According to the description, Autopsy Simulator is a hybrid of horror and simulator. I’d disagree with both. The game feels too much like a tutorial for a simulator. There are simulator-like elements, such as removing a stomach, carrying it to the dissection area, cutting it apart. But I always do this on Jack’s instructions. I never make my own decisions. Horror is also the wrong term for me. Due to the absence of any supernatural element, I’d more put the game in the psychological thriller category.

It still looks like a simulator here: tool selection for an autopsy.
Source: Team17

The gameplay is repetitive and unnecessarily cumbersome. In order to cut apart a stomach, for example, I have to move the cursor within a zigzag frame. If I cut outside the specified limits, nothing happens. Similar gameplay mechanics are used again and again. To draw up a pipette, for example, I have to set the correct dose by clicking the mouse, then hold down the left mouse button, pull the mouse down and release the button at the right moment. If I miss this, nothing happens again, just like snipping. I just have to try again. This makes sense so that I can progress in the story, but it lacks the logic of a simulator. I want consequences for my failure – or at least gameplay that grabs me more than annoys me.

In order to carry out the various tasks of a forensic doctor, I constantly have to put up with some annoying gameplay mechanics.
Source: Team17

As if that wasn’t enough, the game also has a few bugs. I can leave certain views with a right mouse click. However, this doesn’t always work straight away and I often have to click several times before I can finally continue.

The gameplay elements also take me out of the genuinely exciting atmosphere too much. Moments of shock haunting Jack’s unstable psyche are thus relegated to a side note. Yet it’s precisely these passages that would burn themselves into my memory. The narrative pace also suffers from the poor gameplay, as the story is constantly interrupted. Overall, I’d describe the game more as an interactive novel than a simulator.

This is set to change with Autopsy Only Mode, currently in development. In it, you’ll be able to perform graded autopsies.

The story and presentation are the highlights

In contrast to gameplay and the atmosphere, I’m completely convinced by the well-told story. Jack Hanman is very well written. Instead of directly telling me why he’s in such a bad mood, I find out through the responses he gives to his trauma. Jack needs his job to escape from his feelings, all without the game telling me. This is also reflected in the state of his apartment, which looks desolate. In any case, the environment in which his life takes place is credibly portrayed. It also reinforces his feelings visually. Graphically, Autopsy Simulator isn’t a feast for the eyes by today’s standards, but the presentation more than fulfils its purpose.

Graphically, Autopsy Simulator isn’t mind-blowing, but the environment still fits the story perfectly.
Source: Team17

The sound design is also very good. There’s no music, the hum of the fluorescent lights, a crackling in the corridor or the sound of dissecting fit the sterile environment of a forensic office as I imagine it.

In a nutshell

Gaming for the story, not the gameplay

Autopsy Simulator offers an exciting, entertaining plot. You should have no problem performing virtual autopsies on corpses. Don’t expect too much from the gameplay. For the most part, the game plays like a tutorial – a far cry from a simulator.

I can’t really rave about Autopsy Simulator due to the weak gameplay. Perhaps this’ll change when Autopsy Only Mode is available. If you’re willing to shell out 28 francs/euros for a good story, you can still get it.

Pro

exciting storyline
relatable protagonist
atmospheric sound and game design

Contra

repetitive, faffy gameplay
not a simulator (yet)

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Kevin Hofer

Senior Editor

kevin.hofer@digitecgalaxus.ch

From big data to big brother, Cyborgs to Sci-Fi. All aspects of technology and society fascinate me.

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