My new greatest fear is encountering the two-faced monster from this survival horror game that combines retro pixel art with FMV

Previously, FMV (full-motion video) was considered outdated and unsuitable for

modern games. However, over the last decade, FMV has experienced something of a resurgence, thanks to games like Her Story and Alan Wake. If you're unfamiliar with the term, FMV stands for full-motion video, which means live-action video sequences used in video games. And, as it turns out, it can be extremely frightening.

Even in today's era of FMV appreciation, the upcoming survival horror game called Tenebris Somnia uses it in an unusual way. You take on the role of a woman exploring a nightmarish-infested house and navigate a world done in the style of retro-pixel adventures, reminiscent of a game like Day of the Tentacle. Its vibrant and somewhat cartoony style doesn't create an overly scary atmosphere—until the game switches to FMV sequences for a closer look at horrifying moments or the introduction of a menacingly deformed monster.

Although the game's trailer and current demo feature only a few brief FMV scenes, they are already impressive. These live-action sequences wouldn't look out of place in a big-budget horror movie, and the special effects, especially the monster, are creative and genuinely unsettling.

When the game returns to the pixelated world, your imagination fills in the gaps. The pixelated version of the monster appears less intimidating out of context, but after witnessing its "real" form, your mind almost perceives it as such. The transition isn't always seamless—the pixel art world could be darker and sharper for better integration with the live-action scenes. However, the slight jarring effect of the transition can disorient you, serving as a great tension-building tool throughout the game. You cling to the less immediately threatening reality, fearing the activation of the creepy FMV scenes.

While Tenebris Somnia doesn't have an official release date yet, you can already try it out by downloading the demo on Steam. Just don't let the monster catch up to you...