Studio Trophis Marketing Mix

In 2005, Studio Trophis released The White Chamber, and since it has garnered a loyal fan base. In fact, The White Chamber was the only game on this list I knew of before writing this article--and as such I was cautiously optimistic as it seemed like my kind of game. Studio Trophis sadly disbanded in 2009, with producer and designer Richard Perrin forming Locked Door Puzzle--and went on to develop Kairo and The Journal. In 2014, the studio announced a remastered version of The White Chamber that would feature HD Graphics, redrawn animations, and new areas and puzzles. Sadly, at the time of writing the project seems to be in limbo.

The White Chamber is a horror science fiction point-and-click adventure set aboard a seemingly abandoned space station. The player assumes control over a protagonist suffering from amnesia--she neither knows her name nor where she is. As you explore the station, you uncover clues that allude to something horrible having transpired aboard it. The
White Chamber features some unsettling--at times outright morbid--puzzles heavily reliant on body horror and mental illness. The majority of the puzzles are inventory-based, with The White Chamber requiring the player to source items in the environment and determine where and when to use them. Due to its design, accurately determining this is at times more difficult than it needs to be. The contents of the narrative in conjunction with its visual representations compounds this difficulty. However, issues in recognizing what you may interact with didn't impede my enjoyment of The White Chamber. Over the course of the game, the player learns of the mysterious protagonist's identity and the terrible events that transpired on the station.

The interesting--and disturbing--narrative and visual design are the stars of the show.
The White Chamber features impressive production qualities, with the stellar soundtrack--reminiscent of Akira Yamaoka who Studio Trophis credits by name as a source of inspiration--in particular being of the highest regard. The mostly ambient soundtrack is exceedingly evocative, expertly complimenting The White Chamber's unsettling narrative and disturbing design. To a lesser extent, the visuals also do their part in developing The White Chamber's sinister atmosphere. However, as previously mentioned, at times it can be hard to distinguish what you may interact with--requiring a certain degree of pixel-hunting. The White Chamber's story is disturbing enough on its own, but the vague and disconcerting way Studio Trophis tells it strengthens its impact. By intentionally changing the rules and subverting the game's reality; the player is constantly left questioning what is really happening in The White
Chamber.

The White Chamber isn't for everyone, as both its covert themes and overt content is disturbing featuring some morbidly graphic depictions of abject suffering. However, if you enjoy horror games, you owe it to yourself to experience The White Chamber. It is by no means perfect, but what it does it does exceedingly well.