REVIEW: ‘Bahnsen Knights’ Is A Pixel Pulp That Twisters (PC)

Bahnsen Knights by LCB Game Studio is the third installment in an anthology that draws visual inspiration from nostalgic 80s home computer graphics and pulp fiction stories. It is a standalone pixel-pulp interactive visual novel where “the horrors are rooted to humanity, not the supernatural” as stated by Shintaro Kanaoya, publishing founder and CEO of Chorus Worldwide. In Bahnsen Knights, Boulder is an undercover agent looking for answers to the disappearance of his friend and colleague Curpra as he was investigating a cult called the Bahnsen Knights.

The world seems to be twisted by tornados, causing destruction, division, and mayhem. It plummets society to a place close to Hell. Actually, it is Hell, according to cult leader Toni, leader of the Bahnsen Knights. As Boulder, players first meet Toni hosting another sermon. He and the Bahnsen Knights are looked upon as saviors who can deliver society from ripping tornados, succeeding where politicians and other forces could not in the reconstruction efforts of the country. Utilizing a fleet of 1983 Ford Sierras, the Bahnsen Knights perform “route exorcisms” in a cross formation to repel any oncoming tornados. As an undercover agent, Boulder is tasked with infiltrating the organized cult and get to the bottom of what happened to Curpra and what motives Toni holds.

In Bahnsen Knights, players move through a narration stylized in saturated pixel shades of retro neons scripted out into episodes. The contrasting color scheme and synthesized audio tracking play up the nostalgia while adding extra flair to its pulp fiction tone. Text tracing along the bottom of the still pixel and animated images hurls players straight into a story setting that feels dystopian, riddled with anxiousness and caution. Much like Boulder, players will immediately share that feeling as he is faced with hostile situations and paranoia. Engage in acts that will gain the trust of others or withdraw to merit further suspicions and dislike.

A tip for players to save their game often is advised at the very start. Bahnsen Knight’s narrative is branching. Some narrative selections can reveal more of the mystery while others result in attempting the episode again. As an interactive visual novel, the title does well maintaining engagement and curiosity by incorporating timely features. A quick-time event can be unexpected, prompting players to select a narrative option that drives the story to a halt or allows them to continue further and thus, possibly branching other paths.

One of the first features the title treats players to is Boulder’s first ride out with the Bahnsen Knights, leading the cross on a “route exorcism.” Players take the wheel and control the whole fleet by selecting “move right” or “move left” to avoid any oncoming collision. Oncoming threats are marked with a blinking skull in the lane it will try to pass through. Intuitively, I wanted to utilize the arrow keys to weave in and out of lanes, but it was easy enough to shift to clicking the text options that it wasn’t an issue. Leading the route exorcism is one of the very few rides on the road that is a fun break away from the text-driven tale that will keep players in their seats a little longer. However, it doesn’t end there.

Danny’s is the gathering place for Bahnsen Knights, accessible periodically through story progression. It is a bar where Boulder and the rest find respite and is home to Toni’s office. At Danny’s, players can continue their investigative pursuits by surveying the area to gather more intel and indulge in more relaxing activities. A game of darts can be played here where Bahnsen Knights have unlimited throws to try and land a Glen’s Eye (a bull’s eye). Additionally, a card game is introduced by the other Bahnsen Knights called Via Crusic Solitare which is seemingly simple.

Bahnsen Knights is a short ride with fun highs brought on by its timely features and mini-games that move the story along and keep players in the driver’s seat. At times, the story is a little muddled, and characters other than Boulder and Toni offer less depth outside of the harshness brought on by the biblical storms tearing through the country. Multiple playthroughs, unlocking more of the story and mystery surrounding the cult and Cupra’s disappearance, create the depth players will seek. It is an engaging narrative that pays homage to its pulp fiction and 80s pixel aesthetics.

Bahnsen Knights launches on PC via Steam December 14, 2023 with console releases for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox on January 18, 2024.