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STORY:
Kazuma.EXE is a Audi´s Basics prequel & the 5th Installment of the series set in the surreal and haunting nightmare of Yousef Bassam, the protagonist of SlenderAudi. This game, inspired by the eerie style of Mandela Catalogue and borrowing elements from Sad Satan, crafts an immersive experience filled with dread and mystery. Taking place in 2002, the entire game is set in a monochrome black-and-white world, heightening the eerie atmosphere and creating a sense of claustrophobia and unease.
The story begins with Yousef waking up in a distorted, dreamlike version of his reality, where familiar landmarks and faces twist into menacing, unrecognizable forms. Trapped in this nightmare, Yousef must navigate a maze of memories and suppressed fears, while sinister figures, including Kazuma.EXE, Alternative Laura, Shaikha, and the Shadow Demon, torment and manipulate him at every turn. Each of these characters represents a fragment of Yousef's psyche, with Kazuma.EXE being a haunting and glitching version of someone Yousef once trusted, and Alternative Laura appearing as a warped mirror of past relationships. The Shadow Demon embodies the culmination of Yousef's darkest fears, always watching, always waiting.
Adding to the tension, creepy, dark images sporadically flash across the screen, reminiscent of Sad Satan but designed to be more accessible to a wider audience. These images, while unsettling, serve a narrative purpose, offering cryptic hints about Yousef's trauma and the choices that led him to this moment. The visuals range from distorted faces to eerie environments, all delivered with jarring suddenness to keep players on edge.
Gameplay combines exploration, puzzle-solving, and moments of psychological terror. The environments are a mix of abstract mazes and fragmented, semi-realistic spaces that evoke Yousef's most haunting memories. Players will encounter riddles that force them to piece together the story of Yousef's inner turmoil, while moments of tension build as Kazuma.EXE and other entities appear unexpectedly, taunting Yousef and testing the player’s resolve.
The audio design is equally disturbing, with distorted whispers, sudden loud glitches, and unnerving silence all contributing to the atmosphere. The game frequently breaks the fourth wall, with fake crashes, cryptic messages, and moments where the player’s control seems to falter, creating an overwhelming sense of vulnerability.
Ultimately, Kazuma.EXE challenges players to confront themes of regret, guilt, and the fractured nature of memory. The game's nonlinear structure allows players to uncover different facets of the nightmare at their own pace, though every decision carries consequences, shaping how Yousef’s story unfolds. The question remains: Will Yousef find clarity and escape his nightmare, or will he succumb to the darkness within? This game stands as a chilling exploration of the human psyche, where every shadow holds a secret, and every step takes you deeper into the unknown.
