Review Of The fun PS5 Game P1: Anchor Light

Stepping into the hauntingly elegant halls of the lighthouse, P1: Anchor Light offers a stylistic spin on the “anomaly-hunting” horror genre. Developed by Deadbolt Interactive (also referenced as Perp Games) and released on the PS5, the game evokes the aesthetic grandeur of places like the underwater city of BioShock’s Rapture, but it pairs that beauty with unnerving silence and surreal threat.

Visuals & Atmosphere

Right out of the gate, the game impresses with its art-direction. The lighthouse, bathed in Art Deco lines and opulent detailing, draws you in. Reviewers highlight the “luxurious façade hiding a sinister secret,” and the contrast between light and darkness is deliberately stark. The sound design complements this well — ambient whispers, creaks, sudden silences — all reinforce tension.

However, the darkness is a double-edged sword. While it heightens the mood, some players may struggle with visibility: one review notes the absence of an in-game brightness adjustment and that certain rooms are “too dark for its own good.” So if you’re playing late at night with a bright screen, you might want to tweak your TV’s brightness or gamma settings before diving in.

Gameplay & Mechanics

The core loop is simple: you ascend the levels of the lighthouse, inspect rooms for anomalies, then choose the correct door to proceed. Each run brings a mix of subtle distortions (“a shelf out of place”) and overt shifts (rooms inverted) to keep you on your toes. The standout gimmick is the “musical statues” mechanic (think: “Red Light, Green Light” as you move). When the music abruptly stops, you must freeze — and on PS5 you can optionally engage motion/microphone detection via the DualSense controller’s sensors.

This adds an interesting layer of tension and novelty: you’re not just visually scanning for anomalies, you’re physically holding your breath, still and silent. On the flip side, some players find it frustrating when the detection seems over-keen or unfairly punishes minor movement. One review described how, after multiple runs, a tiny twitch — just when the music cut — ended their attempt.

Performance & Technical Aspects

On PS5 the game is locked at 30fps, with no selectable graphics/render mode (such as performance or high-quality). The lack of brightness setting was also mentioned as a drawback. While 30fps might be fine for an atmospheric horror game, some players expect higher framerates on next-gen consoles. The absence of flexibility in display settings is a small blemish.

Final Thoughts

If you enjoy atmospheric horror with stylish visuals and are drawn to gameplay that asks for patience, stillness, and observation — then P1: Anchor Light delivers a uniquely unsettling experience. The setting is evocative, the tension well-crafted, and the “freeze when the tune stops” mechanic gives it a distinct flavor.

However, if you prefer fast-paced action, tightly balanced gameplay, or deep narrative and character development, this might not be your ideal pick. The novelty of the freeze mechanic can also turn into a source of frustration if you’re easily thrown by sensor-triggered failures. And the technical limitations (30fps, fixed brightness, lack of modes) mean this isn’t the most polished or flexible experience on PS5.