Uncover the Truth Behind the Supernatural Adventure “Barrow Hill: Curse of the Ancient Circle”

by Louis Bedigian

“All of the puzzles are integrated into the story, with logical solutions and plenty of clues.”

If you were ever fearful of things that go bump in the night. If you won’t go to bed without a child’s nightlight. If you’ve ever been suspicious that there’s a monster under your bed, stay far away from Barrow Hill. Known only as a mysterious burial ground, Barrow Hill holds many dark secrets – things that go way beyond your greatest nightmares. But as you search for the truth and discover what really happened, you’ll have to ask yourself: is all the fear in my head?

“The 'horrors' that lurk along the leafy dark paths and deserted farm buildings are mostly psychological,” said Matt Clark, head of Shadow Tor Studios. He says, for example, that you could be exploring the ancient woodlands of Cornwell, searching for clues, life and a means for escape. Slowly you’ll begin to sense that a legendary evil is around you. “Was that snapping branch sound caused by a large nocturnal beast,” Matt questions, “or something far stranger?” 

In addition to the psychological horrors, Matt tells us that Barrow Hill: Curse of the Ancient Circle is a supernatural adventure that “requires sharp wits, good detective skills and an open mind.”

We know that the game is going to be creepy, but there haven't been too many specific details revealed about the story itself…

Matt Clark: The storyline of Barrow Hill begins as a group of English archaeologists begin to dig deep into the mysterious burial ground, known as Barrow Hill, which disturbs something dangerous, ancient and hungry. A 'barrow' is an archaic earthwork, or mound, in which legendary warriors, kings and warlocks were buried, along with their possessions, riches and, occasionally, servants. These barrows still exist today, and can be found scattered across the countryside. They are mysterious, eerie, locations where few choose to linger.

What does the game do to frighten the player? How will it draw us in to the creepy experience?

MC: Many dangers lurk in the dark forest and the deserted service station, which stands nearby. The guardians of the ancient kingdom have been awoken and will not rest until balance has been restored to their world. These guardians take many forms and should be avoided as best as possible. The hill is a large area of dense countryside, which enables these ancient hunters to hide, stalk and hunt you from the darkness.

Barrow Hill occurs over one night. How is the game set up so that the player feels this is something urgent and intense, but not limited by real-world time constraints?

MC: You will find yourself trapped on the hillside, with no telephone, car or assistance. It is up to you to locate clues, gadgets and tools. As you explore the locations, you will discover that you are experiencing the 'autumn equinox', a powerful night in the pagan calendar. The forces of the ancient world are able to cross over into our time and interfere with the living. As the story unfolds, other characters will come forth, to join you in your mission. You have one night, and one night only, to seek the truth and find the answers you need to avert a catastrophe.  

The game is all about unearthing clues, unraveling a mystery. Tell us about this -- the kinds of things we'll have to do to solve the game's story and reach the end.

MC: There are many puzzles throughout Barrow Hill, which are diverse in type and challenging in nature. From repairing broken machinery to learning the ancient arts of our ancestors, you will find Barrow Hill offers much in the way of brain-straining activities. All the smaller tasks, involved, build to one big master puzzle which will enable the player to solve the mystery or fail horribly. There are many ways to tackle the puzzles, which can be approached in any order.

Do any of the puzzles directly relate to the story? Are clues intertwined?

MC: All of the puzzles are integrated into the story, with logical solutions and plenty of clues. Some puzzles require some research, detective flair and observational skills, while others can be solved through communication with other characters. You are not the first person to encounter the horrors of the hill, but it is up to you to make contact and acquire the information you need.

If this hasn't already been covered in an answer to a previous question, could you describe some of the puzzles for us?

MC: The world of Barrow Hill is a virtual cornucopia of flora and fauna (plants and animals). You will tread in the footsteps of our ancestors as you hunt the natural world for rare herbs, plants and seeds. After gathering these items you will have the opportunity to combine these items to create strange ancient potions and offerings.

Cornwell, the setting in the game, is said to have sorcerers, ancient kings and mythological characters. Can you go into more detail about each of these?

MC: Cornwall, as a county of England, is a most mysterious land, which can boast legends such as Merlin, the beasts of Bodmin Moor, UFOs, pirates, smugglers and King Arthur himself. Barrow Hill was created by Shadow Tor Studios, who are based in the heart of this legendary landscape, which helped inspire and inform the gameplay. While researching the story, the development team encountered many strange, and unexplainable, events which still baffle to this day. For example, while working late at night, the team would often hear strange scraping sounds coming from the darkened world outside. On other occasions, a plaintive medieval song could be heard on the night air, although no-one was visible. The most peculiar event saw the team finding bundles of bracken and branch left by the studio door.  

How do you deal with any of the threats that appear? Is there any kind of defense mechanism or combat involved?

MC: Your foe is far too powerful to engage in combat. You are advised to turn tail and run, as fast as you possibly can. How do you defeat a force which should have no place in our rational, physical world? Your brain is your best defense, with knowledge as power. Keep your eyes peeled, your mind open and your wits about you. It's going to be a long night on the hill, and you'll need all the help you can get.

The graphics are really impressive. How much work goes into rendering each of the backgrounds / environments in the game?

MC: Barrow Hill, as an area of England, is based on a real place. An ancient stone circle, abandoned service station and dark country lane really exist, just down the road from Shadow Tor Studios. This proximity to the real world of ancient Cornwall enabled us to capture the county as accurately as possible. This means the game world we have created is detailed, realistic and as close to Cornwall's mysteries as you are likely to get, without having to hop on a plane and explore the county for yourself.

Let's get into the sound effects, and what it takes to make a game come to life.

MC: Most of the nocturnal sounds you will hear are real sounds recorded in the field. Many a lonely night was spent, Blair Witch Style, in isolated woods with only the tent canvas to protect us from the elements or 'beings' which lured outside in the darkness. We have several hours worth of haunting moans, spooky woodland sounds and creepy night-time noises. To compliment our natural soundtrack, Barrow Hill features a full score of eerie music, which enhances many of the key scenes and important locations. As well as the natural world, the mechanical industria of the service station is brought to life by whirring machinery, rusted metals and creaking doors. We are sure all gamers will find the soundtrack eerie, realistic and unnerving.  

With adventure games putting so much focus on the story, they don't often have side elements that take the experience further. Where does Barrow Hill stand on this area of gameplay? Do you get the whole experience the first time through, or are there other (perhaps side) elements that can be explored after the fact?  

MC: Barrow Hill is a non-linear game, which means you can explore the whole game world without having to embark on tedious key-hunts or complete specific tasks to move on. The world is large and detailed, which means most gamers will miss some areas first time round, or overlook revealing clues. There are also alternate endings to the game, which blur the line between right and wrong. Your actions on the night of the 'Autumn Equinox' will affect the end of the game and the game world you have grown to know. By the end of play, we are hoping gamers know more about the ancient forces which dwell beneath the soil of our world and the life that existed in the time of our ancestors. Whether or not the gamer chooses to save that world is entirely up to them.

Thank you for your time.