 |
| Image Credit: Rewind |
The first thing that struck me as I started playing Amnesia was the ever-present darkness. It's overwhelming, stifling and instills into the player a sense of dread that can only be surpassed by the telltale grunts of a monster shuffling around the corner. Welcome to Brennenburg Castle.
I have always been a sucker for games with a unique gameplay trait, or a rich story. Amnesia has both, which only makes it natural that I would thoroughly enjoy it. Though the game has monsters (or "grunts") that actually have the power to kill you, darkness is the real enemy here. When you're in the dark, you have limited visibility, barely enough to navigate. Stay in the dark too long and you start losing your sanity. You have the ability to light torches and candles wherever they might be present, but each one costs you a tinderbox, which are extremely limited in supply. Terrifying-atmosphere-wise, this is the closest I've seen to simulating a realistic one. Granted, my experience with horror games is limited to a select few, but out of those, this is certainly a standout game.
At its core, this is a tale of redemption - an amnesiac waking up in a castle, with nothing to go on but a note from himself outlining what he's supposed to do. Exploring the vast castle, from the dungeon to the sewer, the player comes across notes, diary entries and equipment that help progress to the next area while slowly uncovering the story behind how you came to be there. However, that doesn't necessarily mean that the ending you get is one in line with this theme - there are 3 possible endings, only one of which is a redemptive one that ends with the feeling of 'I did the right thing' - quite literally.
Having played SOMA before Amnesia, the Frictional touch was apparent here, from the way cutscenes took place to the simple exploration mechanics and the very obvious lack of combat. While that doesn't sit well with all players, who feel more control (and safety) with a gun to shoot down the monsters, not having to worry about boss fights and shooting allowed for greater immersion personally. The comparison I make to SOMA is unfair, mainly because it was released after Amnesia and gave the developers much-needed time, criticism and resources to fine-tune their signature horror experience. What's distinctive here from my experience with SOMA is that I have not had any scares with Amnesia at all, which is surprising coming from the guy who lost a week's sleep over the former.
Highly recommended if you're a fan of horror or - like me - are just looking to enjoy a relaxing story-rich game.
Comments
Post a Comment