Amnesia: A Machine For Pigs

Raises quite a lot of questions what made Frictional Games thinking The Chinese Room was going to come up with a competent sequel despite the fact that basically most of the gameplay aspects from The Dark Descent were thrown out of the window. I'd even say the game looks far worse, the developers had seemingly no idea how to use lighting and image effects. Watch a walkthrough on Youtube instead, or maybe a video essay covering the story.

I would love to play this game but it's a stuttery jittery mess for me that crashes on load screens if I dare touch any keys. I'm on a 3090 with a 3700x and everything updated. No issues like this with any of the other Amnesia games or even modern releases on max settings. Disappointing and can't reccomend or be bothered to go out of my way for user fixes.

Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs is a sequel to Amnesia: The Dark Descent, with a similar theme but a different setting, and considerably shorter, around half the first game. It's probably more of a spin-off due to its different setting and timeline, but the gameplay and "forgetting why you're here" theme is very similar. You play as an 19th century industrialist plagued by visions of a sentient, prophetic machine. Honestly, I prefer the old England setting in this game rather than the depressing stone hallways of the first one. I also like how this sequel is more simple and linear compared to the first game, without the requirement to backtrack. Some people may think of this as a downgrade, but personally I prefer it this way. Story is also pretty good, especially the final confrontation with the Machine that stays in my mind for years. My problem with this game is that the lighting is somehow very dark, where you almost cannot see anything without the lantern, which luckily, has unlimited battery. And yes its kinda too short, would be nice if the story is expanded more. But overall, is it better than the first one? I like both equally, each with its own unique strengths and weaknesses. This one is kinda easier and less frustrating though, so if you like Frictional's horror walking sims you should still try it.

Oh my! What a game. If you are a fan of The Dark Descent, or of horror walking simulators, absolutely check this out. It is short enough that it is worth the jaunt. In some ways it sticks the landing... the dialogues in the end really suck you in. Though in most ways, this game is ridiculous. Being a sequal of The Dark Descent the gameplay is wayyy too stripped down. Just sketched out puzzles with nothing to them. The writing is solid, but completely all over the place and redundant. My frustration comes from the fact that if Frictional games had worked with Chinese Room and taken control of this game.. it may have been one of the best horror games to date. Instead we have a floundering oddity.

No really! It made me poo them! :D Yes it is creepy and atmospheric, but the repeated terms "walking simulator" and "linear" don't bode that well, even though I've only just started playing it. So, looks like it's going to be another "merely average" game then. :/