Posted on: March 9, 2025
UltimateGuru
Verified ownerGames: 98 Reviews: 7
A fine standalone adventure
I’ve just finished 'Stasis' and jumped straight into this one, and yeah, it wasn’t difficult to immediately recognize the signature grim atmosphere, detailed isometric environments, and unsettling body horror from the previous installment. However, 'Cayne' takes a slightly different approach: it’s a standalone side story (sequel or prequel, I’m not even sure) with a new protagonist, a tighter runtime, and a sharper focus on narrative intensity. Instead of John’s desperate search for his family, this time we follow Hadley, a young, expectant lady who wakes up in a mysterious medical facility and quickly realizes she’s the unwilling subject of a grotesque experiment. I have to admit, I find it always extremely uncomfortable watching a pregnant woman suffer in a game, especially if I’m the one controlling her… This was my main issue with 'Amnesia: Rebirth', too, and it’s not any better here. That said, the game’s writing is just as strong as 'Stasis', delivering a disturbing yet compelling mystery full of grotesque biotech and morally bankrupt corporations. Hadley is more vocal and snarky than John, which gives the whole experience a different tone, with less bleak introspection and more defiant survival. As a matter of fact, her jokes quite often undermine some dramatic and/or creepy scenes, so I’m not sure if they were really needed here. You know, horror works on building tension, and humor breaks it. The puzzles are well-designed, though some solutions require a bit of trial and error, just like in the previous chapter. The atmosphere, enhanced by the excellent sound design and eerie visuals, keeps the tension high throughout the short runtime. So yes, this is an interesting standalone experience that expands the universe in new and terrifying ways, I guess it’s worth your time, the story is much easier to follow, too. Just don’t expect too much from it, or a direct continuation of John’s story.
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