SOMA

SOMA is that kind of game which will stick with you for the rest of your life. Why do I say that ? Let me tell you why : SOMA is an ambitious, cerebral and well crafted sci-fi horror-adventure with a story that buries a secret underwater, beneath the ocean. The first few minutes may seem kinda "hmm, I wonder where is all of this going ?" but after the SCAN (gonna use just that so I won't spoil anything), the fun begins. The game itself is complex and dark. The detailed world, the marvelous background design (visually it's amazing), the tension and oppressive atmosphere alongside the pulsating music, creepy and solid sound effects makes you stay on the edge of your seat during the whole playthrough. I was on alert mode the entire game especially during the encounters with certain enemies. The voice acting is top tier, chapeau bas to the actors behind the characters. The interaction between Simon and Cath felt so real. Also on a side note, as a gamer who likes to explore the lore of a game, I loved listening to all the recordings from all locations. The story is fantastic. The people behind the game used a very smart way of developing the story. Developing the story around the idea of consciousness and the brain is something else. A master stroke if you ask me. I will finish this review by saying only this : SOMA is not just a game. It's not just about the horror genre... it's beyond that. It's about the importance of consciousness and essence of humanity.

SOMA isn't just one of the best horror games ever made, it's one of the best pieces of horror fiction I've come across in any medium. Distilled soul crushing existential dread.

I bought SOMA long time ago because of the many reviews praising its story, I love story rich games but I coudn't even bring myself to start it; that was until recently. Here's what you need to know: I'm very suscettible and easily scared, thus I don't play horror games, but this game's story and intrigues were so good I forced myself to get past the horror parts just to experience the story to the fullest. If this cannot convince you to buy it I don't know what could do it.

Like the other Frictional's games before this one, SOMA exceed with a fantastic and complex lovecraftian sci fi story, detail characters and incredible world building. You will make a lot of questions playing this game and like a really good book, it will be answer! You won't regret this purchase, it worth every cent :D

SOMA is a horror game with a sci-fi theme. Let me start the review saying that, compared to Amnesia: The Dark Descent, SOMA is a much more narrative experience, in detriment of the horror. Sure, the game has its share of tense moments, but if you are looking for survival horror this isn't it. In a way, the gameplay of SOMA is a refiment of A Machine for Pigs, creating something genuinely interesting instead of mediocre. You take the role of Simon, a man that goes in for a brain scan in sunny Toronto and awakens in a Geiger hellworld after it. How did you get here? Why? The only way to find out is pressing on, as you explore this bizarre new world. The strong point of SOMA, in my opinion, is its atmosphere. Frictional shows once again they are masters of it. The sci-fi feels believable, and the world, albeit in complete shambles, feels lived in. Hell, you meet very few NPCs throughout, yet at the end you feel like you know at least a bit of these characters that populate or have populated the world. You also meet enemies. In Amnesia, you felt constantly hunted. Here, the enemies are puzzles themselves, obstacles to overcome. They are varied, and they are definitely creepy, but their nature makes them less scary this time around. You can choose to play in "Safe" mode if you like, rendering them completely harmless, but I advise against this, as that would eliminate the claustrophobic atmosphere the devs have achieved here. Another interesting point is that, while there is only one ending, you have multiple (and difficult) choices to make during the game. This choices only serve the purpose of making you reflect on the question: What does it mean to be human? This is not some heavy philosophy text, but it will definitely leave you thinking. And if a piece of art leaves you thinking, then it is worth experiencing. In conclusion, while SOMA is more narrative than horror, its masterfully crafted world and interesting story is worth checking out.