SOMA

The previous games by Frictional are survival horror. This? This is *existentialist* horror. The driving question goes from "can I survive?" to "is surviving even worth it?" The answer is probably: "yes, but who will you be afterwards?" It's the kind of story where if you think about the implications, it hits you hard. It's more Peter Watts than Lovecraft, but that just makes the horror more personal.

Have you ever had an existential crisis? Would you like to? Then do I have the game for you! This is Frictional's best game, it hits hard, has world building and lore abound and will leave you wondering if you made the right decisions, not based on the game punishing you for them, but by using your own guilt.

There is little for me to add that hasn't already been said.. ..nonetheless, I am compelled to share what I feel about this experience. This "game" is where I feel there is a very fine line between a game and an experience. This is more than moving around, overcoming challenges and 'beating' the game. It manages to avoid clichés, genre tropes and to fall into a generic style of gameplay loop. It is part adventure game, part walking simulator, part stealth game... but it never abuses any of these genres. It's like a perfectly balanced visual experience. If you've ever enjoyed classic science-fiction, this is THE video game version of that perfect science-fiction book that questions us. SOMA is the type of experience that leaves you with feelings, emotions, questions and a theme that can have you ponder on its meaning. Unlike many games... actually, unlike almost EVERY game ...this is an experience that also means something and has a message... ...so, what is being alive?

... repeat what many many others already said here or at steam or where else. It's the best horror-survival experience i've ever had. Atmopshere, immersion and "depth" are outstanding. The story itself makes you questioning life and meaning of existence more than once, it deals with some serious statements and questions. I never had this before in a game (and i know of course all the frictional games stuff among other very good horror titles including slender, not even talking about movies like lights out or mama), but this... i just want to play it again, to feel this unique kind of psychic pressure and dread again. No game i know creates this atmo (of course you have to play it in proper environment - not in broad daylight on a 15 inch screen and mini speakers while your wife nags at you to go shopping *g*). If one is only the slightest bit into this kind of genre, this is a must. Amnesia was great, and so were Machine for Pigs an Penumbra, but for me this i a masterpeace and the best computergame experience i have ever had.

It's hard for a game to come off as an intellectual pursuit. It either falls in the category of "Why did you even try?" (See: Bioshock: Infinite) and "Look at us. We are very smart." (See: Everyone Has Gone To The Rapture). Soma is something else, giving you as the player lots to think about without beating you to death with it. Every decision is there for a reason, and every beat of the story perfectly in sync with the overall narrative. That narrative not necessarily being what happens to the protagonist, Simon, but a question that hangs over everything: "What does it mean to be you?" Are you the collection of your thoughts, memories and personality? If these things were copied into another, would they be you? A different you? Is the original you more you than the copy? Question upon question upon question is explored as you make your way through the underwater research facility, PATHOS-II. All of this cerebral work is wrapped in a dark, dilapidated remnent of a destroyed world at the bottom of the ocean. As you sneak by enemies and solve puzzles you are constantly making decisions based on those questions and are forced to move forward with the consequences. All of this culminates in a final ending that is both surprising and glaringly obvious. If you want a sci-fi survival horror game with a solid philosophical core, then this is the game for you. Keep in mind that this game will leave you wanting more, but there's absolutely no other like it.