SOMA

SOMA is a first-person horror game that takes place in an underwater research facility called PATHOS-II. The game follows Simon, a man who wakes up in this strange and hostile environment with no memory of who he is or why he is there. As he explores the facility, he encounters various machines that have human personalities, some friendly and some hostile. He also learns about the secrets of PATHOS-II and the fate of humanity. SOMA is a game that focuses more on atmosphere and story than on gameplay. The game is not very challenging, as the puzzles are mostly simple and the enemies can be avoided or outrun. The game also does not have any combat or weapons, so the only way to survive is to hide or run. The game is more about creating a sense of dread and tension, as well as exploring the themes of identity, consciousness, and the human-machine relationship. The game’s strongest point is its story, which is well-written and engaging. The game raises some interesting philosophical questions about what it means to be human, and what happens when a human mind is transferred to a machine. The game also has some surprising twists and turns, and a memorable ending that will make you think. The game’s voice acting is not very good, however, and some of the characters sound unconvincing or bland. The game’s graphics and sound are also impressive, as they create a realistic and immersive underwater world. The game’s visuals are detailed and atmospheric, and the game’s sound design is excellent, as it uses ambient noises and music to create a sense of mood and tension. SOMA is not very scary or challenging. It is more of a psychological horror game that explores some deep and dark themes. It is a game that will make you think and feel, and that will stay with you long after you finish it. If you are looking for a game that has a great story and atmosphere, and that will challenge your mind and morals, then SOMA is a game that you should try.

This is the first horror walking simulator that I've actually completed, so that in itself is something. There are others that I'm sure are great that I've not gotten around to playing. SOMA's strengths are in its atmosphere and setting. I found myself much more tied to the exploration angle than the horror elements or pseudo-psychological 'exploration' of the meaning of existence. The latter left few surprises by the end (and many yawns) and the former just became a chore that marred otherwise interesting gameplay. The visuals, sounds and general atmosphere were, however, quite stunning. I was worried this would be just another Bioshock knockoff in terms of setting, but I was incorrect. The graphics and ambient sounds really led to an interesting experience. Unfortunately, the elements mentioned above kept this game from retaining any lasting impression on me, which leaves it in an above-average category, but not a must-have.

This horror game is not like your average horror games full of gore, mutilation and jumpscares. It's more about thinking about your own humanity, your own consciousness, thoughts. If you liked stories like "I have no mouth and I must scream" then this game is for you. What is the boundary between human and a robot? Where lies the consciousness, what makes me different from other living things? Depressive environments add to the "end of the world" feelings. You are trapped underwater never able to look on the surface again. There is not many battles and not many enemies throughout this game. Still, one of the most terrifying games I've ever played. Feelings of unease crept into my mind and stayed there for weeks even after completing it, which never happened with other horror games. That happened because I think, that this is not entirely impossible and something like the main theme (transfer of mind) can happen in the future, if our technology keeps evolving the way it is now. Some scenes trigger goosebumps when I think about them even now (Calm down Mr. Wan). Well spent 30€.

Ok, so I haven't played the Penumbra series, but have played Amnesia, as well as Machine for Pigs, and did enjoy them both. This one is SO MUCH BETTER! My big problem with both A & MFP was that I never quite knew what to do. This game solves this most of the time, and when you feel lost, it only adds to the terror. The setting & graphics are fantastic, the "hide from bad guy moments" are memorable and feel central to the story, and speaking of, the story is amazing. Asks many fundamental human questions for a modern world. All in all, my favorite Frictional game so far. Scary, intriguing, funny at times, and with the best setting so far.

Great piece of sci fi in Philip K Dick's vein. Plenty of good things to say, but i just want to mention that I think that this game makes a few very interesting statements about some classical gameplay mechanics like the combat (only once in the whole game, but a truly disturbing moment, not to spoil anything) or the "meaningful choices" (typically games are making such choices interesting by making them lead to different outcomes of the story and, thus, creating alternative scenarios - here, certain choices that the player has to make are meaningful and are emotionally involving "in themselves", because of the quality and the depth (no pun intended) of the story they are part of, even if they have no impact on the outcome of the story itself).