Amnesia: The Bunker

Frictional Games really know what they're doing when it comes to horror, what with the penumbra series and then Amnesia the dark descent, being one of the best in the genre. They took soma in a different direction being more of a narrative game which i still liked. Machine for pigs was complete garbage and i don't consider it an Amnesia game at all (wasn't even made by the same people and it shows) Rebirth was too much of a walking simulator and was just ok. I'm happy to say that they nailed this one in every way! from the creepy atmosphere to the relentless tension, the survival mechanics are back! and even better due to the multiple approaches and the use of weapons for the first time. The game also has a great story and due to the randomness no two walkthroughs are the same, adding excellent replay value. GET IT

I would like to note, that I don't own the game on PC, and that I'm playing it on PS5. I have yet to finish the game, but from what I've played it is absolutely amazing! I am a diehard Frictional games fan, so of course I would enjoy this game as well. I have almost played all of their games, with the only ones left being Penumbra series. This new release from them really intrigued me, due to it introducing the use of guns and grenades. I have always considered Amnesia: the Dark Descent to be the only great horror game, where you are defensless, so being able to defend yourself in this release is truly something new to the franchise and reminiscent of Frictional's debut game Penumbra Overture. If you are able to, please check out the demo for the game, so that you can understand whether you will like it or not! I will definietly update the review once I finish it.

But then it drags you into the hole. At first I was irritated on how fast everything sped along and the game basically throws you into a black hole to tend for yourself. But the more you play you start to realise that everything you do is on you and the mechanics are simply there to react to your actions in a cluster of hallways where a horrifying predator stalks you. Sound, light and preparedness is the key to make it through the bunker in one piece. And that is the love letter to survival horror that Frictional Games has conjured up here. It really shows how experienced developers within the genre can pull off something so brilliant with an albeit narrow scope in mind. In short: Time to head back into the bunker...

As a fan of the Amnesia series since The Dark Descent, I can say that this is a very good entry into the series in terms of horror and suspense, and the fact that it relies on darkness via a generator and sanity appears to not be in the game, however it does make up for it. The main mechanic that has changed the game is a generator that supplies the lights on in the bunker which relies on fuel. This is timed with a stopwatch you can pull up and check how much time before the generator goes out, and you are left essentially in complete darkness, save for the noisy pull flashlight that you have. Fuel is pretty scarce given the location so you need to move efficiently and quietly. Another aspect of the game is that the main location is a WWI bunker and you now have a gun you can fire to stun the monster or shoot off locks on locked doors, save for the noise it makes and alerting the creature to your location. Note that you cannot kill the creature with the gun and ammo is scarce to begin with. Note that the length of the game is about 6 hours on average to complete, which is slightly surprising given the location for the game and the map shows that there are various areas you need to go to including underground tunnel sections. Overall, I would give this game an 8/10 for both story and the horror atmosphere, which keeps you on your feet the whole way.