SOMA

SOMA is amazing. It is a perfect blend of mystery, dread, and terror. The mystery comes from a fascinating philosophical narrative that unspoils itself at a patient pace, with tons of hidden details made possible by richly-drawn characters supported by great voice acting. The dread is a product of both the intensely detailed levels and lighting, combined with some of the best sound effects and music I've ever encountered in a game. They absolutely suck you into the experience and never let up until they soak your bones and chill your blood. The terror comes from the monsters. Some have criticized this aspect of the game, leading the developers to produce a safe mode. While I'm all for player freedom, the monsters are an essential part of the experience. They make the dread pay off with real threats, that will either brutally maime you or outright kill you. The monsters work brilliantly through two dimensions. The first is that each monster is quite different in how it interacts with the environment and you, so that strategies which worked on a previous monster are doomed on the next. It forces the player to constantly adapt. The second is that monster encounters are magnified with fantastic visual effects, player heartbeat and breathing, and dramatic music. They work perfectly together to make the encounters visceral to the player, so that you feel the monster proximity and the degree of the threat. Freaked me out so many times throughout this game, to the point of holding my breath and sweating profusely. The world they have created is so much fun to explore, and I especially loved the aesthetics of walking on the ocean floor. They design the maps just right to have sufficient linearity to tell the story, but the illusion of openness to help you feel lost and terrorized. I can't recommend this game enough. Great story, terrifying gameplay, gorgeous world, and a very satisfying double ending (stay for the credits!).

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.