What A Machine for Pigs does better than it's predecessor is immersion and atmosphere. There is nothing in this game that will pull you out of "the zone". The difficulty is perfectly balanced so that progress isn't glaringly simple nor frustratingly unforgiving. The elements of health display, the sanity system, and even the inventory of the first game and all discarded. I feel that, in order for the main focus to be the horrifying story the game tells, removing anything that stands between the user and the in game universe is the best option. Nothing screams "HEY REMEMBER THIS IS JUST A GAME!?" like navigating a menu or interface of some sort. This is a horrific ride through the darkest places of the human condition. Where The Dark Descent made you afraid of the monsters, the scariest thing in A Machine for Pigs is the slow realization of what characters are driven to do. I recommend playing the game as I did: block 6 continuous hours out of your day, throw blankets over the windows, lock the door, turn off your phone, strap on headphones, crank the volume to the max, have plenty of your favorite chemical on hand (caffeine, alcohol, or...what have you), and take your time to fully explore a certain machine, alone and in the dark.
