The only horror in the game is the existential questions that follow up after finishing the game. This is a masterpiece that takes a walk with you down the rabbit hole. Whoever reads this and did not play the game, seriously, get it now. The only thing you need to know, after you finish it, is that you will stay in a loop for a while and your mind will start grinding important questions. There are a few books that inspired this game, one of them is Blindsight by Peter Watts, definetly check them out.
The music in this game blends perfectly with the overall theme, levels, tension. It's an unsettling journey from top to bottom
I'll start with the bad stuff. It has some technical difficulties with some stuttering hear and there but not like other "famous" releases a few AI bugs and one, probably two audio bugs. At least that is what i encountered in my playthrough. Either wait for a patch or be patient because the journey is really good. For a first experience i started with standard difficulty and no hints and it was a memorable journey Now, the good stuff. I'm just going to say right from the start that, this is the most closest horror game, in my experience, that respects the Lovecraft vibe and mythos since Call of Cthulhu Dark Corners of the Earth. Mister Mikael Hedberg who worked previously on SOMA and Amnesia the Dark Descend has done a terrific job setting a misterious, crazy, unsettling, rich universe using the good stuff from famous cult classic movies, and games such as The thing, Shutter Island, Silent Hill, RE. The exploring part is rewarding, with a lot of trinkets and background story in form of pages with the posibility of listening to them with some good voice acting. Puzzles are fair and not too hard to figure out. Once you get inside Derceto and start exploring it and meet its inhabitants it will feel like something taken from an American Horror Story episode. There are a few jump scares but they don't overuse them. The soundtrackand sound design is just amazing, it blends perfectly with the noir vibe, fighting and tense moments. I took my time slowly exploring the mansion just the absorb the unsettling air that weighed heavy on detective Carnby. The characters are done well and there are some funny moments to lighten up the mood. Combat system Well, here it depends on your preferences. I failed a couple of times and i admit it is a bit cluncky but i think it is ment to feel like that. After a few encoutners and analyzing how the level design was thought, i had no issues and i faced the challenges with a decent amount of difficult.
I've played this game 2 times and preparing to do a next run in a while so it does offer a sort of replayability but not right after you finish the game. The voice of Edward Pierce is the same with Jonathan Reid from Vampyr. It is nice to hear him in a good Lovecraftian story. The game offers a fairly wide approach in character role playing. You do have some branches to choose from to aid you in your investigation and how the story proceeds but they are not explored that much, it does not dive too deep but it is well within the budget and lenght of the game. Maybe in the second title? They seem experimental but well put. The story is interesting, characters play well, sound design is a bit off but you get used to it, the soundtrack has its great moments and the overal tone and atmosphere is quite creepy. Voice acting is mostly well done, there are lots of things to discover (read, collect, investigate), the skill tree does a good job influencing heavy on your play style as you move through the story. The atmosphere the graphics offer through those greenish "sick" tones do a great job with the overal theme. At the end of the day you have a great adventure horror game with more than 5 hours to play if you do not rush things and take your time to dive into the universe.
A retro journey to a dark and gloomy past. A hunting soundtrack, detailed sound design, intricate level design with a lot to explore, hilarious enemies, smart secret locations. Did i mention the soundtrack? It's excellent. I didn't grew up with Quake and Doom like games, and after i saw the reviews for this one, i took a chance and i am having a blast with it. So much fun i bought Quake1,2 and Doom 1,2. This is a testament to a design choice that started all.
Really, do i need to say it? It's a must have. Fun and entertaining music, fast gameplay, a lot of secrets to explore, funny story, funny voice acting, frustrating and funny looking enemies. I hear laughing is the best medicine and in this game you will have a lot of moments to laugh. This game should not be taken to seriously.
Fight for redemption killing all manor of creatures while head banging through the levels. This is Painkiller.
A lot of squad commanding in the jungle. That about wraps it up. I enjoyed this game like i enjoy any common shooter. Nothing special about it but it has it's moments of fun. It has a nice pace, progressing through the levels, trying to detect your enemies in the dense jungle ( apart from the ambushes and you start to run for cover) The AI is a bit dumb and can catch you off guard. The shooting, i really enjoy it even if at times it is a bit fustrating and the pacing is slow. I'll give this one 4 starts because it doesn't deserve all the hate it gets and 3.5 is not an option
If it wasn't for the open world boring formula that plagues the gaming industry, i would've give this one 5 stars. The world is beautiful and aggressive, really cool car upgrades, not much of a memorable story but cool characters and lovely design. 100% pure Mad Max rage with Batman combat vibes.
One of the best Lovecraft inspired game. The pure terror while exploring Brannenburg castle is unmatched. The music and sound design helps with the tone and setting, unraveling a memorable experience. This is a must for Lovecraft fans.
