Amnesia: The Dark Descent Review

Amnesia: The Dark Descent is an adventure horror game by Frictional games, makers of the Penumbra series.  Now when I say “horror”, I don’t say that lightly.  This game is scary and it only takes one glance at the game to get why.  The combination of mechanics, artwork, and sound the make this game, and how it gives the player its unique scenes of horror.   I myself was never a fan of horror games until after I played its, a new appreciation was established.  Sadly though, not many other horror games out there can even come close to Amnesia’s level.  

Story and Setting

The game takes place in the year 1839 in a German kingdom called Prussia.  You play as Daniel, a young man from London who wakes up in the old Brennenburg Castle.  Daniel, as you may have guessed from the title, has amnesia and you have no idea where you are or what’s going on.  Throughout the game you find

pages from your journal, each page gradually reveals more and more of the story and what is happening.  It is a simple story that, trust me, gets much more deep and sickening as the game progresses.  But that’s not all, Daniel soon discovers that he is being hunted by an unworldly being known as the Shadow.  The Shadow has no concrete physical form but it is every bit as dangerous as the many horrific monsters that roam the castle.   The Shadow is powerful, quick, and is spreading throughout the castle, leaving fleshy growths.   As Daniel moves through the castle and uncovers his past he slowly begins to realize what his purpose for being there is. 

Gameplay and Visuals

For a lower budget game, the visuals are not amazing but they are also not bad.  During certain parts of the game I found that it handled the theme very well.  For example, I could be making my way through the wine cellar and searching the dark dank rooms with cob webs and mold growing on the walls and having some creature searching for me on top of that and all I would be thinking is “How the hell do I get out of here!”  But the visuals are not where this game shines, it’s the gameplay and its mechanics.  Most horror games rely on jump scares to get the players.  Amnesia does not do this, its horror lies in the games atmosphere and its sense of immersion.  There are no weapons in the game, you are only armed with a lantern to light your path and even that can be risky.  No, if you’re in a pickle then you only have two options, run or hide.  But there is a counter to everything.  In Amnesia you have a sanity meter which drops when you stare at enemies or stay in the darkness two long.  If a monster is searching for you and you hide in the dark so that you are not seen, your sanity will drop.  As it drops, your vision starts to become distorted and you hallucinate.  The lower it drops the more distorted your vision becomes and the louder Daniel breaths in panic to the point of alerting the monster.  If you turn your lantern on to give yourself light then you also risk being spotted that way.  This sense of helplessness is the most important factor for this game when it comes to horror.  And like the Penumbra games you will be tasked with collection items and solving verious puzzles along the way.  It is a very good pase changer especially after one of the many events that happen within the game.  When I first played this game I went all out.  I waited until late at night and turned off all the lights and put headphones on.  Bad idea, there were multiple times when my nerves were so wound up that I had to stop playing for a while.  The developers really know what strings to tug at.  This is without a doubt the scariest game I had ever played. 

Soundtrack

The soundtrack to this game is actually one of my favorite parts, the game is filled with very moody and dark pieces that really give you the sense of fear and loneliness you have while playing this all the way up to the fast and scary chase music that make you feel like your screwed if you don’t get that door open.  All of it comes together with the gameplay and atmosphere to create a very fulfilling horror game that knows what makes a person afraid. 

If you are a fan of horror movies and horror games then you would be a fool to pass this up.  This game takes everything that makes a person genuinely scared and throws you right into it.  And the reason I used headphones and turned the lights off is because the game actually prompts you to do so in the menu screen in order for you to get the full experience.  And they weren’t kidding!  This game when played the right way will have your nerves just as high as your heartbeat.  Not recommended for those who have trouble handling that.  But if you’re up for it then you won’t be disappointed, this is a very good game and accomplishes what many others of its genre have failed.