Amnesia: The Dark Descent

Amnesia: The Dark descent is one of the scariest games ever made. While that might be a bold statement, it couldn't be a more apt way to sum up this spook fest, courtesy of the Swedish, independent studio Frictional Games. Amnesia is all about disempowerment; you have no weapons or means to defend yourself, so when trouble arises –which it often does-then all you can do is run away and hide. But the scare factor in Amnesia goes deeper than that. This is a dark, sumptuous looking and desaturated game in which the sound design and flurries of dark colors cast a very grim tone over the tale of revenge, memory and sanity that serves as the game's narrative. So while Amnesia is a rather short game, it's completely impossible to forget and anyone who enjoys a good scare will likely get more than a few kicks out of this first-person adventure game.

The story in Amnesia slowly reels you in -- it takes place in a lovecraftian setting, sometime in the 19th century. You wake up in a dark, dilapidated castle called Brennenburg and you have no recollection of how you got there or what's going on. Here is what you do know: your name is Daniel and for reasons that aren't immediately obvious, you have chosen to give yourself retrograde amnesia. As you start to regain your bearings and explore the castle, you come across notes that are written by your former self. These notes tell stories about a man named Alexander, who is the baron of the castle and you're instructed by yourself to kill him. These notes also speak of another peculiar manner. There is a living nightmare chasing you that's tearing apart reality and out to get you. It cannot be fought, only avoided. As you play the game, you also come across diary entries written by you, so while the baulk of the story involves hunting down Alexander, it also involves trying to piece together your past and find out the reason behind all of this. It's initially very clichéd and most of the time, it is. If you have watched movies like Memento or have dealt with other pieces of fiction that dabbles in amnesia, then you can probably see many of the third act twists coming and the voice acting and dialogue is rather unintentionally amusing.

The setting does lend itself incredibly well to Amnesia's atmosphere and gameplay. The creepy environments and sound cues that surround Brennenburg are ever imposing, as winds blow doors and windows open, disembodied voices can be heard crying out for help and there are times where you could have sworn you saw something in the corner of your eye or heard a footstep coming from behind you. The sound design –save for most of the voice acting-- is simply amazing and the game even recommends in the main menu that you play the game with dim lights and headphones on, something I'll echo wholeheartedly. Another strong element of Amnesia's atmosphere is the darkness. If you stay in unilluminated areas for too long, you'll drain your sanity which forces you to light up candles with tinderboxes or lit up your surroundings with a lantern. Packing heaps of light sources with you is crucial to your survival by it's also a double-edged sword. If a monster is chasing you then hiding in a dark place is the best way to avoid him, because should you ever try to light up the area around you then odds are likely you'll be found. Staring at the monsters or witnessing unsettling events also rapidly drains your sanity, which can be treated by way of completing puzzles and making progress or retreating into a bright, well-lit area. It's a great mechanic that really generates a ton of tension.

Speaking of puzzles, Amnesia has plenty, though they don't require that much thought to complete. Turning valves, operating

complicated devices and using tools to access previously locked areas are par for the course but the overall pacing and structure of the game is extremely well done. You might be in a room looking for clues as to where the tools necessary to repair an elevator is, only to have a monster breaking into the room seemingly out of nowhere, forcing you to immediately hide. Or you might have to jump across boxes floating in the water to avoid a sea monster or use explosives and other contraptions to work your way around impassable areas. The way the puzzle sequences and scares are doled out is terrific and you can never be sure what surprises lies around the next corner or when the game will alternate between being more subdued or all out terrifying with monster encounters and chase sequences. The way the game controls is very unique as you must emulate all of the actions in the game with your mouse. If you want to open a door, you have to grab the door with a click of your left mouse button and then pull your mouse backwards or forwards respectively for opening the door. Or if you need to turn a valve, then you must move your mouse in circles in order to manipulate that action. These maneuvers can be a bit annoying at first, but they add to the suspense and realism in the game. After all, it's a lot more terrifying when opening a door takes more than a press of a button when you're relentlessly being chased by a monster.

Amnesia looks great for an indie-developed game. The lighting and scenery is rife with details and small ambient touches that make the environments leap off the screen and surround you indefinitely. The level design is very good too with plenty of branching paths and nookies and crannies that reward intrepid exploration. There are few muddy textures and unimpressive looking locales that distract a bit, but these are easy to forgive once you've immersed yourself in the game.

While it's a rather short game –clocking in at around six hours-and with little to no replay value, Amnesia: The Dark Descent is still a game that's not to be missed. Here is a game that doesn't rely on cheap tricks or jump-out-of-your-seat moments to carry the experience. Amnesia is all about immersion, about unnerving you as you set out to explore this horrifying and eerie setting that's riddled with all sorts of surprises and intense moments. So if you dare to turn up the volume and shut off the lights, then you'll be rewarded with one of the most engrossing and scariest games in years. There are few experiences in your life that you'll never forget; playing Amnesia: The Dark Descent is one of them.