Another great addition from PS Plus
If you like horror genre video games then The Dark Descent is definitely for you. Currently Free to Playstation Plus Subscribers as part of the Amnesia Collection. This game is unlike any other horror survival game I’ve ever played. You are unsure of what your goal is at the beginning. This is in keeping with the Amnesiac theme. You are unarmed, although you can pick up a bottle or chair in a pinch and hope that helps. Helpful hint here, it won’t! You’re wondering around a dilapidated mansion without any sort of detailed map. You’re even unsure of how much health your character has because it only tells you things like you are currently bruised. The beauty of it is that the less you know, the scarier it is.
A surround sound system masterpiece
The game actually suggests that you should play it while wearing headphones for the greatest affect. When you have a surround sound system like mine though, headphones aren’t necessary. Just the sound effects are enough to freak most people out. The Designers have done an excellent job of setting the mood through sound and lighting. I should say the lack of lighting because like the title implies, The Dark Descent is definitely dark. Thankfully you can light the occasional candle, or carry a lantern around with you to light the way. Of course the brighter things get in the Mansion. The more likely something undescribably horrible might find you, and viciously rip you a new one.
Defeating the Demons
In the event that you come across something menacing, or horrific. Don’t immediately despair. Play it right, and you can still make it out alive.
Option 1- find a dark place like in a closet or under some stairs, curl up into a little ball, and pray that whatever that thing was doesn’t find you.
Option 2- turn away from the freakish thing that you just saw, and run like your life depended on it, cause it does. Keep running until you think you have escaped. Then proceed to use Option 1.
Will you be frightened?
Yes you will. Some people will try to argue with me about this. There’s always that one person who claims to be totally unafraid. What The Dark Descent succeeds in doing to everyone that plays it is make you incredibly nervous. It achieves this in a number of ways. I’m not going to tell you about each way because that would ruin the surprise. What I will tell you is that it makes you doubt your characters sanity. This isn’t a spoiler because one of your characters key stats is Sanity. Of course like your character’s Health it isn’t represented by a quantifiable score. There are times during the game where you may begin to wonder if what you are seeing is real or imagined. That alone can be very disconcerting. Then there’s the constant creaks, footsteps, opening and closing doors, and everything else that doesn’t feel right about the Mansion. As soon as you think you have a feel for how the game operates. That’s when things will suddenly get very different.
The more the merrier
Although you would think that The Dark Descent is probably best played on your own. Like one of my other favourite games Until Dawn, it’s actually a blast to play with a few friends. How each one of you is affected by the gameplay can actually increase the tension in the room. Also the game can be so mentally, and psychologically taxing for some people. That way somebody else can take over playing while they give themselves a rest. I would definitely suggest that any fans of the horror genre download the Amnesia Collection. Even people who don’t normally play horror games, but can appreciate a very well designed exploration game will like it. Also if you have invested in a serious surround sound system like myself. Then you would be doing yourself a disservice if you didn’t own this game.
