Amnesia: The Bunker Review (Dzarmer)
Alien Isolation's younger brother
Frictional games decided to tone down their usual approach to storytelling and decided to focus primarily on gameplay. Adopting elements from Resident Evil series, primarily from ones that are faithful to their survival horror tropes. Meaning inventory management, lack of resources, hostile environment, emphasis on exploration, puzzle solving and returning to places you've already been with new equipment.
You are a French soldier during WW1 here should be a meme about disliking french people stuck in a bunker with an unknown creature that I decided to name Le Scary Baguette, tête à tête. Game takes no time unlocking the entire layout of said bunker for you to explore, meaning that you discover everything at your own pace in whatever order you like. And what's even cooler, all items, codes for lockers, notes and traps are randomized each playthrough.
Firearms are used mostly as a utility tool rather than a thing you constantly fight monster with. In a pinch it will save you, but don't get too cocky since ammunition is VERY SCARCE.
Bunker decided to combine all elements from titles of previous games literally:
· Rebirth because the only way of saving in the game is touching a lamp in your safe house, meaning that if you die, you'd have to replay certain sections of the game all over again, and on hardest difficulty you will be dying, a lot.
· Machine because the key feature of the game is generator running on finite fuel. A lot of people seem to not understand what generator does and assume that turning it on will make monster remain docile, allowing free exploration. What it does is keeping him inside his hidey-holes longer and make him retreat earlier if provoked. The only place you are safe is in your safe house.
· Descent because you will be witnessing the utter paranoia and panic of previous inhabitants of this bunker via notes that are scattered everywhere. Down here it's hell, but you are constantly reminded that if you escape it, surface will greet you with yet another hell.
Maybe staying here is a better option?
Game is not perfect. It has some performance issues, loading screens between major areas, sometimes monster clips through your hiding spot and kills you because you technically entered his hitbox along sometimes having perfect vision in pitch blackness, but not seeing you under a table in a well lit room. However I didn't feel so tense since previously mentioned Alien Isolaiton.
Game is a 9/10 for me. For an average survival horror enjoyer it delivered a very well crafted experience in a rarely seen setting. I hope this title will sell well and Frictional Games will continue making gems.