izigame.me

I don't know what to say exactly, as I have no memory... I only found a letter stating this...

Today, at almost 30 years old, I finished Amnesia: The Dark Descent for the first time. It all started in 2011, when we gathered our friends to play together, and I heard about this game for the first time. We loved to unite the guys together to play, especially horror games and we had heard that nothing beat this one. We were just teenagers, and we'd played some very scary games, but this one was so surprisingly strong, no one could even bear to watch directly, I was the only one who dares to play alone. With the little courage we had at the time, we only went to the Wine Cellar part, from there we alternated between the menu, desperately quitting the game, opening it again and the cycle repeating itself.
I decided to pick up the game again 12 years later. The reasons were curiosity (if the game is still as terrifying as it was at the time), fascination with the story (even though I know little), and also because of this remarkable experience of mine as a teenager. After finishing the game, 12 years later, I share here the following updated findings with great sincerity and impartiality. First, we start with the GRAPHICS . The game is a little dated, and for that I implemented a remaster made by a fan, which is widely used and known by the community, which gave the game an excellent upgrade compared to the original. Without a doubt, it doesn't compare to today's graphics and mechanics, but nothing that hinders your experience. The game is perfectly playable nowadays, not to mention that the lack of light in the game helps and alleviates a lot in terms of level of details, especially those with greater distance.
Now the second factor, ATMOSPHERE . I don't think any other horror game I've played until this day compares to Amnesia: The Dark Descent. Perhaps Resident Evil (the 1st Remake) and Silent Hill 2 are the closest, but it really involves another complexity. The game is too dark. It has extremely uncomfortable ambient sounds, such as screams of torture, children's cries, creaking wood, footsteps and agonizing moans. Something truly diabolical. Resources, especially oil, are scarce in the game, and must be used in moderation, which induces the player to perform actions with a certain anxiety and accelerated pace, making you “throw yourself” into the unknown and macabre environments of the scenario without know what awaits you. Finally, something that doesn't get talked about much and deserves real applause and recognition. The soundtrack... the game's soundtrack/sound effects are simply FANTASTIC. They fit perfectly with each segment of the game. Moments of hope, terrifying moments, characters, environment, chase, complete mastery.
Third factor, atmosphere. I don't think any oth... oops... I just remembered, that was already written... now is the part where we will deal with the ENEMIES of the game. The monsters.... ahhhh the monsters... how to define them? They are horrible, grotesque, with bizarre movements and soul-shuddering sounds. Add this to the darkness and the environment around you and the impact is powerful. To this day, I believe that no other creature has ever given me such chills. Furthermore, they do not appear so frequently, a factor that means that the quality of construction of moments is prioritized, causing greater apprehension and anxiety. This entire set makes each encounter desperate, unpredictable and remarkable. As you progress through the game, you will better understand how the mechanics and stealth through monsters work, reducing the tension level a little and increasing your confidence and courage.
Fourth and penultimate factor, ENVIRONMENT/SETTING . Here, in my opinion, is where the game's creators rocks. The game takes place in 1839, in Brennenburg Castle, Prussia. This era has a lot of historical inspiration from the Middle Ages and the Enlightenment. The level of creativity and intelligence to set a horror game in an ancient era with historical involvement is brilliant! An extremely rich idea, opening up a river of possibilities and elements that were masterfully introduced into the game. A dark and gigantic castle, lamps, candles, books, potions, tonics, paintings, chains, barrels, everything perfectly placed. Imagine a time when science was moving in short steps... everything was uncertain, mysterious. Science or Witchcraft? Alchemy or Magic? All concepts were hypothetical, undefined. All this air of mysticism can be defined as a touch of elegance introduced to the game. All historical elements and settings are the foundation, the soul of the game that encapsulates all the previously mentioned terror and atmosphere.
Finally, STORY/CHARACTERS . I can't believe I've come this far..., but I must continue with courage and determination to finish my review. The game takes place only in the castle, but the story begins long ago before the game. Thanks to the amnesia, the game captivates us to look for all the pieces of the puzzle with determination and enthusiasm. Why we woke up like this, why we have to kill the castle baron, why horrible things happened, and so on. As you progress through the game, things start to become clearer and all your questions are gradually answered. The fact that we continue even when we shouldn't, directly concerns the mold and personality of the character Daniel, who you controls.
Daniel is a fantastic character, who needs to go on a true hero's journey. Loaded with guilt and remorse, but with convictions and steely courage to determinedly achieve redemption and the incessant search for good at all costs. Antagonist or Protagonist? Villain or Hero? I don't remember anymore... it's up to you... just like... Alexander, the game's other notable character. Alexander is the stereotypical powerful and wise man. As Daniel himself mentions: ‘’A Renaissance man, like Da Vinci’’. Alexander is the man who sets out to help Daniel with his curse, offering his knowledge and technological advances in exchange for his service. But why then should we kill him? Should we kill the only man who offered us help? You will have to unravel these questions on your own... So I wish you good luck on your journey to discover the truth.

FINAL VERDICT
What to say about Amnesia The Dark Descent then? A good, short and simple horror game? No! A LEGENDARY horror game! responsible for catapulting the careers of many famous YouTubers in the past, and who should pay their respects. A game with a thrilling story, captivating characters, iconic enemies, remarkable moments of terror and emotion, and everything can be proven by the testimony above. For me, it's the most iconic horror game in gaming history. If not, it is undoubtedly on the same shelf as Resident Evil and Silent Hill 2. My passion aside, it has been and continues to be chosen, by the general public and critics, as one of the best horror games in the gaming history and also the scariest game ever made. A good horror game gives you scares and fear, but a legendary horror game gives you an unforgettable, exciting and perpetual experience!
Final tips to have the best (worst) experience possible in the game:
(Don’t) Play with the volume at maximum.
(Don’t) Play with the game's Gamma low.
(Don’t) Play with all the lights off.
(Don’t) Play alone.