Platform: PC
Developer: Frictional Games
Publisher: Frictional Games
Release Date: September 22, 2015
Genre: Stealth/Survival Horror
Nerd Rating: 9 out of 10
Reviewed by bushtika
Enter the depths of Pathos II, an underwater research lab in the Atlantic. You awake confused and disoriented in an abandoned and dilapidated world, trying to figure out how you got there and what’s going on. The dark corridors are overgrown with black, viscous matter and the only light comes from the red emergency lights dotting the hallway.
Soma is the spiritual successor to Amnesia: The Dark Descent and its sequel, Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs. Created by Frictional Games, you follow the same first-person gameplay as Amnesia, with the ability to manipulate objects, press buttons, and pull down levers by moving the mouse. Stealth plays a major role, as enemies you encounter can kill in one hit, triggering a horrific death screen. With slow movements and careful use of cover, you can make your way across the ocean floor and discover the secret about yourself, Pathos II, and the future of humanity.
The world is seen through the eyes of Simon Jarrett, a simple store clerk who was involved in a car crash which resulted in a brain injury. He goes to get an experimental brain scan at a medical clinic and wakes up in a strange chair in a strange facility. Exploring further, he is chased by mutated monsters and robots, some implanted with an unusual amount of personality. Later, he encounters Catherine Chun, a researcher employed at Pathos II, and the two join up to travel together.
The most engaging aspect of Frictional Games’ creations is the story and Soma continues the trend. I personally have played through Soma about four or five times since it was released and have enjoyed it every time. The plot throws a lot of different twists and turns, and I was genuinely engaged to see how the story would conclude. The relationship between Simon and Catherine is an emotional roller coaster, as new discoveries lead to sudden outbursts and irrationality from Simon, and Catherine’s reaction to what happened to the facility and her colleagues. They went through great lengths to give as many researchers their own sub-plots and character as well, which is usually told through memories, emails, and notes. This is a game that will make you think, and not just because of the puzzles. It gives a lot of insight on ethics and raises the question: what does it mean to be human?
Visually, Soma is impressive. While the human models are somewhat outdated, the environment has an unending amount of miniature details worked in to give you a sense of immersion. My favorite part was venturing out on the ocean floor, especially in the later chapters, and taking in the sight of kelp and mutated fish swimming about. The black overgrowth, or “structure gel”, dots the walls of the buildings and encapsulates the idea of a sinister presence stalking you through the facility.
Who can have a horror game without something to be horrified by? The enemies you run into are few in number, but feature their own unique design and behavior in each level. For those who have played through, the terrifying angler fish preys on confused players and lures them in with its own light source and attacks their prey. Like Amnesia, there is an effect you encounter when an enemy is present which results in an electrical distortion, giving an added sense while you’re cowering behind a shelf. Most of the monsters can be avoided by sneaking, staying quiet, and staying out of sight. However, one such monster takes that strategy, stomps all over it, and chases after you mindlessly, no matter how well you hide. He can only be stopped in his tracks by using the weeping angel maneuver, and staring at his tentacle face until you can run away or gets bored and snatches you up anyways.
The soundtrack is well suited to the environment, and like Silent Hill’s soundtrack eliciting the perfect eerie feeling, Soma’s music is no different. Without giving away any spoilers, the ending track managed to capture many different feelings such as hope, despair, melancholy, and joy all in one two minute audio file. I don’t put many game soundtracks on my Spotify aside from a few exceptions, but this one definitely made the list.
With everything said, I highly recommend this game to anyone who’s looking to spend some time delving through this story. With the level of detail perfectly woven into the story, this is one game that any horror or sci-fi fan would love. Soma earns a 9 out of 10. While it might take place at the bottom of the ocean, your expectations definitely won’t sink here.
