GAME REVIEW: Descend into the heart of terror in 'Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs'

According to Stephen King, there are three types of horror. The "Gross-out" is the revolting sight of spilled intestines and decapitated heads. The "Horror" is the force that our survival instinct identifies as a direct source of danger, such as werewolves and giant scorpions. Last of all, is the "Terror": that which is unknown, or unknowable. That which can be standing just behind your shoulder, right now, as you read this.
 
In "Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs", a first person survival horror game for the PC, you will encounter all three types of horror. It does, however, linger on the most powerful of the three: Terror.
 

Despite having a title that sounds like it was borrowed from a Nine Inch Nails album circa 1994, the story of "Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs" takes place in the last days of an alternate 19th century London, where man and machine have become inextricably linked. Yet the valiant effort to rise from the squalor of his past is not without casualties: factories dot landscapes once verdant with trees; newfangled automobiles chug noisily along cobbled roads, belching poison and grime; the destitute and the diseased choke dark alleys and the forgotten places beneath the streets, victims of the unyielding march of progress.
 
It is against this backdrop that our story unfolds. As Oswald Mandus, a wealthy industrialist who has just recently returned from an ill-fated expedition to Mexico, you awaken to a house whispering with voices. Your children cry for you, their faceless shadows haunting the corners of your vision. A telephone rings. There is blood on the floor. The walls seem to lean in, as if to crush the very breath from your lungs.
 
And underneath it all, beneath miles of brick and stone, something is stirring: a beast of metal, steam, and blood.
 
Embracing terror
 
Armed with nothing but a lantern, the search for your missing children will take you from the halls of your enormous manor, to the streets of London, to the dark places below the sleeping city. And though you begin this journey alone, you will swear, at least five minutes into the game, that you aren’t. Disembodied laughter rings down dimly-lit corridors. Walls and floors creak and groan. Footsteps stalk your every move, only to fall silent the moment you turn around to look. There may not be something lurking in the shadows, waiting for you…but you could be wrong.
 
This is the strength of "A Machine for Pigs": its ability to make you question everything around you. It is, in part, thanks to the excellent sound design. Every bump, scream, and knock is faithfully realized in the game world, and they will have you spinning in circles or sprinting for the nearest cover. Though the game occasionally employs the timeworn tactic of sudden loud noises to startle the unwary, it is the game’s subtler, quieter moments that will truly unhinge you. Don that headset if you must, but be prepared for an onslaught of some of the most unsettling sound effects in video game horror today.
 

Though not exactly stellar, the graphics are beautiful. Textures are crisp, elucidating the unnerving details of your surroundings, such as the chilling paintings, and diagrams of machines of questionable purpose adorning walls and tables.
 
The interplay between shadow and lighting is particularly well-done. The game takes place in the dead of night, when everything is swathed in thick shadows. Sources of illumination—such as lamps and those disquieting, flickering light bulbs—are sparse, so you will rely heavily on the hazy glow given off by your lantern.
 
Together, the sound and the visuals create an atmosphere heavy with dread. Often the tunnels, hallways, and even the larger rooms will have a claustrophobic feel to them, suffocating with suspense and unease. Because of this, your actions and decisions will always be accompanied by a strong sense of urgency; act quickly, lest the phantasms be real and catch you as you tarry. Simply put, you will know no peace while playing this game—and this is without taking the monsters into consideration, even.
 
Hide and seek
 
It may seem odd for a game review to discuss the sound and visual design before gameplay. But this is only because these are the game’s strongest points. Gameplay-wise, A Machine for Pigs does an adequate job, though perhaps lacking the polish and intricacies of its predecessor.
 
"Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs" is an indirect sequel to the critically-acclaimed "Amnesia: The Dark Descent." The first game had you scouring your surroundings for limited supplies of tinderboxes and oil to fend off the darkness. The sequel, however, has done away with this mechanic by giving you a lantern that never dies. Gone is the tension that comes with having an ever-diminishing inventory.
 
One mechanic that remains intact is the collection of journal entries that lie scattered all over the game’s various locales. In combination with gramophone recordings and Oswald’s own musings, the main plot gradually unravels through these texts. It is a pity, however, that the game overuses this device in the telling of its story. It would have been nice to see some in-game sequences contributing to the narrative.
 
The puzzles are easier, too. "A Machine for Pigs" will have you pulling levers, rotating wheels, and pressing buttons. Most of the time, however, these are little more than glorified fetch quests that have you bringing key to lock. They are still fun to do, but their lack of challenge makes them a little unsatisfying.
 

Eventually, your journey will deliver you straight into the path of monsters. Your lantern, which is such a blessing in the darkness, can also be your curse; its light will draw their attention to you, so even in the murkiest depths, it pays to be prudent in its use.
 
The creatures cannot be killed; the only thing you can do to survive an encounter is to put away your lantern, hide, and hope to God they don’t sniff you out. These moments are nerve-wracking, mostly because they force you to pick from limited options. Running or even walking will alert them to the sound of your footsteps. Wrapping yourself in shadow doesn’t always work either, especially if you’re in close proximity to the monster. And they’re not dumb enough to forget you exist just because you’ve managed to elude them; once you’re spotted, monsters will look for you. So choose your actions wisely.
 
Slaughterhouse feel
 
Gameplay-wise, "A Machine for Pigs" feels like the lite version of "A Dark Descent." Though this may be a letdown, it still does very little to remove the horror from the game. A Machine for Pigs’ consistently ominous atmosphere will keep your heart in your mouth, and by the time you have reached the haunting climax, you will know what it’s like to swear like an old, drunken sailor.
 
As for the game’s tale, it is a grim one indeed. As if ripped straight out of the nightmare equivalent of a Jane Austen novel, the writing is elegant, evoking a genuine old-timey feel, not to mention a sense of dark enigma that will have you questioning not only Oswald’s sanity, but the moral compass of all who built the world’s nations. How many backs were broken in the founding of our cities? How much blood was spilled in the name of progress? These are some very dark, disturbing themes, and some of you may carry them well into bed.
 
"Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs" is relatively short, one you can finish in as little as six hours. But the experience will most likely stick with you long after you’ve put the game down, like the reek of the blood and gore of a slaughterhouse.
 
It is now available for download on Steam for $20. — VC/KDM, GMA News