Frictional Games developing horror survival title 'SOMA' for PC and PS4

Frictional Games is currently working on a new horror game called SOMA. 

 

As the developer of “Amnesia: The Dark Descent” and producer of “Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs”, SOMA will take a different tack and eschew the doom and gloom of Victorian England for the equally distressing realm of Lovecraftian, sci-fi horror, according to “Computer and Video Games.”

 

The trailer below shows off a sampling of "SOMA’s" dark gameplay and graphics. 

 

 

The environment design has clearly been inspired by the works of H. R. Giger, the Swiss surrealist famous for his work on the “Alien” movies. Last but not least, we are treated to Frictional Games’ trademark for combining a foreboding atmosphere with excellent sound effects.

 

“For the last three years, we have been working on a game called 'SOMA',” said Thomas Grip, the game's creative director. “All that time, this project has remained a secret – it’s a great relief to finally be able to talk about it. This game is by far the most ambitious and thrilling project we have ever undertaken.”

 

“SOMA” will be “a sci-fi horror game played from a first person perspective,” explained Grip. “You are not a space marine, though; you’re a normal, very exposed person trapped in a nightmarish world.” 

 

That means you don’t get to bust xenomorphs like Ripley from the “Alien” series, but that’s cool. In the wake of overwhelming disappointment with the “Resident Evil” franchise’s latest installment, it’s good that smaller studios like Frictional Games are capable of picking up the survival horror torch.

 

“'SOMA' is a game about exploration, survival and immersing you inside an interactive narrative,” explained Grip.

 

He also made it clear that, with “SOMA”, the developers are attempting to make a game with deeper, more cerebral content. “Our goal is for 'SOMA' to not just be another carnival ride of cheap scares,” Grip said. “It is meant to chill you to your core, and confront you with questions about your very existence.” 

 

The game will thus be tackling philosophical questions regarding consciousness and its relationship with humans and machines. 

 

“Personally, I find it the most profound questions that it is possible to ask. ‘How can the feeling of subjective experience arise from a chunk of flesh?’ Exploring this further takes us to questions such as ‘Can machines be conscious?’ and ‘Do we have free will?’ It quickly gets very disturbing, and is ideal for a futuristic horror setting. It is the kind of sci-fi that we want to make.”

 

The monsters themselves will be representations of the game’s central themes. 

 

"SOMA" will be released for the PC and the Playstation4 in 2015. – KDM, GMA News