While this game may be the grandfather of modern horror and changed the genre forever, it has aged horribly. I do not recommend purchasing this, it is absolutely not worth 20 whole dollars. I got Amnesia: The Bunker for 13 dollars while it was on sale. Just play Amnesia: The Bunker. This is a """puzzle""" game that may as well be a visual novel with terrible gameplay tacked on.

Horror-Factor |

The game's atmosphere is... okay, it's not particularly scary given the lack of proper unsettling ambience or map design, relying on excessive darkness and overbearing soundtracks to make you feel fear. Genuinely nothing in this game is scary besides for like 1 part of the game which is borderline ruined by the most loud and over the top soundtrack I've ever heard in a horror game. The main iconic enemy we all know and love is not at all scary. He's barely even present in the game at all only showing up during scripted events making him not at all threatening. His design is iconic but not particularly scary, especially paired with his lackluster animations and sound effects. When he chases you the only thing remotely "frightening" is the repetition of the "soundtrack".

Overall Gameplay Mechanics |

Since the game doesn't have any actual enemies 80% of the time due to being entirely scripted you're basically safe at all times leaving the game to have to come up with some ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ reason to "keep you on your toes". This is where "sanity" comes in. Being in the dark for extended periods of time distorts your screen and deafens you with an ice crackling sound because apparently your character has the mental fortitude of an unmedicated schizophrenic on drugs. Now, that by itself would be fine if not for the fact "witnessing unsettling events" also reduces your sanity, permanently distorting your screen and possibly leading to death on higher difficulties until you "progress" or complete a puzzle. By "unsettling events" the game means ♥♥♥♥♥♥ scripted audio-stingers and ridiculous "scares" such as rocks falling from the ceiling. This mechanic only exists because the devs didn't know how to make proper tension. That mechanic aside, the "resource management" is laughable, like actually a joke. I played on hard-mode and if not for saving requiring FOUR WHOLE MATCH-BOXES I would have the most absurd surplus of resources. Oil is a little less plentiful (to my knowledge) but the only reason it's actually a resource that you use up is due to the game relying on stupid levels of darkness and the sanity mechanic.

Puzzles |

You know how this game is mostly a puzzle / story game? You'd expect the puzzles to be the highlight, right? Well, you'd be wrong. The puzzles are the least fun part of this entire game. Some aren't actual puzzles at all just requiring you to find some random lever without anything suggesting you'd need to do that and others are ""puzzles"". At one point there's a puzzle in which you are given several levers with roman numerals above and below them. You are not given any hints. They do not tell you what combination they want. I found two separate solutions that were incorrect. I found a pattern of numbers and I tried to activate them in numerical order. Apparently I was supposed to make the levers equal 8 for the top and bottom. Why? I don't ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ know. Maybe I missed something in one of the notes but the game didn't help with that at all as the "mementos" which are meant to be hints just said "find a way to make the machine work". Incredible. By the way, that same puzzle was connected to three other ""puzzles"". You had to put 3 pieces of coal in a furnace, attach 3 comically large gears into a machine without any actual thought, and solve a circle, triangle, square puzzle meant for actual toddlers. Peak gaming.

Sound Design |

Lackluster beyond belief. As I mentioned earlier the game relies on non-diegetic sounds such as audio-stingers and soundtracks to scare you. As a result the ambience itself is borderline non-existent as it's constantly overpowered by a really annoying soundtrack that repeats this groaning-esque sound. Now, there are a few good soundtracks, specifically the relaxing ones. Another good thing is the voice acting. It's great. However, the character you play as is far FAR too vocal. I'm sorry but I don't want to hear him ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ moan in fear because he heard a noise 40 meters to the left behind several walls.

Story |

It's good but the way it's presented gets annoying real ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ fast. I enjoy reading notes left behind and finding various items that give information. I do not enjoy having my screen flash white and then get distorted for the next 30 seconds as I hear a random conversation. That is not fun.

Conclusion |

One of the most influential games of our time. 4/10.