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Amnesia: The Bunker

A flawed descent into darkness
Amnesia: The Bunker, the latest Frictional Game in the Amnesia universe offers players a tantalising premise with their latest offering in the haunting world of the Amnesia series where for the first time the player is armed and is able to fight back. While the protagonist of the story you control certainly won't suddenly evolve into a game version of Rambo, this is survival horror after all with survival horror mechanics where often the best option is to still run and hide, the game falls somewhat disappointingly short in some crucial areas resulting in a moderately satisfying experience which leaves me wondering whether it isn't time for the company to retire the series for a little while.
One of the game's strengths lies in its atmospheric design. The eerie ambiance and the dark, claustrophobic environments (that resemble a rats nest) effectively build tension and create an unsettling horrific atmosphere. The sound design, coupled with the visual aesthetics, contributes to the overall sense of dread, drawing players into its foreboding world. It also great to see developers building on what Creative Assembly gave us with Alien Isolation, where the monster works very similarly to how the Xenomorphs behaved where it will actively hunt the player based on sound and location. Running, instead of crouching slowly along, when the monster is close by will attract its attention. Same logic applies to using items such as torches or flares which will draw the beast closer to the light source.
However, where Amnesia: The Bunker struggles is in its execution of gameplay mechanics. The puzzles, while initially engaging, tend to become repetitive and predictable as the game has you backtracking quite a significant amount. The torch mechanic is frustrating as it barely illuminates the game's environments (I found this game incredibly dark making it a chore to navigate through,especially with its serpentine burrows that connect and loop back to other parts of the bunker). It becomes very easy to become very disorientated (which I suppose is what the developers are trying to achieve) and become lost. I get why they chose to only allow the torch to illuminate an area for a very short time (because it forces the player to make a sound by winding up the torch) but the novelty of it wore off very quickly as it became an exercise in frustration being constantly thrust into these incredibly dark environments and not being able to see where I was going. 
The game has a central hub where you can save progress, but this too ends up becoming a problem itself because if you die while out exploring for the next required item or solution to a puzzle all progress is reset to that last save. I died a lot in the dark (even while powering up the generator) but these constant deaths that reset all my hard work ended up geting on my nerves really fast. The monster that was stalking me quickly moved from harrowing and terrifying to irritating. The lack of innovation or variety in puzzle-solving methods also makes the game feel somewhat lacklustre.
Additionally, the narrative, although promising at the outset, is so bare bones it's practically non-existent and what is there suffers from pacing issues and a lack of depth in character development. The story failed to grip me, leaving me detached from the overall experience. As someone who enjoys these games for their often disturbing narratives, this left me extremely disappointed. The potential for a compelling narrative is present but right now it feels like nothing more than an afterthought.
On a positive note, the game does offer some genuinely chilling moments that can evoke genuine fear and tension. Running and hiding from the creature is still and incredibly intense experience and will make up the bulk of the players gameplay as they try to outwit and outsmart the creature. It is here where the game really does shine as it delivers some memorable and spine-tingling experiences, albeit inconsistently. Furthermore, the game's duration might feel shorter than expected, leaving players yearning for a more prolonged and immersive experience within this unnerving setting.
Pros:
- Atmospheric Immersion: The game excels in creating a foreboding atmosphere, drawing players into a dark and chilling world through its haunting visuals and sound design.
- Moments of Intense Fear: It delivers sporadic, heart-pounding moments that induce genuine fear and tension, offering a few memorable scares.
- Claustrophobic Setting: The confined, claustrophobic environment effectively contributes to the overall sense of unease, amplifying the horror experience.
Cons:
- Repetitive Puzzles with an insane amount of backtracking: The gameplay suffers from repetitive and predictable puzzles that are not on par with previous entries
- Lackluster Narrative Development: The story, what there is, is incredibly thin on the ground. Coupled with pacing issues many players may find themselves falling into boredom despite the terror of being stalked by a creature.
- Short Duration: The game's duration feels shorter than expected, leaving players longing for a more extended and immersive experience within its unsettling world.
In summary, Amnesia: The Bunker presents an atmospheric horror experience with a strong foundation in its ambiance and unsettling setting. However, it falls short when it comes to mechanics, pacing issues within a paper thin story, and puzzles that are on the weaker side to solve. It's worth exploring for fans of the series seeking a moderately chilling experience , but if you aren't already a fan of the series, I gather this one will leave those that are not scratching their heads wondering what all the fuss is about. One for the die-hard fans.

One word or phrase to sum up the experience

Disappointing.

Performance/Bug related incidents

None experienced during my playthrough.

Similar to games

Alien Isolation, Clock Tower 3, Amnesia: The Dark Descent

Rating ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆

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