I’ve always been fascinated with the popularity of the Amnesia franchise. The first game came out in an era where survival horror was pretty much dead. It soon caught on with YouTubers and let’s-players overreacting to its unique flavor of horror. Like it or not, it kept the torch of survival horror lit during an era where Resident Evil 6 was the biggest horror game on shelves. This was soon followed by an outsourced sequel titled A Machine for Pigs that took everything players loved about the first game and tossed it all out in favor of a walking simulator through carefully curated scenes. It didn’t work. The series returned to the original developers with Rebirth and for the most part it felt like a back-to-basics approach with a bigger emphasis on story.
For fans, the Amnesia series was back and could go anywhere.
The problem is, however, I was never a fan of the series. I found the first game to be an excruciating exercise in patience. Survival-horror to me represents both “survival” and “horror” in equal measure. I didn’t find it very fun to stumble around in the dark, balancing lantern oil with no way to defend myself other than…run. I could see the marks of genius and craft hidden in its design but it never appealed to me on a personal level. The sequel fared even worse in my eyes and I fell off within 30 minutes of starting it, still never finishing it to this day. For the longest time it felt as if the Amnesia series was never going to appeal to me despite how bad I wanted to get into a franchise that kept horror gaming alive through the dark times.
I thought it was a lost cause until I booted up Amnesia: The Bunker.
The Bunker promises to be a reinvention of the Amnesia franchise. Introducing a semi-open map, inventory boxes and most importantly: a way to defend yourself. With these additions, it finally clicked in my mind what makes the Amnesia series great. The feeling of dread as you struggle to make progress, always pushing forward and unsure if your next step is going to be your last. It’s a thrill that reminds me why I love survival horror in the first place. The Bunker makes strides to deliver one of the most thrilling and stressful horror experiences in recent memory.
You play as a French soldier named Henri, who after an explosive introduction, is injured on the frontlines of World War I. After waking up in a medical bay in an underground bunker, you soon realize something is horribly wrong. The entire bunker is abandoned and the exits have been sealed off to trap a horrifying monster inside. With no knowledge of what happened, you set out to explore the darkest depths of the bunker, and survive the horrors that await. This has to be one of the most unique settings I’ve seen for a horror game. We hear about the horrors of WWI a lot, but to see it as the backdrop for a modern horror tale is pretty chilling. It’s also unique enough that I can’t help but be totally fascinated with the creative choice that was made here.
Gameplay in this installment is highly improved. Right off the bat, players are given an era-appropriate flashlight that feels like the perfect middle ground between the original game’s lantern that required oil, and the infinite lantern from A Machine for Pigs. Instead of using oil, your light source eventually goes out and you’re required to recharge it. There’s just one issue: every time you crank it, it makes noise. It’s an absolutely horrifying experience having to choose between recharging your light source or braving the depths in the dark.
The best part of the gameplay is the new addition of self-defense. Players this time are armed with a single revolver that holds six shots. Don’t worry, you won’t be blasting your way through hallways Resident Evil style, but instead this weapon is clunky and sort of a hassle to use. You have to manually load bullets into it as well as empty shells after every shot. But if you line everything up just right, it can easily save your life. I appreciate the more realistic take on firearms compared to other contemporaries; I felt like I was holding a tool of destruction that could end my life as easily as it saved it. A very unique feeling for a video game, indeed.
As you explore the bunker you’ll solve puzzles and environmental obstacles to help you progress. There’s even an inventory box mechanic not unlike the Resident Evil series. Where I feel The Bunker fully comes together is when a lightbulb goes off in your head and you realize the solution to a problem and plot your way through very carefully to ensure survival. It once again reminds me of old-school style Resident Evil games, something we haven’t gotten much as of late.
The story takes a backseat to the gameplay as most of it is tied to logs and journals you find. It’s there if you want it, but doesn’t feel overbearing. As for the scares? There were moments where I felt on the verge of a heart attack or barely made it out of a situation alive. Encounters felt like a fight for survival and that’s exactly what I want from a survival horror game.
Performance in the game is pretty good, too. I played the PS4 version on my PS5 and never ran into any crashes or game-breaking bugs. The game also ran at a smooth framerate, which is a must for first-person horror games.
Do I recommend The Bunker? Absolutely. Whereas the original game kept horror games alive, this new installment is keeping the spirit of old-school design alive. While horror gaming is experiencing a huge renaissance and bigger visions, The Bunker chooses to embrace a more classic design that feels like a breath of fresh air. In the process it solves nearly every negative aspect of previous entries, even if the story is a little light. This is the Amnesia series at its most exciting. I wasn’t a fan before but if this is the future of the franchise, I sure am now.
Amnesia: The Bunker releases on June 6, 2023.
Review code provided by the publisher.
The post ‘Amnesia: The Bunker’ Review – How I Finally Became a Fan of the ‘Amnesia’ Franchise appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.