Разработчик: Frictional Games
Описание
Радио молчит, еда на исходе, а роботы возомнили себя людьми. Путешествуя по подводной станции "Пафос II", которая долгое время была полностью отрезана от внешнего мира, вам предстоит принимать непростые решения. Что можно сделать? Что ещё имеет значение? Осталось ли что-то, за что есть смысл сражаться?
Погрузитесь в мир SOMA и взгляните в лицо ужасам, таящимся в глубинах океана. Изучайте записи на заблокированных терминалах и читайте секретные документы, чтобы узнать, какие тайны прячутся под вуалью окружающего вас хаоса. Попытайтесь отыскать последних выживших на станции и решите судьбу подводного комплекса. Будьте предельно осторожны, ведь опасность подстерегает за каждым поворотом: заражённые люди, безобразные существа, безумные роботы и вездесущий загадочный ИИ.
Вам предстоит искать персональный подход к каждому противнику. Помните, что сопротивление бесполезно: хитрость и быстрые ноги - вот ваше главное оружие.
Поддерживаемые языки: english, french, italian, german, spanish - spain, portuguese - brazil, russian, simplified chinese
Системные требования
Windows
- ОС *: 64-bit Windows Vista
- Процессор: Core i3 / AMD A6 2.4Ghz
- Оперативная память: 4 GB ОЗУ
- Видеокарта: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 / AMD Radeon HD 5750. OpenGL 3.3
- Место на диске: 25 GB
- Дополнительно: Встроенные видеокарты Intel не поддерживаются.
- ОС *: 64-bit Windows 7
- Процессор: Core i5 / AMD FX 2.4Ghz
- Оперативная память: 8 GB ОЗУ
- Видеокарта: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 / AMD Radeon HD 5970. OpenGL 3.3
- Место на диске: 25 GB
- Дополнительно: Встроенные видеокарты Intel не поддерживаются.
Mac
- ОС: 64-bit 10.9
- Процессор: Core i3 2.4Ghz
- Оперативная память: 4 GB ОЗУ
- Видеокарта: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 / AMD Radeon HD 5750. OpenGL 3.3
- Место на диске: 25 GB
- Дополнительно: Встроенные видеокарты Intel не поддерживаются.
- ОС: 64-bit 10.10
- Процессор: Core i5 2.4Ghz
- Оперативная память: 8 GB ОЗУ
- Видеокарта: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 / AMD Radeon HD 5970. OpenGL 3.3
- Место на диске: 25 GB
- Дополнительно: Встроенные видеокарты Intel не поддерживаются.
Linux
- ОС: 64-bit Major Linux Distribution от 2014 года.
- Процессор: Core i3 / AMD A6 2.4Ghz
- Оперативная память: 4 GB ОЗУ
- Видеокарта: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 / AMD Radeon HD 5750. OpenGL 3.3
- Место на диске: 25 GB
- Дополнительно: Proprietary drivers. Встроенные видеокарты Intel не поддерживаются.
- ОС: 64-bit Major Linux Distribution от 2014 года.
- Процессор: Core i5 / AMD FX 2.4Ghz
- Оперативная память: 8 GB ОЗУ
- Видеокарта: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 / AMD Radeon HD 5970. OpenGL 3.3
- Место на диске: 25 GB
- Дополнительно: Proprietary drivers. Встроенные видеокарты Intel не поддерживаются.
Отзывы пользователей
This is a great game. Even for how old it is, it felt like i was playing a new game. Awesome story line.
Incredible in every way, the story, the atmosphere, the sound, and definitely the scary
Absolutely amazing, the writing is very good, the movement and sounds are incredible they make you feel like you are actually in the situation that you are seeing on screen, rarely games are good at capturing that but this one does it amazingly, I should have not put this game aside for that long, I'm happy I finally got around to play it and it did not disappoint.
SOMA is a horror game where robot monster things are trying to kill you. SOMA is a really interesting take on AI and raises a lot of questions about what it means to be human. The story is really fantastic, and the ending is phenomenal, causing you to rethink some of the choices you made throughout the game. The gameplay itself is the standard Amnesia-type run and hide kind of experience. For me that gameplay loop gets boring pretty quickly, but this game pushes you forward with a thought provoking story that doesn't overstay its welcome. This is one of the best horror games I've ever played, and is a must play for fans of sci-fi style horror games.
+ Thought provoking story, albeit a bit predictable towards the end.
+ Really nails the lonely experience and the extreme environment being the bottom of the ocean.
+ Environmental storytelling done right.
+ Good balance of butt clenching stealth sections and a bit less, but still tense exploration sections.
+ The lack of HUD and gameplay elements really add to the immersiveness.
- More thriller than horror IMO (game was advertised as a horror game).
8/10
One of the best stories I've had the pleasure to experince while also being one of the most depressing pieces of media ive ever seen
A surprisingly engaging story line with a poignant ending. The gameplay itself was fine, well paced, and varied. And the environments were outstanding.
SOMA - A Masterpiece of Psychological Horror and Sci-Fi
SOMA by Frictional Games stands as one of the most thought-provoking and atmospheric horror games I’ve played. Set in an eerie underwater facility, SOMA isn’t just about jump scares or monsters, but rather a deep exploration of identity, consciousness, and the nature of existence itself. It challenges you to confront unsettling philosophical questions, making it much more than a typical horror experience.
The atmosphere is impeccably crafted, with chilling sound design and stunning visuals that enhance the feeling of isolation and dread. Each area in the game is filled with environmental storytelling, adding layers of depth to the narrative as you progress.
Gameplay is a mix of exploration and puzzle-solving, keeping you constantly engaged while evading some truly terrifying foes. However, what really sets SOMA apart is its story. As you unravel the mysteries of PATHOS-II and the AI entities around you, you’ll encounter moments that leave a lasting impression, urging you to think long after the credits roll.
In summary, SOMA is a gripping journey that successfully blends horror with profound storytelling. It’s an experience that horror and sci-fi fans should not miss.
Rating: 10/10
I'm not used to playing horror games, made my heart race at times. I don't know what made me wanna play this game in particular, but I'm glad I did.
Amazing sound design, visually upstanding, great atmosphere, made me cry in a couple of parts, for a 2015 game, it's got soul and passion into it. There was one part that I've got stuck but other than that, solid.
Would recommend for first timers trying horror games, or if you are interested on a great story.
really really great story and awesome way of storytelling! definitely recommending the game to ppl who're loving story games and games which make you think
I heard people say great things about this game so I thought it might not have the same effect on me (will it really be this good as some people claim?) Well, it was even better than I thought it would be. SOMA is just a masterpiece from start to finish. Everything in this game is crafted with precision. You can tell they were really passionate about this game. The story is just captivating. It will surely make you think and evaluate some aspects of life. Also, I'm someone who struggles with horror games but SOMA offers you the choice of having the monsters being able to kill you or not. Since I could choose, I decided to try it in normal mode and I did not regret. It is very linear so it was not too difficult to get past the monsters. The voice acting deserves an award aha without it being this good, there would be many subtilities about the story that could be lost. This game also looks gorgeous!! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU PLAY THIS GAME.
Cerebral, difficult to describe, but a must-play.
10/10 IGN The way the fish move impressive lol, all jokes a side grate game grate story fisting simulator, you can see bioshok inspire you can also see bob sponge if you look really careful.
Came for the horror stay for the story.
This is the best story driven game I think i've ever played.
If you love Science Fiction and Horror I think this game is perfect for you.
The voice acting is amazing, the setting is amazing, the story is amazing.
Minor Spoilers:
Catherine and Simon are so well written, you get truly invested in their relationship I love that no matter what, neither of them want to be alone. Two people from completely different times on earth come together to try and save what's left of the human race.
Major Spoilers:
The ending when you shoot the Ark off into space is amazing story telling. When Simon is transferred from the diving suit to the re-enforced dive suit, we are, as the player, instantly in the POV of the new Simon. As Catherine puts the old one into sleep mode. But in the ending with the Ark being shot off, we don't immediately get to see Simon and Catherine happy in the Ark. We're still the Simon in the chair, and He's unable to handle that concept he lashes out at Catherine, and she tries her best to reason with him but it's impossible. It's an amazing parallel to Catherine's (the human) initial Ark scans, when Mark Sarang started this cult like death pact because people couldn't accept the fact that they'd never experience the Ark. I really appreciate getting to see the happy Simon and Catherine at the end after the credits, because you didn't have to do that.
Please play unspoiled, this is an amazing experience.
This game made me feel emotions I didn't know I had. I hope you all enjoy this game as much as I did. I don't think I've ever had more of an impression from parts that were both important, unimportant, and even not at all relating to the end of the game.
This game triggered my only 2 known fears in the perfect ways, and made me think in ways that will forever impact my train of thought. I hope you all know that my only 2 regrets are the following:
1. Not playing this game sooner despite all the good things I have heard
2. Never having the opportunity to play this amazing game for the first time again.
This was an experience, a ride, and an ending I will never forget.
It's hard for me not to compare SOMA to that other first-person horror game that takes place deep under the sea, Bioshock. The latter feels like a pretty clear inspiration for the former, and weirdly I fall on both games in a similar matter, which is to say that I have a laundry list of gripes and caveats, but despite it all I quite liked it. I like Bioshock just fine, but ultimately I feel like SOMA clears it by a significant margin. It's a very good game that I think many folks into sci-fi horror will enjoy quite a lot. I just feel like it maybe falls short of being a truly great game, for me. I love a lot of the ideas it plays with—and on balance I would say it worked for me more than it doesn’t—but I came away wanting a little more from it.
First of all, I think the story is pretty good. The themes and questions of identity and consciousness are pretty familiar sci-fi fare, but the way the game drills down into the horrifying implications of digitizing your mind into a form that can be copy-and-pasted, blinked in and out of existence for unperceived amounts of time due to not always being plugged in, wiped out and restarted like nothing happened at the whims of forces outside of your control...I dunno, it just worked for me.
Perhaps one thing that worked less well are the characters. *SOMA* doesn’t fall completely flat for me in this department, granted. I think Simon is a pretty well-rounded protagonist, and the way he plays off of Catherine, the only other major character in the story, works well enough for me, particularly towards the end of the game where their differences in perspective over the whole brain scan thing is easily the most effective character work in the whole game. Admittedly that’s not saying a whole lot, however. Despite having a whole cast of (mostly dead) scientists that once occupied the PATHOS-II research station to read about and hear from in audio logs as well as Simon’s ability to hear dead crewmembers’ final moments by interfacing with the black box installed in all their heads, I never really felt like I got a sense of what any of their deal might have been. In particular I was kind of expecting one of the scientists, Mark, to be a bigger deal in the story given the knock-on effects he ends up having on other scientists, but it never really pays off.
I also never really got a sense of what the deal was with the WAU, the (kind of) rogue AI that is responsible for wiping out the entire crew in its mission to preserve humanity (whoops) after the rest of the world perished from a meteor strike. To me the WAU feels more like a force of nature than a character, which is fine guess, but it feels a little bit like if *System Shock 2* just had the Many as the sole antagonist and left SHODAN out entirely (had to shoehorn in a reference to the other *Shock* in here somehow). It all feels like a missed opportunity, but I can live with it, as all the time spent contemplating the implications of the bleak, dying world we’ve been thrust into was enough for the game to get its hooks into me.
So I'm coming to this game extremely late, but I do remember some discourse about the game back when it was relatively new. One thing I remember sticking out was that some argued that the game was better experienced on "Safe Mode". For those unaware, Safe Mode changes the monster encounters so they are no longer a threat to you, the player. The monsters are still in the game, but they will entirely leave you alone. The argument in favor of Safe Mode being that the monster encounters are annoying and the game is better served letting the player focus on the story. I'm of two minds about this, if I'm being honest.
I played the game on Normal Mode, so as the way the game was originally designed. Early on I found myself pretty strongly disagreeing with the pro-Safe Mode camp. I didn't find the encounters especially annoying to get past, and I enjoyed the tension of figuring out when it was safe to move out and sneak past the game's various biomechanical ghoulies. The one time I got caught in the early parts of the game I found the monster will only knock you out, leaving you where you were and fucking off somewhere else. Granted, your vision gets kinda messed up afterwards and your movement is temporarily hampered (which doesn't usually matter as the monsters don't tend to be all that close to where they brained you after you wake up, and your movement will recover after a short time), but you can get fixed up by interacting with the numerous WAU polyps you find pretty regularly throughout the game. All-in-all, I found the encounters not especially annoying, and the punishment for getting caught to be honestly generous relative to how a lot of horror games tend to just straight-up kill you and send you to the last checkpoint. Glad to know that this game doesn’t do that…
Then I reached the outpost Theta. The monsters in there are all just a tad bit faster than you, so getting spotted means you’re pretty much donezo unless you can make the most of the headstart it gives you to put up a door or two in order to throw it off your trail (and that’s assuming you’re not in the parts where the level is just corridors that sometimes lead you to dead ends). This is how I found out that you can in fact die, if you get knocked out two or three times without healing, and you do in fact get sent back to the last checkpoint. It’s not super unreasonable with the checkpoints at least, but this was the point where I think I understand why people feel pretty strongly that Safe Mode is the way to go. Most of the encounters afterwards weren’t all that frustrating—though I could see the one you deal with in Tau being kinda frustrating for some; maybe because it’s not quite as fast as you I had no trouble losing it despite the slow-opening doors—but the amount of time I spent in Theta sitting around because I’m not sure how close the monster is and should probably hide instead of solving the puzzle in that room or at least looking up some text logs pertaining to the story, it stopped feeling tense after a while and just felt kind of annoying. It’s a shame because most of the game I think hit a much better balance to remain mostly tense if not outright scary, but the fact that Theta is the largest outpost that you probably spend the most time in (not by a ton, granted) is pretty unfortunate.
Okay, so I’ve spent three paragraphs(!) talking about what is easily the most divisive aspect of the game, so let’s finish off on a more positive note. I do love the vibes of this game. It certainly shows its age here and there, but the visuals pack a punch when it counts. The derelict underwater outposts of PATHOS-II are creepy and grimy as all hell. The sections where you traverse the ocean floor are varying measures of beautiful and harrowing, with the scales tipping hard into pure terror once you plunge the deepest depths of the Atlantic to reach the final couple of outposts. In fact the depths are probably my favorite part of the whole game. The sheer terror of being so deep under the sea, where humans were never meant to tread, is absolutely palpable. The underwater currents, exacerbated by nearby tectonic activity, create these “storms” that periodically boom like you’re hearing thunder at the bottom of the sea. The creatures you encounter here are appropriately “alien”, being a bunch of deep sea creatures (which are already weird and scary looking as far as the kind of life we know of on this earth) that have been twisted further by WAU. I think for all the gripes and nitpicks I have of this game, it was still worth seeing it all the way through just to experience this section, though the other aspects I praised are worthwhile too. I think *SOMA* could have been an even better game, but what Frictional ended up making is still very, very good.
This one hurt a little. Great monster design, cool and atmospheric, game play can be a little slow at times since stealth is a big part of game in my experience.
Narratively speaking this game explores themes of transhumanism, & human consciousness in a way that makes me glad I don't have to think about it being a reality until I'm long dead. (Hopefully)
I like the deep sea. The unknown, unexplored, mystical, the darkness, loneliness and horror but in Soma it was pure terror...and I loved it! Great creative and scary monster design, an intense and terrifying atmosphere, varied puzzles, impressive underwater locations and a fantastic story. In fact, the story is the real gem here. It is about questions of existence, identity, being and consciousness paired with important decisions. On the other hand, I found the sneaking to be rather mediocre, but you can also play the game in “Safe Mode”. Then you don't need to sneak and you won't die.
Fully recommended!
the low resolution model chasing you isnt scary but the existential crisis you get from the story leaves you unable to sleep for a couple weeks at least
10/10
Excellent game. Very thought provoking. The focus is very much on the story, as it should be, but althere is a perfect amount of dread and uneasiness to make this a game. Thoroughly recommend the game to both horror lovers and those with interests elsewhere. I wouldn'tcall it scary, more unnerving and therefore don't be out of by the horror tag.
Really great story, enemies are typical horror styled enemies but they're not too annoying. Fun and short game!
Bought this game for halloween on early sale before the halloween sale for 2.99$, and was finally able to play this game for first time on October 29, 2024. It feels like you are alone in the depth of the abyss, with the supportive AI. It is one of the greatest horror game I have ever tried. It can be difficult to find way at first but this is sacrificed for more horror genre. If you are a fan of horror games, this is the game you should try in the future.
No words can describe how good the story is, so I'm not going to try that, you either know how good it is or just need to find out.
Almost everything is good in this game, overall design, voice actors, graphics, music/sound, it's also quite scary for those who like horrors. The only thing that is bad, is gameplay, for me personally, it was not fun but annoying, boring and frustrating experience. If you don't mind walking sims and set easy difficulty, it may not be an issue for you and could make overall better experience.
Perhaps Soma could be better as a movie. It surely deserves to get a movie or TV show, one only can hope someone will discover this potential.
I recommend this game because of many good things it has, however, if you get it and gameplay won't be engaging, finish it on YT, story is shocking, can't/won't be forgotten, can change perception how you see many things.
Play SOMA if you're ready to question everything you know about existence, life, and consciousness. This game makes you think about...everything.
With an incredibly well written story and excellent sound design, SOMA creates a mysteriously beautiful atmosphere that pulls you deeper into its world with each moment.
It’s not often a game makes you to step outside, look up at the sky and truly ponder what it means to be alive. SOMA is one of those unique experiences, that leaves you wondering what it means to be "real" and what choices truly matter.
I highly recommend giving it a try. This game will linger in your mind long after you’re done.
Awesome game! The story and writing is so good, with dialogues that reminded me they don't make 'em like this anymore. Great art and level design - I used a reshader mod which made the game look even better.
A linear experience with the option to explore your surroundings and find extra lore. I liked how I was able to decide for myself if I wanted to look around some more or just get on with the current main objective. I liked that there was no glaring "dev paint" on interactable objects. I liked that not every interactable door/room led somewhere. Things like that made me feel more immersed in the world.
The only con are the enemies and their AI. They were mostly just a pain blocking ur path and acting nonsensical, not a scary threat that you could slyly trick or bait away after learning their behaviour.
Amazing game. Starts a bit slow, but damn you have no idea what it awaits you in this fantastic, psychotic, intense, graphically marvel of a game.
On my old steam account i played this game 9 years ago. This game is truly amazing even after all this time. What i would give to play this game blind again and unravel the story again. I don't want to spoil but this game is perfect give it a try and get yourself hooked on this story like i did all those years ago! 11/10
Still properly scary enough for cheek-clenches and screams.
Some slow sections and some annoying AI monster behavior.
Not the most tense of survival horror games, but definitely one of the most thought-provoking and mind-imploding psychological horror, sci-fi stories.
This review is based on 100% completion and 7.6 hours of gameplay.
Recommendation:
Would I recommend this game? Yeah, this game is definitely a trip and very unique. It gives me a mix of vibes from Dead Space, BioShock, and Amnesia, but it does so in a way that feels like a completely fresh experience. You can get two types of experiences from the game depending on the difficulty you choose. If you play on normal difficulty, you’ll get the full horror experience, where the enemies present a real threat, and there’s a sense of fear and consequences from dying. If you opt for story mode, the enemies aren’t a problem, so the dread comes mainly from the atmosphere and the story itself.
The biggest positive for me is how the game uses atmosphere to build tension as you play. It does this really well, creating a constant feeling of anticipation and fear. At first, it gives off strong Dead Space vibes, then a little BioShock, but it keeps things unique enough to stand out on its own. The story is compelling and engaging—it’s one that really makes you think and piece things together as you progress, which I enjoyed. The way bits of lore are scattered throughout is done well, and the main story is told clearly enough that even without all the extra stuff, you’ll have a solid grasp of what’s going on about halfway through.
The gameplay is linear and simple, but it strikes a good balance by letting you figure out what to do. It subtly nudges you in the right direction through environmental clues, which I thought was nicely done. The mechanics are okay, though they might feel a little clunky at times, like when grabbing objects, but overall, I thought they worked fine.
While I recommend this game, I don’t recommend getting it at full price. I think it’s a bit too steep, and since it’s an older game that goes on sale regularly, I’d highly suggest waiting for a good sale—something like 80% off or more.
It’s a highly narrative-driven game, so it won’t be for everyone, but it’s definitely worth experiencing.
Achievements:
There is one missable achievement (though it’s hard to miss imo) near the end of the game. I won’t spoil it, but as long as you talk to everything and exhaust all dialogue options, you should be fine.
Aside from that, the rest are story progression unlocks, so you’ll get them just by playing. You can also play on the safe difficulty and still unlock everything if you just want to enjoy the story without the added stress.
Amazing game. Came for the spooky season, but wound up playing a game with a great story that leaves you thinking about the future of humanity. I didn't find it particularly scary, especially once you understand how the monsters work. The game doesn't hit you with jump scares which is nice. The game just gives you a feeling of uneasiness, but generally you know when you are in safe areas. Definitely recommend for anyone that wants a spooky, linear, puzzle-lite first person game that will immerse you and tell a great story!
Had me hooked from the very start, and ended with me bawling my eyes out during its final moments. I couldn't recommend this game enough, it's such a captivating story that uses existential horror to make it as good as it is.
SOMA confronts players with complicated questions of humanity, industrialization, and artificial intelligence through effective environmental storytelling: who are we? What makes a human, well, human? It's a lonely experience - overwhelmingly so at times - but the game works to lighten that burden in various ways. While the whole game's excellent, the final 5-10 minutes of SOMA are jaw-dropping. I picked up this game on sale (~$4), but I would've gladly paid $60 for the experience I was given. Importantly, though, if you're thassalaphobic like me, the entirety of the game takes place underwater (varying between ocean floor walking and pressurized bases).
Unfortunately, however, the gameplay didn't always feel great to me. Specifically, the lack of at least a journal of some kind is a massive detriment. If you don't play the entire game in one sitting, only the first loading screen reminds you of what you're currently doing in-game. This made completing quests, especially ones where multiple items are required to be found, arduous and frustrating. To offset this, the level design is relatively linear which makes not having a map/minimap less of a problem. The rest of the gameplay is walking, solving simple puzzles, and stealth. Like Dark Descent, there's no way to fight the monsters so stealth is a necessity. I typically avoid stealth-based games where I can, but I didn't find this gameplay overwhelming. The puzzles feel a bit too simple, but that's a nitpick.
PROS
Brilliant, hard-hitting story with one of the best endings I've experienced in a game.
Scary environments and monsters
Well-implemented environmental storytelling offers all the story context players need without overwhelming us with relentless exposition.
Short and concise - my complete playthrough took about 11.5 hrs.
CONS
No HUD immerses the player, but lacking a quest journal and map is a massive obstacle in terms of accessibility.
I went into this game with no expectations, walked out with existential dread. This game keeps on your toes and can be downright terrifying at times (Game over screen got me real good). Outside of a few cheap moments, nothing in this game is too hard.
This was an excellent story. I ended up watching 3 hours worth of video about the game after finishing it because I wasn't satisfied (in a good way).
There are even many possible considerations that this game doesn't address (say; what happens if two copies interacted with one another?) and it's clear they had even bigger ambitions (based on supplementary material), but it's a game made with care and good writing, a rarity.
Existential Crisis - The Game
I went into yet another Frictional Games product expecting yet another walking simulator with random spooks and....
I've got something else
🟢There's no way to describe the story of this game without spoiling it too much. But in short - get ready to be immersed real fast. The story hooks you in good. Sometimes you question what is real and what is not. Most of the questions you will answer yourself right before the game tolds you them. And by the end - you just accept the game as it is
There's a lot of morale choices here and there - but they have no impact on the story or the ending - so feel free to wreck havoc as you like.
Walking Simulator with occasional simple puzzles
🟡Most of the game you just walk, look at stuff, push buttons, avoid monsters. listen dialogues and thats pretty much it. The only problem I've encountered - is actually the first room after you "wake up". Didn't know you could break glass in this game lmao.
Great visuals with random stutters
🟢HPL engine works great but when it tries to load something (and there's a LOT to load) it will stutter.
But visually - the game loves to show you its lighting effects and Lots Of Ocean
I like it
Different monsters with different evade methods
🟢Unlike Amnesia and Penumbra games - Soma has a pretty decent arsenal of monsters.
There's hulking worker robots, energy sucking robots, Teleporting Hybrids that dont like when you look at them, Zombies and their leader, Black Liquid Zombies who will terrify you at night. And by the end - you gon' meet with your fellow High Pressure Suits zombies who will force you to finish the story as fast as you can.
Each monster requires different approach
Sometimes you just evade
Stay away
Lure them with sounds
RUN
Close the doors/trap them
F.UCKING RUN
Level Design and Sound Design
🟡While walking through ocean deeps can be cool and pretty - it can also be tiresome. Each new station is fun to explore first time you get there but thats pretty much it
🟡As for the music - nothing too special
🟢But the sound design...now that was done pretty damn great.
Creeking sounds all over the place
Sounds of deep ocean - great stuff.
Replay Value
This is a really cool game. This game surprised me in lots of ways
And it even managed to actually put fear into me three times at least
🔴But could you play it more than once?...
I dont think so.
1 ending, no action, barely any items to get
And "fake" choices everywhere.
TL;DR:8/10
Its barely a horror game
Its not even like Amnesia or Penumbra
Dont get me wrong - but this game reminded me about Stray lol
Its an Art game. A Very Depressing Art Game.
✅I liked it - but I dont wanna experience it ever again.
Cannot stop thinking about this game. Everything about it feels unsettling but at the same time kind of transcending. Sure, SOMA is a great atmospheric horror game, but what is so genuine about it is its story, in which also the biggest horror lies.
Gameplay aspects: The survival mechanics are well done. There is no way to defend yourself, but the game is not that hard. The monster encounters are fairly unforgiving, but they never feel unfair and there is always a way around them if one can supress the fear. I expected to complain about the fact that the game does not allow to switch between difficulties, but the difficulty was never really an issue for me in the end, I died only handful of times. Puzzles are mostly great and varied , with few exceptions where they were really frustrating because of no logical solution at hand. Completing objectives also felt somewhat random with no map and lacking navigation, but thankfully the “maps” were not so vast for this to be a big issue. What I really have to pinpoint though is how great the physics in typical Frictional Studios fashion are. Not only that so many objects can be interacted with, but also how many moves the game manages to squeeze out of keyboard + mouse, and lastly, those fluid mechanics in underwater “levels” are just chef's kiss.
Presentation: Graphically, the game holds up even after almost decade. Actually, the graphics feel very timeless now and the game will surely continue to be enjoyable even graphically in the future. Where SOMA really excels is the artistic direction, lighting and sounds. I sometimes complain about horror games being too dark for the sake of horror, or sounds getting obnoxious, but here both were handled amazingly. The game really manages to play with one's mind to the point where you will be frightened with every step. And when you feel like you've been through the worst, the game manages to make it even worse.
Story: It is not possible to accurately catch what the story is about without going into major spoilers, so I will generally say that this is one of the best stories which I have seen in sci-fi game ever. It starts slow and rather confusing but more you explore and more time you actually take to explore (which I not only highly recommend – I deem it necessary) the better and more engaging it gets. The story tickles what is existence, consciousness, what it means to be a human being – in a very genuine, transcending and philosophical way. It's very rare for me to get a game which makes me stare on to the final credits in awe.
Conclusion: If it is not clear from the writing above, SOMA is Frictional Studios' A-GAME. For me, it is not only the best horror game I have ever played, but at the same time one of the best sci-fi stories out there. There were some very minor hiccups gameplay-wise (as with everything – nothing is perfect) but nothing which in any way hindered my experience.
Please do yourself a favor and go play this
(if you are OK with horror games and do not have thalassophobia).10/10
I am not exactly a contrarian, so when I don’t enjoy a game with an “overwhelmingly positive” rating on Steam, it almost causes me more of an existential crisis than the Lovecraftian story of “SOMA” did. Maybe I’m just too much of a non-dualist to appreciate the philosophy behind it. Don’t get me wrong—the atmosphere, sound design, and visual experience (aside from the parts that look like they require the use of some ancient 3D glasses) are mostly well-executed. But I felt the story overplayed its hand too early by trying a bit too hard to impress with its narrative techniques. It was also immersion-breaking when characters seemed tonally disconnected from the story they are in. Instead of asking questions or reacting as a normal person might, they often just plow forward because the plot or underlying philosophy requires it. (The voice acting quality didn’t always help in this regard, either.) I am glad this game has its fans and that it resonated with so many, but I’m also glad I won’t have to play it again.
A truly unique experience. I'm so glad i wasn't given a choice in the end, altough i've already made up my mind by the half point of the game and was hoping that i could decide what to do.
I'm not sure that i've ever played a game that asked me such seemingly complicated questions for me to answer them to myself without any hesitation.
It is so interesting how you can bring up SOMA's topic and tie it to a whole lot of other concepts and theories.
All in all, 10/10. Certified must-play and undying masterwork.
i'm sorry Simon, i hope there's still a place for you somewhere
Can be a bit confusing at times but has a great story and atmosphere. Not very scary and most of the enemies feel like little inconveniences rather than a serious threat that should be avoided at all costs. Other than that I think this is a fantastic Sci Fi experience that asks extremely challenging questions of the player to answer. As far as I'm aware, there is no alternate endings to this game but the choices that you make will effect how your ending feels significantly in a way that almost feels like an alternative ending.
The game has been in my library for long time never got the need to play it until i did and i regretted not playing it earlier. Its not your typical horror game that depends mainly on the monsters and jump scares, this is an immersive psychological Horror game that lets you feel unease throughout. its the perfect game for me that mixes horror with exploration, to understand the story better you have to read and look through things to get the bigger picture, the story also very intriguing and made me want to know more, voice acting was sublime, level design were nicely instructed (i do like to stare at the doors mechanism for some reason lol).
They capture the horror of advanced technology and AI and how it can affect the livelihood of humans. Sure, you can argue that the concept has been tried by many before, but it is rarely as good as this one. It will leave you emotionally invested in the characters and story.
This game is designed with love and care that most modern games today don't do. You can actually touch things and your not being held by the hand for the sake of progressing fast. You get to take your own time to figure out the environment and learn about its unique world
This is the kind of game that will stick in your head after finishing it, i highly recommend it 10/10
Two selves adrift in broken space,
Once bound as one, now lost in trace.
Each a stranger, cold and blind,
No shared touch, just a mirrored mind.
What a fantastically scary game. Seriously, not many horror games that I've played had actually made me worried for my life. Admittedly there aren't many opportunities to interact with the world except wandering around - exploring the abandoned underwater facilities or running and hiding from horrible, awful abominations - but the story had me hooked with depressing revelations and a shocking conclusion. Would highly recommend.
I don't have a lot of fancy things to say but this game is one hell of an experience and has stuck with me since I first played it years ago. The game play isn't super deep and if you've played Amnesia you'll pick it up quick but the story is what really matters here. It really made me question what it means to be human and the ending will have you questioning life itself. Just thinking about it right now stirs up emotions. 10/10 in my book I think everyone should experience this game at least once.
Great game. Its got all the proper parts of a horror puzzle game, and the atmosphere is super immersive. Definitely a a good play for sp00kyszn.
Genuinely the best world building I have ever come across in a game. While the gameplay is alright, the decisions that need to be made and the atmosphere this game creates transcends the medium. This joins the games I can count on one hand that warrant a replay.
SOMA is such a beautiful game. The atmosphere, environments and sound design are really well crafted and help you immerse in the world and story they created. As the story develops it makes you question your own existence, what it means to be alive and what makes you truly be “you”.
The horror aspects weren’t what I was expecting, the sections with monsters were tense, but for me the true feelings of dread, emptiness and sadness came from the actions you take along the story in order to accomplish your goal.
TL;DR - Fully recommended, must play.
For a number of reasons, SOMA is my favorite game of all time.
From the perspective of narrative, setting, atmosphere, philosophy, sound design and score, the game is perfect. And while the game's graphics don't look like those from AAA blockbuster games, it doesn't have to.
SOMA utilizes its engine, HPL3, very well to craft an exceptional, visually compelling experience that never loses its grip on players through immersion-breaking moments, such as odd glitches or things that look out-of-place.
The atmosphere is very gritty and immerses players within the depths of the facilities you explore, there is lots of notes and lore exposition to sift through to learn more about the world and all of that while you, at times, must hide from truly terrifying abominations!
You will always be on the edge of your seat when in the same room with one of those things, but every encounter has a specific gimmick approach to it, which is always made clear to you beforehand.
For example: There is a creature in one area that acts only aggressively towards you if you look straight at it or another creature that is blind but very sensitive to noise.
Every encounter has a unique approach. Being cautious and thinking situations through will reward you with both you not taking damage and you being proud of yourself for mastering the challenge!
By the way, for people who don't want to die and barely aggressive monsters, SOMA has a Safe Mode! Don't feel ashamed to use it if it means you'd get to enjoy the story if you otherwise would have avoided it.
I'd like to avoid talking about the narrative here as you'd be otherwise spoiled out of a game, which has a story so well-crafted that even some bestselling books or movies can't compete with it!
I am not overselling it. Try it yourself.
And if you'd like to digest the experience after playing, there are a plethora of YouTube video( serie)s made with SOMA as their topics!
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FINAL VERDICT
I fully recommend this game to anyone. Please play it.
Mind blowing game story-wise.
Some parts were scary for me.
Puzzles are nice and fun.
I'm not usually one to enjoy horror games, but I heard this game has a really interesting story and I must say it definitely succeeded in that department. There's a lot of existential horror present but it's more interesting than scary and the sneaking sections where you can die and restart are honestly more annoying than anything. Idk that I would say the game was all that fun, but it was some interesting brain food with great atmosphere and cool ideas.
You will have one of the worst fates possible in a horror game. Extraordinary story, but I wish the game was longer.
Дополнительная информация
Разработчик | Frictional Games |
Платформы | Windows, Mac, Linux |
Ограничение возраста | Нет |
Дата релиза | 17.11.2024 |
Metacritic | 84 |
Отзывы пользователей | 96% положительных (19523) |