MADiSON horror review

Since the infamous cancellation of Kojima and Del Toro's PT/Silent Hill horror in 2014, indie developers and fans have been desperate to make a game of the same caliber. MADiSON, the debut project of the indie studio Bloodious Games, headed by Alexis Di Stefano, turned out to be quite colorful and significantly different from the sources of inspiration. Horror fans will no doubt be thrilled with this first-person psychological thriller that keeps players in constant suspense and fear.

Events MADiSON unfold in an abandoned house. The player controls Luke, a guy who has become almost the central element of a demonic ritual. At the very beginning of the game, we see Luka locked in a room. On the other side of the door is his father, who for some reason is crying and accusing his son of some terrible events. The environment will constantly change, with all these changes appearing smoothly, and as you do this, your psyche gradually falls into madness. Examples include a corridor filled with repeated photographs, or a crime scene in a dungeon cordoned off with barricade tape. Since this is true horror, there is no fighting, but you have an old Polaroid at your disposal.

The camera not only allows you to take great photos, but is also your most useful travel ally. Unfortunately, Luca doesn't have access to a flashlight, so when the lights go out and darkness falls, you're left to rely solely on the camera's flash. It's a well-implemented mechanic that causes a lot of tension. You never know when you'll see something more than just the end of a hallway as a result of a flash. In addition, at certain points, the camera will allow you to travel between different time periods. Numerous collectibles are scattered all over the place, which you must find and photograph. If in doubt, just take a photo!

Also, I would like to compare this game to a quest game as it is filled to the brim with puzzles. How to open this door? What is this unique key for? MADiSON contains several rather difficult puzzles that can sometimes drive you into a stupor. No two puzzles are the same, and each one gets more and more difficult, forcing you to be wary of environmental details and look for plot clues. There is insane attention to detail, from intricately hung photographs to scurrying cockroaches, following which you should get to the right room. Often, finding a clue, you will complain that the answer was literally in front of your nose.

MADiSON is a fairly laid-back experience, both in terms of storytelling and gameplay. The attraction of the game is certainly based on the dark mystery that you have to unravel as you progress through it. You will often wander aimlessly through the corridors, trying to figure out what to do next, but this only adds to the tension and atmosphere of the overall experience. In most cases, the answers you need are right in front of you, and if you can't get any further, you've probably missed something. Have to go back.

The narrative is quite dynamic, but at the end of the game I was left with more questions than answers. The game has only one ending, but the replay value is increased by in-game achievements. These include the passage of a certain section of the game in the allotted time, the creation of a certain number of pictures, the search for collectibles. The first playthrough of the game takes about eight hours, depending on how fast you solve the puzzles.

A big part of what makes horror scary is the sound design, and Bloodious Games didn't disappoint. Creaking floorboards, slamming windows, howling cabinets. Ordinary everyday sounds turn into your biggest fear. With superbly realized 3D audio, every noise in the game evokes fear and paranoia. On the other hand, the voice acting itself was excellent. Each character seems real and sincere. Surreal moments are complemented by dramatic music and sound effects. The game is technically amazing, running perfectly smoothly at 60fps without any in-game bugs.

Despite all the praise that I have left for this indie masterpiece, I also want to point out some criticisms, mainly related to the presence of safes. You can only store eight items in your inventory and are forced to put things in a special safe. Three of the eight inventory slots - camera, notepad and photos cannot be put away in the safe, so you only have 5 free slots left. This strangely imposed inventory management mechanic feels very out of place and unnecessary, and more annoying than anything else.

MADiSON is one of the scariest games I've played in the last couple of years, with its oppressive atmosphere and depressing storytelling. The game's amazing visual and sound design, as well as challenging puzzles and unique game mechanics make it a contender for indie game of the year. I'm not afraid of that word, but this is a masterpiece of horror.