Gone But Not Forgotten: A Look Back at 'Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs'

Last year's 'Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs' was a beautiful game that has stayed with me ever since I put the controller down. Was it a better experience than it's predecessor? Most would say no and I wouldn't be inclined to argue with them. By November of last year, I knew that there was room for only one horror game on my Top 10 list and Amnesia was snubbed by 'Outlast'. Not to undercut my enjoyment of Amnesia but Outlast was the more innovative, polished experience and honestly, it was more fun. However, having spent the better part of a week listening to the Amnesia Soundtrack while I work, I find myself reminiscing about the experience and filled with enthusiasm about the future of the genre and the team responsible for crafting this experience.

It's hard to actually discern the reasons as to why I ultimately enjoyed Outlast more than Amnesia and it was not an easy decision to let Amnesia slide off my list completely. In this medium, I feel that fun factor and in-the-moment enjoyment of an experience weighs more than the tone, style, and long-term impact. When you get right down to it, Amnesia is a slow and sometimes boring slog but despite all that, it remains in my head even now. I think the explanation lies in my appreciation for the type of horror that has been adopted in these games. This is largely thanks to Frictional Games and their original creation but 'A Machine for Pigs' was especially memorable for me. The subject matter and clarity of the plot was there to be discovered and interpreted by those who felt compelled to find it while others were left adrift to find fear in the complete unknown or inexplicable. Perhaps that is why games like Silent Hill and Call of Cthulu have been personal favorites of mine for years.

The story of Oswald Mandus and his descent into madness at the loss of his children was beautifully told and it all lent to the underlying question of whether or not the horror unfolding before him was real or imaginary. Many horror afficionados would agree that nothing is more frightening than not being able to trust your own brain; an idea that is beautifully portrayed in both Amnesia titles. To top it all off, the game was complimented by a beautiful soundtrack composed by Jessica Curry.

**Give it a listen, the track below is one of my favorites and manages to set the tone for the game all on its own. (The soundtrack is available on Spotify or for purchase on iTunes)

What i'm trying to say is that fans of the horror genre owe it to themselves to play Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs, or even the original Amnesia: The Dark Descent if you somehow let that one get by you. It may not be scariest game out there and it certainly has it's lowpoints but it's a great example of how horror can be smart without resorting to cheap scares. If you try it and enjoy it, keep your eyes on SOMA, the next game from Frictional Games.

Side Note (Random Thought) - Silent Hill has yet to find a home with a developer that everyone trusts (dispite my fondness of Silent Hill Downpour). I would love to see what a team like The Chinese Room could do with a series like that. Of course, that will never happen as long as The Chinese Room continues to develop solely for the PC.

You can watch my review for Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs HERE.