AMFP Member Review Thread

[raptorhunter6]

I know there are threads for this but I wanted to make its own post. After a few hectic weeks of trying to build and assemble my new PC I finally got around to play A Machine for Pigs on Friday night. I have finally been able to voice my thoughts after letting everything sink in. For those that do not wish to read a wall of text, my summarized review was that I highly enjoyed it and I do not think it deserved the bad reviews it got from other people, or at least in my opinion.

Full review. I do not play much varied video games, mainly just the Monster Hunter series but that is it. A year or two back I found out about Amnesia/Penumbra games and fell in love. Although Amnesia and Penumbra had opposite environments and settings I loved the horror and fear they were able to capture within the game. That said I was waiting excitedly upon hearing about AAMFP's announcement. I was disappointed that Frictional Games wasn't actually developing the game but I chose to reserve judgement and wait for the worst (or the best). I must say the wait for the game was nearly unbearable, having to fix errors in shipping for parts I needed to build my PC and all that but I got around to it and was able to boot it up Friday night.

My initial reactions were a bit of confusion and general curiosity, mainly because I had chosen to read as little as possible about the actual game. I decided to check the game mechanics for a bit and noticed that they REALLY toned down the interactivity with objects. This might be old news to everyone but I took it as a bit of a shock at how drastic that part of the gameplay was altered. Doors were even un-clickable and rather part of the actual background textures. Those were the only downsides of the game mechanics that I found.

Now. The story, I have to say, was outstanding in its own way. It was much more vivid and detailed in a sense to me than ATDD's story was. I actually wanted to read the Journal mementos because they had this nice feel that helped connect with the character or at least much more than in ATDD in my opinion. It was indeed pretty interesting finding out about Oswald Mandus' past and his mistakes and I felt "The Machine's" role was a bit of a surprise. It actually reminded me a lot of Red from Penumbra Overture and Clarence from Penumbra Black Plague with how they guided the main character yet never established contact with the player (or in Clarence's case, friendly contact). I also thoroughly enjoyed the twist in the story when the Wretches and other manpigs are released on the streets of London and it turns into apocalyptic in a sense. The main drawback, to me, was how Mandus had to go into the Machine, escape, then go back again just to serve the story's purpose. It made it seem repetitive in a way but that wasn't that big of an issue since every level was different (and gorgeous). I loved that it left bits and pieces unexplained. To me a great work of fiction or art is something that is left open for interpretation so that it captivates the general audience better.

Level design was gorgeous. Mandus's mansion was specially well designed and had a very creepy vibe. It definitely had a late-1800's/early 1900's design so that helped with the immersion and the hollow walls with secret rooms kept everything interesting and refreshing. I especially liked how everything was connected and how it made it feel like you were in an actual mansion or building that had multiple ways of accessing an area rather than a linear level where it is either go forward or go back. The outside world, although shown by bits per scene in the game was very beautiful. I really liked the Church design, as it was always my favorite place since the trailers first showed it and its ending design made me love it. I agree the blue mist made it difficult to see things so maybe that could have been removed or improved. Other than that and the fact that we were not allowed to interact with closets, chests, and doors throughout the game, the level design was pretty solid and well made.

The puzzles were pretty basic. Not much to say in respect to that but that they pretty much toned down the puzzles since ATDD. The change is understandable though with the removal of inventory and all. The only puzzle I had a particularly hard time on was the locked gate whose padlock we had to open by burning it with the weird liquid in the canister but that was because I had no idea the canister changed. Other than that, the puzzles were toned down immensely but I understand why they had to do it.

Finally the scares. The scares, I admit were toned down a lot since ATDD so unfortunately that was the main part about it that happened to be fixed. I realized that what made it scary for me was not knowing what would turn the corner or when a pig would just be standing right there, aside from the light flickering. I admit it started a bit cliche at the beginning with the children running around but being able to interact in the game with that made it an enjoyable experience. I especially liked seeing the pig inside the cage-bed and then returning and seeing that it had escaped. Definitely upped the "aware" and creepiness factor. Other than that the scares were enjoyable even if they were toned down, although I wish they had kept it consistent.

The music, finally. I can't find the correct word for it but it was one of the best things I've heard in a video game yet, or an indie game at the very least.

In general I really enjoyed the game and feel that TCR and Frictional Games did not deserve the negative reviews it got. Regardless, as a game it was very beautiful yet haunting and I would give it 8-9/10.