SOMA is a depressing sci-fi horror tale that takes the Cassette Futurism aesthetic from Alien and thrusts it deep into the bottom of the ocean.
While that's definitely simplifying things quite a bit the aesthetic of big clunky technology wasting away at the bottom of the ocean is initially what drew me into SOMA. It's so much more than that but it's also the gel holding everything else together. The hum of electronics and the creaking of the station as it drips with water set the mood perfectly for the tragedy of PATHOS-II.
I don't want to give too much away but the story here is awesome. It's a story that might challenge some of your beliefs and it gives you a lot to chew on even after it's finished. All of the actors did a great job and pretty much melted into their roles, which is good since the biggest way you'll get story in this game is through snooping through terminal messages and listening to tapes of these characters.
When you're not being a snoop you'll probably be running for your life from nightmarish creatures. The combination of music and sound design really messed with me in the best way. They sound horrific even when they aren't chasing you, the dull thuds of a corpse's footsteps being surprisingly intimidating. The animation on these creatures was stellar too and I'd watch them more if I didn't have to be in their line of site to get a good view of them.
Investigating the decrepit environments of PATHOS-II and the surrounding ocean was a joy. I love seeing nature reclaiming things, and while you'll get a good deal of that there's also something else trying to set it's claim on the facility and seeing those two things intermingle fed that part of my brain all the same. There are plenty of horrific sights which made me stop in my tracks, seeing the havoc that took place can be mesmerizing but the beauty of coral and barnacles growing on flooded facilities was nice as well. Sometimes I would just take a moment to look up and see all the fish floating by. The team seriously did a wonderful job on environmental design and world building.
If you enjoy classic 70s sci-fi, deep sea stuff, terrifying body horror, and deep philosophical questions, SOMA is definitely up your alley. This one really struck a chord with me and if anything said in this review intrigues you I'll bet it'll do the same to you.
While that's definitely simplifying things quite a bit the aesthetic of big clunky technology wasting away at the bottom of the ocean is initially what drew me into SOMA. It's so much more than that but it's also the gel holding everything else together. The hum of electronics and the creaking of the station as it drips with water set the mood perfectly for the tragedy of PATHOS-II.
I don't want to give too much away but the story here is awesome. It's a story that might challenge some of your beliefs and it gives you a lot to chew on even after it's finished. All of the actors did a great job and pretty much melted into their roles, which is good since the biggest way you'll get story in this game is through snooping through terminal messages and listening to tapes of these characters.
When you're not being a snoop you'll probably be running for your life from nightmarish creatures. The combination of music and sound design really messed with me in the best way. They sound horrific even when they aren't chasing you, the dull thuds of a corpse's footsteps being surprisingly intimidating. The animation on these creatures was stellar too and I'd watch them more if I didn't have to be in their line of site to get a good view of them.
Investigating the decrepit environments of PATHOS-II and the surrounding ocean was a joy. I love seeing nature reclaiming things, and while you'll get a good deal of that there's also something else trying to set it's claim on the facility and seeing those two things intermingle fed that part of my brain all the same. There are plenty of horrific sights which made me stop in my tracks, seeing the havoc that took place can be mesmerizing but the beauty of coral and barnacles growing on flooded facilities was nice as well. Sometimes I would just take a moment to look up and see all the fish floating by. The team seriously did a wonderful job on environmental design and world building.
If you enjoy classic 70s sci-fi, deep sea stuff, terrifying body horror, and deep philosophical questions, SOMA is definitely up your alley. This one really struck a chord with me and if anything said in this review intrigues you I'll bet it'll do the same to you.
Reviewed on May 12, 2022