Amnesia: The Dark Descent

[Astalano]

My only advice as to reduce the scary is to keep in mind that death is practically meaningless in Amnesia. You respawn basically three feet away, most of the times.

Isn't there a message that pops up that says that you should play for the experience and the atmosphere, not to win?

Anyway, Amnesia was GOTY 2010. Best designed game of the year. I did play Mass Effect 2 and it doesn't even come close.

Just proves a timeless saying: Necessity is the mother of invention.

They killed themselves to make the game with a limited budget, but that tight focus spawned something that a developer with tons more money can only dream of making.

 

[Astalano]

Does anyone else besides me think the ending(s) were really lame? I mean comon,

Spoiler

Alexander has an army of zombie servants at his disposal but he just sits there waiting for you to destroy his portal? Also both the endings that don't involve using Agrippa's head didn't really make sense because 1. why would Daniel just sit their for the bad ending 2. In the neutral ending, why does Daniel act all smug and wholesome even though he didn't save Agrippa and 3. Also in the neutral ending, the screen going white and the sound of something collapsing made it unclear whether or not Daniel escaped or he died by the castle collapsing on him as he was leaving.

Spoiler

There are actually 4 endings. If you wait in your cell you get another ending where the shadow catches up with you. Also, Alexander has a giant castle falling apart, with tons of prisoners and other things to take care of. He doesn't even realize for half the game that Daniel is moving against him. Even when he does decide to finally stop him, he doesn't seem to have any desire to kill Daniel, he just locks him up, which is justified, because firstly, you don't really do any damage to the castle or kill anyone and secondly, Daniel and Alexander went through a lot together and Alexander seems to feel guilty about a lot of the things he's done to try to get back to his world and his love.

1. You might feel guilty about a lot of the things the old Daniel did and you might find it ok if Alexander deserves to go back to his love while Daniel receives arguably justified punishment from the Shadow.

2. Smug? I didn't really get that impression.

3. Probably the Shadow's work.

Also, the neutral ending IS the Agrippa ending or the "special" ending. The bad ending is letting Alexander live and the good is collapsing the portal.

 

[AnAngryMoose]

Does anyone else besides me think the ending(s) were really lame? I mean comon,

Spoiler

Alexander has an army of zombie servants at his disposal but he just sits there waiting for you to destroy his portal? Also both the endings that don't involve using Agrippa's head didn't really make sense because 1. why would Daniel just sit their for the bad ending 2. In the neutral ending, why does Daniel act all smug and wholesome even though he didn't save Agrippa and 3. Also in the neutral ending, the screen going white and the sound of something collapsing made it unclear whether or not Daniel escaped or he died by the castle collapsing on him as he was leaving.

There are actually 4 endings. If you wait in your cell you get another ending where the shadow catches up with you.

Spoiler tags, mate. Some of us (me) haven't played the game and are curious.

OT: I've been debating on whether or not to play. It looks awesome, but I know that I'll become a chronic insomniac if I play it. This video made me want to play it:


It makes the game look enjoyable and not as terrifying.

 

[Luke5515]

Just finished this weekend. If it gets to scary, just stop and come back latter. It's better than turning on the lights and plugging the speakers instead of headphones.

Also, is it weird that I knew all the torture instruments before they were explained?

 

[Astalano]

Just finished this weekend. If it gets to scary, just stop and come back latter. It's better than turning on the lights and plugging the speakers instead of headphones.

Also, is it weird that I knew all the torture instruments before they were explained?

Maybe you're a time travelling medieval torturer? If not, then, maybe a little weird.

 

[Luke5515]

Does anyone else besides me think the ending(s) were really lame? I mean comon,

Spoiler

Alexander has an army of zombie servants at his disposal but he just sits there waiting for you to destroy his portal? Also both the endings that don't involve using Agrippa's head didn't really make sense because 1. why would Daniel just sit their for the bad ending 2. In the neutral ending, why does Daniel act all smug and wholesome even though he didn't save Agrippa and 3. Also in the neutral ending, the screen going white and the sound of something collapsing made it unclear whether or not Daniel escaped or he died by the castle collapsing on him as he was leaving.

Actually, I could be wrong about this, but i think

Spoiler

He only has 3. There's the fucked up face one, the metal arm one, and the body of one you find. There could be more, but he really didn't have all that many. I wouldn't know about the other ending though, I did the right thing.

 

[Julianking93]

I've played it a total of 1 hour, according to Steam and... I don't know if I can play anymore >.>
Way too scary.
I'm stuck on one part that is just too much for me.
I wasn't even this scared when playing Silent Hill 2 >.>

 

[zpm4737]

Does anyone else besides me think the ending(s) were really lame? I mean comon,

Spoiler

Alexander has an army of zombie servants at his disposal but he just sits there waiting for you to destroy his portal? Also both the endings that don't involve using Agrippa's head didn't really make sense because 1. why would Daniel just sit their for the bad ending 2. In the neutral ending, why does Daniel act all smug and wholesome even though he didn't save Agrippa and 3. Also in the neutral ending, the screen going white and the sound of something collapsing made it unclear whether or not Daniel escaped or he died by the castle collapsing on him as he was leaving.

Spoiler

I thought Alexander didn't have control over the monsters. The monsters come from the shadow, which was a separate entity from Alexander, unless my memory is patchy.

 

[Astalano]

Does anyone else besides me think the ending(s) were really lame? I mean comon,

Spoiler

Alexander has an army of zombie servants at his disposal but he just sits there waiting for you to destroy his portal? Also both the endings that don't involve using Agrippa's head didn't really make sense because 1. why would Daniel just sit their for the bad ending 2. In the neutral ending, why does Daniel act all smug and wholesome even though he didn't save Agrippa and 3. Also in the neutral ending, the screen going white and the sound of something collapsing made it unclear whether or not Daniel escaped or he died by the castle collapsing on him as he was leaving.

Spoiler

I thought Alexander didn't have control over the monsters. The monsters come from the shadow, which was a separate entity from Alexander, unless my memory is patchy.

Spoiler

No, that wine cellar bit of the game is actually beings from Alexander's world entering the bodies of the 3 men and serving as Alexander's servants or "gatherers".

 

[KafkaOffTheBeach]

The Prison.

Fuck the Prison, seriously.
That entire segment of the game was pure, unadulterated terror and brick shitting for me.

This. So much this.
I played this segment at 3am after a mild night of drinking. At one point I needed to take a toilet break, so I walked to the door and looked out at the dark, empty corridor that leads to the toilet in my apartment building. Fucking SPRINTED there and back, before sitting and watching the door, before realising what I was doing.
Also, I had the VERY WORST luck in the prison section. I had saved just as soon as I had gotten through the very organic stone tunnel, and when I reloaded I was directly facing the monster. Goddamn.
The 'find the kitchen' segment was hell for me as well. I thought I had it covered - I just needed to get to the kitchen to put de acid in de container and shake it all up, but, just when the very imposing pre-opened (due to a previous unfortunate encounter) door came into sight, I got a blast of a full-surround monster voice - indicating that he was fucking close, but not precisely indicating where. Sprinting up the steps, I turned around and slammed the door before hearing it again. Louder. And I could definitely tell the direction this time.
I took one hit as I ran back through, sprinting down the stairs as fast as I could. Navigating well through the unforgiving stone corridors; there was hope for me "YES!" I thought "I AM MOTHERFUCKING DANIEL, monsters better realise they are dealing with the goddamn SPRINT CHAMPION OF ENGLAND! I fucking HAVE THIS!"
Then he tripped, the appalling lack of sanity taking its toll.
Bricks were shat.


Plus, and these are not spoilers, merely speculation, I am convinced that Daniels relationship with Alexander wasn't entirely.......surface level.
I am positive, in fact.

 

[MetaKnight19]

OT: I've been debating on whether or not to play. It looks awesome, but I know that I'll become a chronic insomniac if I play it. This video made me want to play it:


It makes the game look enjoyable and not as terrifying.

Dammit, you ninja'd me to the video. Anyway, I still have to finish it at some point but can't find the time.

 

[zpm4737]

Does anyone else besides me think the ending(s) were really lame? I mean comon,

Spoiler

Alexander has an army of zombie servants at his disposal but he just sits there waiting for you to destroy his portal? Also both the endings that don't involve using Agrippa's head didn't really make sense because 1. why would Daniel just sit their for the bad ending 2. In the neutral ending, why does Daniel act all smug and wholesome even though he didn't save Agrippa and 3. Also in the neutral ending, the screen going white and the sound of something collapsing made it unclear whether or not Daniel escaped or he died by the castle collapsing on him as he was leaving.

Spoiler

I thought Alexander didn't have control over the monsters. The monsters come from the shadow, which was a separate entity from Alexander, unless my memory is patchy.

Spoiler

No, that wine cellar bit of the game is actually beings from Alexander's world entering the bodies of the 3 men and serving as Alexander's servants or "gatherers".

Spoiler

No, I'm pretty sure that bit was just those guys being poisoned. Alexander had someone he used to kidnap people, but that guy was a regular servant

 

[KafkaOffTheBeach]

Spoiler tags, mate. Some of us (me) haven't played the game and are curious.

OT: I've been debating on whether or not to play. It looks awesome, but I know that I'll become a chronic insomniac if I play it. This video made me want to play it:


It makes the game look enjoyable and not as terrifying.

AHAHAHAHAH!
Me and a friend played through that section at his house in the country.
Pretty much the same reaction.

Just putting this out there - but I think Amnesia has got to be one of the best multiplayer games out there.

 

[Kevonovitch]

i'm not that far in i don't think, and things going "abloogy woogy woo" and yet somehow not there is kinda creepy, especially when i know i'm like a friggen meatbag who can't even defend himself in anyway.

 

[Astalano]

Does anyone else besides me think the ending(s) were really lame? I mean comon,

Spoiler

Alexander has an army of zombie servants at his disposal but he just sits there waiting for you to destroy his portal? Also both the endings that don't involve using Agrippa's head didn't really make sense because 1. why would Daniel just sit their for the bad ending 2. In the neutral ending, why does Daniel act all smug and wholesome even though he didn't save Agrippa and 3. Also in the neutral ending, the screen going white and the sound of something collapsing made it unclear whether or not Daniel escaped or he died by the castle collapsing on him as he was leaving.

Spoiler

I thought Alexander didn't have control over the monsters. The monsters come from the shadow, which was a separate entity from Alexander, unless my memory is patchy.

Spoiler

No, that wine cellar bit of the game is actually beings from Alexander's world entering the bodies of the 3 men and serving as Alexander's servants or "gatherers".

Spoiler

No, I'm pretty sure that bit was just those guys being poisoned. Alexander had someone he used to kidnap people, but that guy was a regular servant

Spoiler

From development blog: "The finalized idea was that these ?servants? were actually beings from beyond that had been summoned into bodies of humans. Once inside humans, they did their best to deform the host into a body that they are used to control, shattering bones, tearing flesh and producing cancer-like growths. This in turned resulted in a scene where the player witness how some humans under great pain are taken over, showing how designing graphics can shape the story, as well as the reverse."

 

[Jon Shannow]

I spent a good 20 minutes hiding in a cupboard. I both love and fucking hate that game

 

[zpm4737]

Does anyone else besides me think the ending(s) were really lame? I mean comon,

Spoiler

Alexander has an army of zombie servants at his disposal but he just sits there waiting for you to destroy his portal? Also both the endings that don't involve using Agrippa's head didn't really make sense because 1. why would Daniel just sit their for the bad ending 2. In the neutral ending, why does Daniel act all smug and wholesome even though he didn't save Agrippa and 3. Also in the neutral ending, the screen going white and the sound of something collapsing made it unclear whether or not Daniel escaped or he died by the castle collapsing on him as he was leaving.

Spoiler

I thought Alexander didn't have control over the monsters. The monsters come from the shadow, which was a separate entity from Alexander, unless my memory is patchy.

Spoiler

No, that wine cellar bit of the game is actually beings from Alexander's world entering the bodies of the 3 men and serving as Alexander's servants or "gatherers".

Spoiler

No, I'm pretty sure that bit was just those guys being poisoned. Alexander had someone he used to kidnap people, but that guy was a regular servant

Spoiler

From development blog: "The finalized idea was that these ?servants? were actually beings from beyond that had been summoned into bodies of humans. Once inside humans, they did their best to deform the host into a body that they are used to control, shattering bones, tearing flesh and producing cancer-like growths. This in turned resulted in a scene where the player witness how some humans under great pain are taken over, showing how designing graphics can shape the story, as well as the reverse."

Was that mentioned in the game?

 

[Astalano]

Was that mentioned in the game?

Spoiler

It's hinted at, although not made clear, which is probably the point. Doesn't really matter at the end of the day how the monsters are made, just pointing out a fact.

 

[AnAngryMoose]

Spoiler tags, mate. Some of us (me) haven't played the game and are curious.

OT: I've been debating on whether or not to play. It looks awesome, but I know that I'll become a chronic insomniac if I play it. This video made me want to play it:


It makes the game look enjoyable and not as terrifying.

AHAHAHAHAH!
Me and a friend played through that section at his house in the country.
Pretty much the same reaction.

Just putting this out there - but I think Amnesia has got to be one of the best multiplayer games out there.

Good multiplayer you say? I think you just sold me on it. (I know that it's singleplayer by the way and I understand what you're getting at.