SOMA PS4 Review

SOMA is a Sci-Fi Survivor Horror game for PC and PS4, which was developed and published by Frictional Games who are known for their previous titles such as Pennumbra and Amnesia series. 

I haven't tried any of their previous titles until I've played this because SOMA is the game that caught my attention after watching their promotional trailer on YouTube just right before buying this game for my PS4. After spent playing an hours, this type of game is very similar with other Survivor Horror games or 80's horror movies, so it sorta like Outlast meets The Abyss and I'm very impressed with the story presentation with mysterious plot-twist, insane atmosphere with disturbing creatures and terrifying jumpscares, well designed graphics design and decent puzzle-solving gameplay that made the game worth for playing for gaming horror fans. 

So without go further do, let's start the review.

Presentation

Before this game takes place in an underwater research facility known as PATHOS-II, it's starts off in 2015 with the person named Simon Jarrett who was suffered with his severe brain injury due to car accident and he has an brain scan appointment with the Doctor named David Munshi began to experimenting on Simon's brain until the scan went horribly wrong which causing Simon to black out and regains consciousness in Site Upsilon of PATHOS-II. After Simon learns that he has awoken in the year 2104, his goal is to escape from the underwater facility which is full of mysterious creatures known as WAU. 

The story in the game was sounds very interesting when its comes with huge crazy plot-twist explaining how the hell Simon ends up looped in wrong year after brain scan disaster and why the WAU creatures exists in research facility that kills many of innocent humans because Simon felt that he's not in the right universe as the ones in 2015 which the story tells that the person was been unconsciousness in the same day as his appointment until he finally woken up in 89 years later. 

Simon is a quite impressive character because I liked his personality and bravery in the game. He's just the survivor who wanted to get out of the facility with the help of woman named Catherine Chun who instructs him to come to her whereabouts as he contacted her through his omnitool devices. I also liked the concepts of WAU which I'm finding them looked terrifying depending what type of WAU monster. One of them teleports randomly towards player which increases the chance of jumpscares and the other one starts chases the player around the room which was the most scariest chase sequence so far as the screen static starts scattering and fuzzing during the chase scene. I finding the player's death tends to be very disturbing due to multiple of gory imagery. So far, I liked the horror atmosphere of the game that offers unexpected jumpscares, horrifying chase sequence and the scarier enemies design which increases the overall scare factor of the game. I liked the Atlantic ocean theme of the environments with amazing underwater atmosphere and the research facility is pretty reminds of similar late 80's Sci-Fi movies such as The Abyss which adds the interesting concepts of level design.

Overall, the game is well presented with unique story, underwater theme and horror atmosphere that just got the game right.

Gameplay

You take control of Simon played on first person perspective, so the player will encounter a number of creatures in gameplay aspects. Your aim is to survive and escape from the facility by solving problems with several clues and evading WAU's nearby. 

While the player is combatless, the player can able to interact things such as items that you can pick up and throw things, flipping switches to turn on the generators, pressing button to unlock the doors, and using computers to gather information about the history of PATHOS-II. During the stealth gameplay, your character can able to lean left and right side to peak through without getting caught by WAU nearby and to decrease the WAU's reaction using the crouch button is to help prevent making noises and you can distract them by throwing objects in random places. Your player can also run through the area by holding trigger button, but it will increase the chances of making noises causing WAU to chase you around the rooms, so be careful at your own risk. Using the torch is very useful for most of the dark rooms and you can also heal your health by touching one of the blue circle creatures from different rooms only if you're been knocked out once by WAU creatures, but you may die in the game by getting knocked out twice. The player will progresses through puzzle solving which involves getting power generators on to turn on electricity powers, inserting new chip into omnitool devices allowing to scan things, and using computers to fix the troubleshoot on whole facility such as activating doors. 

Controlling the player is pretty responsive and reliable with having no issues at all. The puzzle aspects is quite very challenging to get used with solving problems around the levels which is excellent for certain horror games genre. The stealth simulation is done perfectly right for slow-paced gameplay which gives a huge satisfying to player's experience, while the chase sequences are also pretty good, but it can be very annoying at the same time due to overused enemy's encountering attack which I felt the enemy is moving too fast on player making it bit impossible to successfully evading from them. I also liked the exploration in the levels where I can able to discover new rooms with bunch of the audio types and notes which is quite useful to discover things in the game.  

Overall, it has decent controls, excellent puzzle aspects, cool exploration and great stealth gameplay.

Graphics

The graphics design in the whole game is looking spectacular regarding their graphics engine that runs really well on the PS4 system. The whole environment of facility area are dark and sinister that really fits the mood of the game and the animation on the enemy looked really wicked with thick-blackened design to make it more frightening creatures and the underwater is looking realistic with great splashing effects. The visuals has really disturbing static screen effects and gory images in the game that really creeped out the players is pretty well made for modern day survivor horror game. I also liked the lighting effects of using torch is quite amazing for most of the dark rooms giving a nice use of brightness. It has large level design for both underwater and facility giving a player freedom to explore the whole area which is fantastic and well presented.   

Overall, It has dark environment, wicked enemy's animation, disturbing visuals and large level design. 

Music and Sounds

The music in the game has both dark and pleasant themed soundtrack. The soundtrack on chase sequences has frightening industrial style which fits well for chasing scenes, while the other soundtrack can be very fascinating and calm for some non-horror parts which feels like you're on moment of relief. The sound effects does have terrifying background noise which is great for jumpscares parts, and the static noises and WAU's screaming sounds is just making you feel how scary the game was which I finding the use of sound effects is quite outstanding. The voice actors is sounds very professional for most of the characters can express their emotions and personality which kinda worked well for story presentation. 

Overall, it has fantastic soundtrack, outstanding sound effects and well professional voice overs. 

Special Features

The game has lacked any of DLC content and extras which is kinda disappointing, but at least it has trophy achievements in the game. 

Overall, no DLC and extras. Kinda shame.

Advantages

Unique story

Horror atmosphere including jumpscares

Decent gameplay

Dark graphics

Fantastic soundtrack

Disadvantages

Long loading times

Overused enemy's encountering attack

Lack of special features

Final Verdict

Presentation 8/10 - unique story, underwater theme and horror atmosphere.

Gameplay 7.5/10 - decent controls, excellent puzzle aspects, cool exploration and great stealth gameplay.

Graphics 8.5/10 - dark environment, wicked enemy's animation, disturbing visuals and large level design.

Music and Sounds 8.5/10 - fantastic soundtrack, outstanding sound effects and well professional voice overs.

Special Features 3/10 - no DLC and extras.

Overall 8/10 - SOMA is a one of the Frictional Games's solid title that brings an amazing horror experience for players to meet their satisfaction. It has stunning presentation that offers well written story and the use of scare factor that makes the game look mysterious and scary at the same time. The quality of gameplay, graphics and soundtrack are also fascinating which works really well for the modern day horror game. If you're the fan of their previous titles then I dare you to go buy this from PS Store or Steam, turn your lights off, and play this game in the dark because SOMA is a great example that gives you an epic scare moments and will satisfy you well for overall game.

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