Amnesia: The Collection
- November 22, 2016
- Frictional Games
This collection gives you an authentic horror experience: tense moments, a feeling of helplessness, and an environment you can’t help but exist in, even though you wish you were anywhere else.
The cult classic Amnesia horror series is finally available for Playstation 4. This collection contains all three games: The Dark Descent, Justine and A Machine For Pigs.
Reviews
- The collection offers an authentic horror experience with great atmosphere, sound design, and a sense of helplessness.
- Amnesia: The Dark Descent is considered a milestone in the horror genre, providing plenty of scares and immersive gameplay.
- The inclusion of three distinct experiences in one package provides solid value for both newcomers and fans of the series.
- The games show their age with dated visuals, low framerates, and some mechanical issues, particularly on console.
- Justine is too short and lacks depth, while A Machine for Pigs is seen as disappointing and plagued by technical issues.
- Existing fans may find little new content, and some puzzles can be unclear, making the experience frustrating at times.
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, featuring a wonderful soundtrack and effective sound design that enhance the experience. Reviewers highlight the game's tense and chilling ambiance, complemented by exquisite level design and attention to detail, making it both atmospheric and engaging. The physics-based interactions further contribute to a tactile and immersive feel, maintaining its scare factor even years after release.
“Great atmospheres, wonderful soundtrack, and audio effects.”
“Extremely atmospheric, tense, chilling, and at times terrifying. Simple and challenging puzzles, lavish attention to detail, and exquisite level design.”
“Still atmospheric and scary six years later; physics-based interaction gives The Dark Descent a tactile and immersive feel.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews highlight a lack of motion controls for the Switch version and a loss of some mechanics in the sequel, alongside issues like low framerates. Despite these drawbacks, the core hide-and-seek gameplay remains engaging, with strong sound design enhancing the overall experience.
“The dark descent is a milestone for the genre that belies its own mechanical issues by offering some good, old-fashioned scares.”
“The hide and seek gameplay holds up well, and while more could have been done with the visual presentation, the sound design is top-tier.”
“The lack of motion controls for the Switch is disappointing, and the sequel has lost some mechanics that made the original enjoyable. Additionally, the low framerates detract from the overall experience.”
“The hide and seek gameplay holds up well, but more could have been done with the visual presentation.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The graphics have been criticized for their dated visuals, with some users noting a blur effect that detracts from the overall experience. Additionally, the controls on console are reported to be less than ideal, further impacting the visual presentation.
“The blur effect is overwhelming and detracts from the overall experience.”
“The visuals feel dated and lack the polish expected from modern games.”
“The graphics are underwhelming and fail to impress, making the game feel less immersive.”
- story2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The story in "Justine" is a brief yet experimental exploration of gruesome themes, while "A Machine for Pigs" offers a more immersive narrative that delves into the tragic backstory of a slaughterhouse, enhancing the overall experience with emotional depth and numerous scares.
“Justine is a brief but experimental foray into gruesome puzzle-solving that’s well worth the detour, and A Machine for Pigs takes a more stripped-down approach to the original’s systems, but introduces a much more immersive story as a result.”
“Two great games, plenty to explore in Brennenberg Castle, a heartbreaking story behind the slaughterhouse machinery, tons of scares all around.”
“The story felt disjointed and lacked a coherent narrative, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“I found the plot twists predictable and the character development shallow, which diminished my overall experience.”
“The pacing of the story was uneven, leading to moments of confusion and frustration rather than excitement.”
- music1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for creating great atmospheres, complemented by a wonderful soundtrack and effective audio effects that enhance the overall experience.
“The game features great atmospheres, a wonderful soundtrack, and impressive audio effects.”
“The music perfectly complements the gameplay, enhancing the overall experience.”
“Each track is beautifully composed, making every moment in the game feel immersive.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the games is highlighted by a deeply heartbreaking narrative tied to the slaughterhouse machinery, which adds a layer of poignancy to the exploration of Brennenberg Castle. Players experience a mix of fear and sorrow, enhancing the overall impact of the story.
“A heartbreaking story behind the slaughterhouse machinery that truly resonates with players.”
“The emotional depth of the narrative adds layers to the gameplay experience.”
“The atmosphere is filled with tension and fear, making every moment feel impactful.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that the game's stability is somewhat lacking, with a few visual bugs and physics glitches noted. Additionally, the absence of new content has contributed to a sense of disappointment among players.
“Lacking new content, with a few visual bugs and physics glitches; overall, it's a bit disappointing.”
“The game frequently crashes, making it frustrating to play.”
“I encountered several stability issues that ruined my gaming experience.”
Critic Reviews
Amnesia Collection Review
This collection gives you an authentic horror experience: tense moments, a feeling of helplessness, and an environment you can’t help but exist in, even though you wish you were anywhere else.
85%Amnesia: Collection Review
Before Hideo Kojima’s P.T. scared us beyond belief and VR headsets immersed us in horrific experiences that nearly make us soil our undergarments, Frictional Games’ Amnesia: The Dark Descent was considered by many as the pinnacle of the horror genre.
80%Amnesia: Collection Review
Despite being a set that includes three entries in the same series, the Amnesia: Collection actually offers three very distinct experiences. The Dark Descent is a milestone for the genre that belies its own mechanical issues by offering some good, old-fashioned scares. Justine is a brief but experimental foray into gruesome puzzle-solving that’s well worth the detour, and A Machine for Pigs takes a more stripped-down approach to the original’s systems, but introduces a much more immersive story as a result. It’s a proper little time capsule that’s perfect for those who’ve already exhausted their fear glands with Outlast and Layers of Fear and want another means to chill their blood in the run-up to Halloween.
80%