A code was provided by the publisher for the purpose of this Amnesia: The Bunker review.
The name “Amnesia” feels like a relic from the not-so distant past of horror games. The first game is regarded as one of the scariest of all-time. And while subsequent entries in the series haven’t quite reached the lofty heights of the original, there was a significant amount of interest in Amnesia: The Bunker pre-launch. Thankfully, it doesn’t disappoint.
The Bunker takes place during World War I in 1916. French soldier Henri Clement finds himself trapped in an underground labyrinth surrounded by his slain comrades and the ever-present threat of a light-sensitive monster known as “the Beast”.
Unlike previous games in the series, Amensia: The Bunker features a semi-open world that allows you to explore the titular bunker with a degree of freedom. Henri’s objective is to escape with his life; however, the exit is blocked and getting out of the wartime hellhole requires him to go further underground. Along the way, notes and diary entries fill in the blanks in Henri’s memory. These pockets of lore provide important backstory and serve as an anchor pulling you down further into the complex.
Besides escaping, your other primary objective is to avoid the Beast. Fortunately, there is a single saving grace: the bunker’s generator. Keeping it fuelled up and powered on is absolutely essential. Without it, the lights inside the complex go out and you are left at the Beast’s mercy. Worst of all, the monster’s guttural growling intermittently rumbles around the dark corridors reminding you of its constant presence.
Keeping the generator refuelled is no easy task, though. Your inventory space is limited and fuel needs to be hauled back to the generator before its tank drains to zero. It is possible to increase your carrying capacity; although, as with any good survival horror game, you still find yourself forced to choose between precious fuel and other useful items like grenades and med-kits.
When you find yourself trapped in the darkness, Henri has a dynamo-flashlight that he can use to illuminate the path ahead. Unfortunately, it is ineffective at keeping the stalking Beast at bay, so keeping the overhead lights on is crucial to Henri’s survival.
Henri is also armed with a trusty revolver but ammo is sparse. Each bullet must be loaded manually and it is a painstaking process when you feel threatened by imminent and unseen danger. Still, it makes for an immersive horror experience that leaves you feeling painfully vulnerable.
To progress onwards, you have to solve small puzzles like combination locks and ways around blocked paths. These repeated hurdles force you to explore the underground world even when you don’t want to. What’s more, much of Amensia: The Bunker is random thanks to a degree of procedural generation. This makes the game highly re-playable (if, of course, you have the stomach to endure it a second time).
Amensia: The Bunker review – Verdict
Amnesia: The Bunker delivers a nerve shredding survival horror experience that lives up to the series’ legacy.
While it is a largely linear experience, the game allows you a refreshing degree of freedom when it comes to navigating around the underground world. How much of it you explore is up to you — that depends on the limits of your desire to be stalked by a monster as you wander into the unknown.
Graphically, Amnesia: The Bunker is nothing remarkable. However, it still effectively captures the brutality of its First World War setting in parallel with its supernatural horror story.
Depending on your tolerance for repetition, there is a chance you will find running back and forth between the safe room and your shifting objectives something of a chore. But it is a necessary evil that’s required to foster the undeniable sense of nail-biting tension.
Ultimately, Amnesia: The Bunker comes together as a thrilling race against the clock that should keep even the most steely-nerved players on their toes.
Overall Rating: 8/10
Version played: PC (Steam)
Have you played Amnesia: The Bunker? What did you think? Let us know in the comment section below and don’t forget to check out our other gaming articles…
