A Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me invites you on board to a terror fuelled season finale.
Other than being A Dark Pictures Anthology fan, The Devil in Me’s concept is probably why this game is getting this much attention. There is an intense fascination with serial killers among many people. Most notably, since the release of Monster: A Jeffery Dahmer Story, was the main talking point around the world. It was trending on Twitter, YouTube and everything. For some bizarre reason, people are drawn to them and try to learn as much as they can about them.
And with this much thirst, it creates inspiration. And Supermassive Games have done just that by developing a story that depicts America’s first serial killer. Plus, with the plot involving traps and characters being watched, you can bet anything that they have gotten some inspiration from the iconic SAW Franchise.
Since 2019, A Dark Pictures Anthology franchise has strongly made its mark in the gaming world with a series of games that come with a plentiful of terror. And one of the leading aspects of the games is the privilege of making decisions throughout the stories.
Surely, you have some experience with interactive games, and you understand that the toughest thing about them is going through many heart-racing episodes because of the realisation that the decisions you make change the course of the plots and, ultimately, the fates of the characters are in your hands, whether they’re positive or negative. Plus, trying to avoid the worst possible outcome for the playable characters i.e. death.
But you have the mysterious storyteller named the curator, who gives hints and visions of the next chapter to help you make smarter choices. Therefore, it’s vital to pay attention, especially after each chapter. By the way, just a reminder, they’re all standalone games. So, for those who are still wondering, none of the games are sequels or prequels of each other. However, it’s still a series.
If you recall, the previous games were Man of Medan, Little Hope & House of Ashes. But this year, you are getting A Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me, and in case you have forgotten, it draws you to the season one finale.
Following a disappointing series start with Man of Medan, the games have progressively improved in terms of the story, gameplay and so on. So, of course, there is a huge expectation for the latest instalment to offer more than the last game. But will it be able to? That is the question.
A Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me takes you to a documentary crew who received a strange phone call that had invited them to an abandoned mansion, which is said to be a modern-day replica of serial killer H.H. Holmes’ “murder castle”. As time passes by, they come to realise they are about to get more than they bargained for, much more. And what was supposed to be simple filmmaking has transformed into a fight for survival.
You are taking control of five ensemble cast members; from here on out, you are in total control of them and their destinies. And as usual, the choices you are given are mostly timed, so you would have to use your noggin quickly. Do you think you can handle that kind of pressure?
Nevertheless, you don’t have to play the game alone. You can also explore two other multiplayer modes to make things far more exciting. Either play with a friend or on an offline five-player mode in which players pass the controller to each other. The latter brings additional thrills to the mix.
Supermassive Games has done very well to introduce new and much-needed movement mechanics to allow players to get their characters to perform much more than any of the last games. Players are now able to run, jump, and so on. And you can also shimmy and crouch if there are small spaces to get through.
Whilst exploring the environment, A Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me also introduces the privilege of interacting with much more objects, files, and other resources that might pose as hints and premonitions to assist you in making better decisions as you progress. Plus, there’s the brand new inventory feature to aid players in solving puzzles and obstacles.
Speaking of the environment, although, the visuals aren’t what a certain number would consider stellar, you may still appreciate the historic, unique and very creepy designs. Especially, the ones of the year 1893 at the very beginning of the story that showcases the world’s fair hotel and the modern-day replica.
A Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me has done enough to provide enough thrills, mysteries, and not to mention, with the hint of jump-scares to give the fans exactly what they deserve. If you are a fan of the SAW series, you might get a kick out of this title. And it helps considerably when this is supported by very likable characters. All of which have their own somewhat relatable personalities.
If you can excuse the horror aspect of the game, when listening to the character’s conversations, as well as their occasional banters will furnish the required humour to ease players up a bit. Yes, that includes the villains. It wouldn’t be a surprise if players went on to actually learn more about H.H. Holmes and his real-life victims after finishing this game.
On top of the anticipated horror, having to endure a series of intense concentration, crucial decision-making, rapid critical thinking, and quick time events makes surviving everyone more rewarding. In case you were wondering, this instalment is longer than any other game of the franchise, so you would feel like you are getting your money’s worth.
Unfortunately, like most games, A Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me does have flaws, and obvious ones, too. Let’s start with probably the most noticeable one being how very inconsistent the visuals are. Stunning environmental designs, but the graphics of the characters’ bodies do not match. Although, their facial models and features are unfathomably impressive. Additionally, some of the animations are not much better, in spite of the much-improved mechanics.
Also, for some obscure reason, you still aren’t given the option of skipping certain cutscenes after completing the game. Unless, of course, you don’t necessarily mind spending many hours going through the game again. This is a particular problem for those who aren’t willing to repeatedly use up that much time, and for some players, the chance of replaying the game gets lower.
A Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me is another proficient project in Supermassive Games’ portfolio and offers a bloodthirsty finale to a very popular and addictive series that will surely have your eyes locked to your screens from start to finish. However, despite the number of improvements and additions made, the previous instalment, House of Ashes is the better title and arguably the best one in the franchise. Mainly due to its main plot. Nonetheless, the latter is most definitely worth your time.
Moreover, fans will be surely excited for A Dark Pictures Anthology season two, seeing as it was confirmed with a reveal trailer at the end credits of A Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me. The first game in the next series is a sci-fi horror called, Directive 8020. There is no official release date for it yet.
A Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me is available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Microsoft Windows. Also, follow our website for the latest video game reviews.
