SOMA (PC)
“I know Kung Fu.”
You won’t hear cheesy lines for unintentional comedic relief, however SOMA, by Frictional Games, manages to draw on themes from the Matrix and make them their own. The existence of an alternate, artificial reality is a theme they both hammer home, yet SOMA does it so well that you won’t ever feel like it’s just another Matrix rip off. They take this theme and craft it into their own story that makes one ponder on the existence of life, existentialism, and the definition of reality.
The game starts you out as a character named Simon who lives a rather depressing, yet ordinary life in Toronto after losing his girlfriend to a car crash. What follows, spirals into a sci-fi psychological thriller that turned into a standout surprise for 2015.
Don’t get me wrong, the game does have its tense and sometimes unsettling moments. Grim murder scenes, flashing lights, and something bumping in the vent overhead are horror-game elements that can be found in SOMA, yet the final reveal doesn’t make me say ‘oh shit’. Other games make you fear those bumps and creaks because you know the danger behind the threat that stalks you. There’s a reason to fear it. In SOMA, you learn too much about the enemy, too soon (it’s made obvious within the first hour or two of the game), and quickly realize there’s nothing to be afraid of. The enemy just isn’t scary.The labeling of “sci-fi psychologicalthriller” is an important thing to note. It is unfortunately going to be the one thing that possibly leads to this games downfall. Frictional Games, whether intentionally or not, marketed the game with a horror spin on it. Being a fan of horror games I was very much looking forward to the game, yet what I discovered was nothing of the sort. I’ve stumbled across a number of users on message boards stating (and I paraphrase) “played it for an hour, not scary, bad game, 0/10.”
It’s unfortunate really that the games marketing may have affected peoples’ expectations for the game, because if you take the game for what it actually is, it’s a highlight from 2015 merely for the story alone. For the first time in quite a while now, I’ve sought out fellow SOMA players to debate the themes and ending of the game. Everyone seems to put video games on a different playing field then other forms of media when judging story. We like to discuss whether a games story is good or not, but then throw in an asterisk next to that rating clarifying that’s it’s a good “when compared to other video games.” SOMA takes that asterisk and throws it out the window. For the sake of your enjoyment, I am doing my best to refrain from giving away any aspects to the game’s story because it truly is a treat. The story is what will make you want to witness the final scenes.
With that in mind, while the highlight feature of SOMA is its story and atmosphere, other mechanics have taken a back seat. Tose looking for an action game should consider passing on the game entirely since the action is essentially non-existent. For others that are looking for a survival-stealth game, the game presents segments of cat-and-mouse gameplay, yet it’s poorly implemented. As stated before, the enemy never really scared me, and for that reason the stealth segments didn’t feel tense; they were just downright annoying. Don’t get me wrong, the game is more than just an interactive movie with stopgap stealth scenes though. Those who enjoyed the physics puzzles of Half-Life 2 may enjoy some of the puzzles in SOMA. Throughout your adventure you’ll encounter foreign mechanisms, and corrupt computer files that will require wits and unorthodox thinking in order to progress. And these machines and computer systems fit in nicely with the overarching atmosphere and premise of empowered AI and the decline of humanity.
SOMA will most likely become a polarizing piece of work in the gaming community. Some will give it a bad rap because “it’s not scary” or “there’s no gameplay.” Others may play it and find it so atmospheric and immersive that it’s considered a must play.
As for me? While I found myself frustrated with some of the controls and the forced stealth sections, it was overall an enjoying thrill ride that has made me ponder deeper thoughts than just “What makes a game – a game?” I’m pondering the meaning of life and reality. The existence of an afterlife. I know this sounds really dumb and isn’t something you’d expect to read in a video game review, but it’s true. Frictional Games have managed to tackle these questions in a meaningful, thought-provoking way, and for that, I raise my glass and tip my hat to them.
Simply put, SOMA is a fantastic experience through and through.
