Graham Apgar

It is a flawed game, for sure. However, I believe it is absolutely great for 2 reasons. First, it deliberately taps into a deep seated religious anxiety that I think many people around my age can relate to, particularly those of us who spent time in churches and religious places in our youth. It's unusual to see a game play with a generation's subconscious so purposefully and effectively. It felt like it could have literally been the premise of one of my own worst nightmares. Second, the graphics are utilized to the highest degree to make the game immersive. If this had been made years ago, it would not have been possible to really bring this idea to life, but thanks to some really intelligent use of the Unreal engine, the various graphical effects like film grain, blur, reflections, shadows and fog, all come together to make the game work atmospherically. A lot of games use these effects to make things pretty, but this is an example where they all actually are made to serve a purpose, and it really shows that graphics can be more than just eye candy. These 2 accomplishments really outshine the negative aspects of the game for me. I would say it is a must play if you feel even slightly interested in the concept.