2.5/5 ★ – MPT's review of Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs.

A Machine for Pigs is a sequel that just does everything a bit worse than the game before it (aside from, in my opinion, the story). it amounts to quite an average game which is a bit of a shame considering how creepy and unique the first one was, but there’s still some stuff that redeems it and makes it at least worth playing. the biggest problem with the game is how little actual horror there is in it. you very rarely feel like you’re in any danger at all, meaning for the majority of the game you just wander round in the dark not feeling threatened or pressured. essentially 90% of the game is a walking simulator. there’s nothing wrong with that (walking simulators can be very good), but this is a sequel to a horror game that also markets itself as a horror game, and it’s very light on the scares. it feels like the game puts building an atmosphere of dread and helplessness to the side to focus on nearly everything else. the enemies are also a bit pathetic and really fucking stupid. the very few times you’re in any actual danger the pigmen are blind as shit. they’re cool and creepy enemies, especially when considering the story, but they really are not very threatening at all, linking back to the main problem of the game not being threatening. there’s also only one enemy type (three, if you count the electric pigman and water monsters that show up once each for their own admittedly cool sequences) so it gets a bit stale even when they do show up. the removal of great features from the first game like the inventory system and sanity meter, as well as resource management and the light/ darkness mechanic, seems unnecessary and is entirely to the game’s detriment. no puzzles are as hard as any in the first game, and the lack of things to find and do make this just seem like a stripped back version of TDD. the atmosphere the game does have, though, may not be one of helplessness and dread like you’d expect, but despite this not being the case, it’s still very eerie. this goes into overdrive in one of my actual favourite game sequences ever when you emerge onto the streets. it’s horrifying and so chaotic. there’s also the water monsters part which, like the first game, is pulse pounding and well crafted, as well as a cool bit with the electric pigman at the end of the game. if there was more sequences like this the game might actually be scary. however, the story is by far the best part of the game. it’s actually very interesting and like nothing i’ve ever really come across in any other piece of media. if you feel like playing this is a bit pointless, at least the story numbs the boredom a bit. A Machine for Pigs is a mediocre game, and not a very good horror game, but there are some redeeming qualities that make the game at least worth one playthrough - there’s some cool sequences and the story is very good. that’s about all there is in terms of positives though, because it’s simply not a very effective horror game in terms of the actual gameplay. lots has been removed that was present in the first game and the tension is almost non existent. may as well give it a try if you can though, i enjoyed the parts that weren’t boring.