Amnesia: The Dark Descent

Amnesia: The Dark Descent

Systems:

• Windows PC
• Mac OSX
• Linux
• OneLive
• Releases:
  • Original Release: 2010
  • Justine Expansion Release: 2011

Publisher:

• Frictional Games
• THQ (retail)

Developer:

• Frictional Games

ESRB Rating:

• Mature (M)
• Reasoning:
  • Blood and Gore
  • Language
  • Nudity
  • Violence

Amnesia: The Dark Descent is a horror game that follows a young man named Daniel who awakens with no memory of where he is, who he is, or how he came to be there. The only clue he has is a cryptic letter apparently written by his past self telling him that he must kill a man named Alexander. Daniel must navigate the treacherous Brennenburg Castle to uncover the secrets of the castle, Alexander, and his own horrible past.

General Comments

This review contains the expansion Amnesia: Justine.

Alcohol

In the Justine expansion, one document discusses one of Justine’s suitors becoming drunk before attempting to play at a concert.

Aquatic Violence

One of the most notorious moments of the game is ‘the water monster’ level. The player is required to leap from crate to crate or some other surface to evade an invisible monster that dwells in the water. If they spend too much time in the water, the monster will attack. The monster can be distracted by throwing dismembered limbs away from the player.

Blood

Blood is extremely common in the game and the expansion. It can be found in every level.

In the Justine expansion, blood is occasionally used to write messages.

Body Horror

The monsters that the player must evade appear to be humans that have had their bodies twisted. They may be undead. This is also true in the Justine expansion.

Looking at Alexander's portrait with low sanity will cause his face to become malformed and eyeless. This can be avoided by keeping sanity high.

Bones

Bones and especially skulls can be found around Brennenburg Castle.

Bones can also be found in the Justine expansion.

Brainwashing

Over the course of the game, it is revealed that Alexander exploited Daniel’s desperation to convince him to commit torture and murder.

Justine seems to have brainwashed two of her suitors, Malo and Aloïs to become obsessed with her.

Cannibalism

In the Justine expansion, it is implied that the third monster to chase the player, Malo de Vigny, intends to cannibalize them if they are caught. There are chewing noises that can be heard if the Player Character is caught by Malo.

Claustrophobia

The player is encouraged to hide in wardrobes and other small spaces to evade monsters.

In the Justine expansion, the player is required to crawl through vents at one point in the game.

In the Justine expansion, at the end of the game, walls begin literally closing in on the player, though they will withdraw before actually harming them.

Darkness

Darkness is a primary game mechanic. Most darkness is nearly impossible to see in without a light. Light sources, such as candles, tinderboxes to light them with, and an oil lamp are available, but they must be used wisely, as they are a finite resource. Light may also attract monsters. This is not true in the Justine expansion.

Monsters make noises but they can appear randomly and suddenly.

Dead Bodies

Dead bodies occasionally appear in the game, and are frequently alluded to.

In the Justine expansion, Although none are initially present, three characters can be killed by player action, although only one will ever be seen on-screen.

Death of Family/Friends

The player learns through journal entries that Daniel’s acquaintances had begun to die suddenly.

Flashbacks reveal that a woman helped her daughter escape from the dungeons; the woman is implied to have been killed, and the daughter’s death can be heard.

Late in the Justine expansion game, Justine references murdering her father.

Dehumanization

A core plot point is that Daniel dehumanized the criminals in Alexander’s dungeons, believing they deserved the horrific torture and eventual death they experienced. It is important to note that many of these criminals committed relatively minor crimes, such as forgery, and others are implied not to be guilty of any crime at all.

In the Justine expansion, Justine is a sociopath and dehumanizes nearly everyone she meets. This is revealed through audio diaries that the player must listen to throughout the game.

Disruptive Home Life

An early loading screen alludes to Daniel having an abusive father.

In the Justine expansion, Justine’s home life as a child was marked by her mother’s death and the way her father treated her as a mental patient more than his own child.

Drowning

In the Sewers section after the player completes the puzzles to fill the room with water, there is a large, metal box that the player passes past. Inside it sounds like someone is drowning.

Emotional Abuse

Over the course of the game, it is revealed that Alexander exploited Daniel’s desperation to convince him to commit torture and murder.

In the Justine expansion, Justine leaves taunting messages for the player throughout the game, intending to make them feel guilty for the things they’ve done. The ongoing emotional abuse of the Player Character is a core game mechanic.

Explosions

At one point, the game requires the player to make a small explosive to clear rubble. The resulting explosion shakes the camera and makes a loud noise.

Eye Horror/Eye Trauma

If the player clicks on the iron maiden, they will receive a text flashback of a victim experiencing this. It can be avoided by simply not clicking the iron maiden.

Looking at Alexander's portrait with low sanity will cause his face to become malformed and eyeless.

In the Justine expansion, the suitors that attack the player have no eyes.

In the Justine expansion, one phonograph is a recording of Justine putting out Basile’s eyes, however, it does not need to be played.

Fire

In the Chancel and Inner Sanctum, a green fire is present in the environment, implied to be magical. Approaching the fire that surrounds Alexander during the final level will harm the player.

Ghosts

Auditory flashbacks can sometimes be heard. Although it’s not clear what triggers these, a common theory is that it is ghosts.

Gore

Disembodied limbs are a common sight throughout the game.

Gore can be found throughout the Justine expansion.

Graphic Violence

In the game, enemies will attack the Player Character if given the chance. The attacks will be briefly shown until the Player Character dies. This is also true for the Justine expansion.

Jump Scares

Jump scares are extremely common throughout the game. This is also true in the Justine expansion.

Kidnapping

The game reveals that Alexander would find and kidnap people for use in his rituals.

In the Justine expansion, the game opens with Justine having kidnapped the player and forcing them to solve puzzles to spare the lives of three others. If they fail the puzzles, the others will die.

Murder

The people in the dungeon were tortured and eventually murdered. These murders are alluded to and heard through auditory flashbacks.

In the Justine expansion, the player can choose to murder other people in order to make the game easier for themselves.

In the Justine expansion, Justine is a sociopath and comfortable with murdering others. She references murder often in her audio diaries.

Mutilation

Some found documents and flashbacks contain descriptions of mutilation. Clicking on the torture devices in the Choir and Transept will cause text to appear, describing the torture.

In the Justine expansion, the Suitor enemies have all been horrifically mutilated.

Nudity

Most of the dead bodies are nude men.

Alexander is nude during the final level as well.

In the Justine expansion, the Suitors are all nude.

In the Justine expansion, there is also a picture of a nude man being tortured after the Player Character encounters the Priest character.

Offensive Language

Daniel will sometimes swear in letters and flashbacks.

In the Justine expansion, the Suitor enemy Malo will yell the word "cunt".

Physical Abuse

An early loading screen describes Daniel’s father striking him.

Psychological Horror

The content of the story and atmosphere is meant to inspire paranoia and fear. The Amnesia series is considered part of the psychological horror genre. This is also true for the Justine expansion.

Psychological Trauma

Some of Daniel’s last journal entries indicate he is suffering from psychological trauma.

Self Harm

In the Justine expansion, it is revealed through audio diaries and flashbacks that Aloïs engaged in self-harm, presumably in an attempt to please Justine. It is alluded to but not shown.

Spiders

While descending the stairs to the Nave, spiders will appear on the wall. They are non-aggressive and will not interact with the player at all. Descending the stairs without the lantern renders them nearly invisible.

Stalking

Daniel is pursued by a being called ‘The Shadow’, and at some points in the game must flee it. It manifests as glowing red fog.

In the Justine expansion, the Suitors stalk the player throughout the game.

Supernatural Evil

The Shadow and Alexander qualify as supernatural evil.

Torture

A very important plot point that becomes relevant late in the game. Torture rooms must be visited to complete the game, and the clicking on the devices will cause a text flashback to appear, detailing the suffering of a previous victim. The torture devices include: the strappado, the Judas cradle, the saw, the iron maiden, a torture wheel, and a brazen bull.

In the Justine expansion, Justine would torture people for her own amusement. A phonograph with the recording of her putting out a suitor’s eyes can be played, but it is not required.

Undead/Zombies

Some interpret the enemies Servant Grunt and Servant Brute as being undead.

After being given a tonic, the character Agrippa can survive while decapitated for some time.

Unreality

When there is a flashback the player can hear soft whispers. They can be interpreted as auditory hallucinations of the Player Character.

If Sanity becomes too low, the world will begin to distort and the Player Character may start to see and hear things that aren’t really there. This can be avoided if the Sanity meter is kept high---though players should keep in mind that the game purposefully tries to lower the Sanity meter.

Victim Blaming

Daniel blames his torture victims for becoming criminals in the first place, leading them to be brought to the dungeon.

Violence Against Children

During an auditory flashback in the Dungeons, the murder of a young girl can be heard.

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