We’re revisiting a developer on this episode that had an idea with with the Penumbra series that would revolutionise the horror genre. But not until they refined it and popularised said idea with the game we’re looking at on this episode. We’re going back to 2010 to take a look at a first-person survival horror game set in 1800s Prussia. We’re talking Amnesia: The Dark Descent.

On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we chat a little bit about the very first Humble Indie Bundle, the concept of self, and how the audio was created with pipes and descriptions. We also look at the beginnings of recording yourself while playing a game, how the studio went from Lux Tenebras to Unknown before they settled on a final name, and whether or not there is too much death in video games.

Here are some of the things you’re gonna hear us chat about in our review: a few quick thoughts on the Justine DLC; serviceable nuts and bolts stealth with rules that you’re not fully aware of; Alien: Isolation and Outlast type monsters that might show up when they want, maybe?; the push and pull of trying to balance your mental well being with getting out of the light and hiding from enemies in the dark; an outrageously weak protagonist; questioning whether or not the person eating Minstrels by your ear is real our not; the feeling of pulling open drawers and pushing open doors; puzzles that trust the player to use common sense and figure things out; a very dark storage area;  trying to deal with invisible monsters splashing about in water; Memento; a decent idea for a story with a protagonist that is hard to care about; and Mike Wazowski.

After all that, we take you through what some of the critics were saying about the game around the time it came out, and then we give you our final verdicts on whether Amnesia: The Dark Descent is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.

For those who would like to play along at home, we'll be discussing, reviewing and dissecting Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.

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