SOMA

   "SOMA" is a science fiction survival horror video game that was released on the 22nd of September 2015 and developed by Frictional Games (Whom are best known for the "Penumbra" series and "Amnesia: The Dark Descent", that continues to receive critical acclaim and praise for its ominous atmosphere and horror elements to this day). The game takes place on PATHOS-II, an underwater remote research facility with machinery that begins to take on human characteristics.

   The game may not be as terrifying as past titles by Frictional Games, but once again, its developers have done an absolutely amazing job when it comes to its narrative. When it might have been considered exposition for there to be so much dialogue going on between otherwise face-less characters (The only ally you truly have also happens to be a static portrait on a screen), I felt that in this case, the script was just so incredibly well written and read by the voice actors in the most heartfelt manner that it actually works, and that we as the players are still drawn in by their worries, fears and sorrows.

   It of course, still has its scary moments, or more accurately, 'heart-poundingly' intense moments, especially during chase sequences. Very much like those sequences featured in "Amnesia", Frictional games definitely hasn't lost its touch when it comes to them. Due to the distortion of the screen however when enemies are nearby or are coming after you, it is a pity that you can't actually properly see how incredibly detailed these models actually are (I was especially fascinated over one particular robot girl proxy, who had the eeriest lurking and attack themes to me as well, and so I was glad that the designers decided to post up their model sheets eventually).

   A game that focuses on a really interesting subject matter (And doing so in the heaviest manner possible), I would consider this to be one of this year's better indie horror games for its quality narrative alone. There are of course bonus points for the amount of love and effort that was clearly put into the models and settings (I have never seen such a gorgeously rendered underwater setting since the first "Bioshock") and the overall atmosphere (They have also done an amazing job at making a subtle play at thalassophobia, a phobia that is still not often made use of in most horror games).