Ad Infinitum

Would Ad Infinitum have been better off if it had come out a little closer in time to its influences (rather than a few months after Frictional Games also explored the trenches of World War I with Amnesia: The Bunker, which has to be the ultimate irony)? It’s hard not to feel that way, since as it stands, the game feels kind of anachronistic. It’s a solid enough horror game, don’t get me wrong, but it still feels a little too indebted to the past to really stand on its own.

The topic is interesting, the plot is engaging, and we have nothing to complain about the presentation of the senselessness of the conflict as such. But at the same time, Ad Infinitum contains many dead places and boring passages, which, although they stretch the game time lasting around 6-7 hours, but at the same time dilute the atmosphere of the whole experience. It's a shame, but it shouldn't be a reason to dismiss Ad Infinitum forever.

A more coherent story and confident use of setting could've helped Ad Infinitum live up to its full potential. The dilapidated mansion, nightmare trenches, and horrible creatures still give it a unique identity that goes some way toward making up for the narrative shortcomings. However, I hope there's a "next time" for Hekate and Ad Infinitum and a chance for both to play into their strengths.

Ad Infinitum can easily give you a sense of discomfort and suspense, even if you're far removed from the genre as a whole.

After many years of development, Ad Infinitum fails to deliver e great horror experience. The compelling story is not enough to save this project from mediocrity.

Ad Infinitum presents a well written nightmarish story about both the WW1 atrocities and the trauma caused to children by a dysfunctional and harsh family environment. The caveat is that these two stories are as disjointed as they sound, regardless of the quality of the writing they have separately.

An evocative portrayal of the horrors of the First World War, Ad Infinitum manages to intriguingly delve into novel themes of post-traumatic stress disorder, psychosis, and family trauma, despite its monotonous gameplay, which often feels like a repetition of narrative horror films that have come before it.

Thanks to a few great features, Ad Infinitum delivers an efficient psychological and horror experience.

Ad Infinitum initially intrigues with a haunting and visceral sense of atmosphere and nightmare vision. The stealth gameplay unfortunately feels disjointed and the story ends up predictable despite the mysterious first impression. Yet, despite having as many bugs as a WW1 mud-swamped trench, Ad Infinitum has the heart of a soldier desperate to make it through one more nightmarish day.

Ad Infinitum tells an engaging and unique story in a great way. To really enjoy it, though, you’d have to be willing to play with the voice setting set to German.

Ad Infinitum is a little off balance when it comes to how difficult and unfair a few of its challenges are compared to the rest of the game, but with enough patience or guidance to make it through those sections, the rest of the game is set at an intense pace, while an excellently creepy atmosphere and a family whose horrors and the trauma they and the war have imparted onto the protagonist fill the game with character.

Overall, Ad Infinitum does great outside of its first two hours. There is a gripping story with some incredibly well designed monsters in store for you if you can get yourself past the introduction section of its first monster.

Ad Infinitum balances engaging gameplay with a deep, dark, and fascinating story that tells a tale of a family torn apart by war.