SOMA

 PC
User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1400 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,165 out of 1400
  2. Mixed: 135 out of 1400
  3. Negative: 100 out of 1400

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. Esthete
    Mar 22, 2019
    9
    Paradoxically, SOMA is a unique example when monsters aren't needed in the horror game, they just interfere and annoy. SOMA the most plot-oriented horror game of whole horror genre.
  2. Cleglaw
    Sep 22, 2015
    10
    in game content is so amazing: sounds, texts, tons of readable-interactive items, realistic structers... i explore everything on my way and it really makes me go deeper and deeper in this game. atmospher is putting yourself to a prison. fear of unknown is a constant feeling. whole concept feels otherworldy, you lose your sanity step by step... not only with your game character but alsoin game content is so amazing: sounds, texts, tons of readable-interactive items, realistic structers... i explore everything on my way and it really makes me go deeper and deeper in this game. atmospher is putting yourself to a prison. fear of unknown is a constant feeling. whole concept feels otherworldy, you lose your sanity step by step... not only with your game character but also with your own self. this is a game of psychological horror, not a shallow one with simple, reflexive jumpscares... and thats why it is the true horror. it messes with your way of thinking.… Expand
  3. sashang
    Nov 12, 2015
    1
    I thought this game would be scary. Everyone raved about it like they raved about Amnesia, which I tried and found boring. Then I tried this hoping it would be scary, but all I do is play hide and seek. That's all these style of games amount to. A lot of running and hiding and counting to 10.
  4. LXQUICKJUSTICE
    Nov 14, 2015
    10
    Honest Review... This game is 4x better than I expected. For $30 the graphics are just gorgeous. I'm a huge fan of the Amnesia series, but like an honest fan, I can admit A Machine for Pigs was... pretty stupid... Had the enemies been something else besides pigs the game might have been perfect, but SOMA is a solid accomplishment for Fritctional Games. At first I hated the setting becauseHonest Review... This game is 4x better than I expected. For $30 the graphics are just gorgeous. I'm a huge fan of the Amnesia series, but like an honest fan, I can admit A Machine for Pigs was... pretty stupid... Had the enemies been something else besides pigs the game might have been perfect, but SOMA is a solid accomplishment for Fritctional Games. At first I hated the setting because it just seemed like a microwaved Bioshock clone, but this game is much more than that. In terms of presentation, it definitely sells the idea of being underwater immeasurably more than Bioshock. I demand a little more from my games than the average player in terms of story because I remember the good old days when Ken Levin was creating "Thief" and "System Shock 2," and even though SOMA and those games are completely different animals, on the level of depth and effort put into them, they're equal. SOMA is a slow burn, something you have to let yourself enjoy until you find yourself thinking about it's eerie atmosphere when you're playing something totally unrelated. It has this seriously frightening "Leviathan 1989" feel to it, in the best possible way. There was something charming about that B movie, and SOMA just takes that and runs with it. There's no telling what kind of freak you're listening to when you hear its ghastly gurgling and grunting in the darkness. It could be anything. The monster designs are superb, especially for a $30 game. There is no doubt about that. The only drawback is the extremely slow pace and... Mr. Wan's impossibly complex simulation mission... which is soul sucking... but other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, definitely way more than I thought I would. My first impression was "Meh," but now it's a favorite; that's a good game. Only titles like the aforementioned "Thief the Dark Project," or "System Shock 2," or the outrageously good "Amnesia the Dark Descent" can stay with you like that.… Expand
  5. nonchalantgamer
    Oct 4, 2015
    9
    SOMA is an intelligent philosophical, SCI-FI horror game that tackles some big questions, and succeeds.

    Gameplay The gameplay is the standard for a exploration game, but the horror in SOMA is done well, with only few enemies throughout each level, and instead of fighting/killing them, you must try to sneak around them. Also featured heavily is the false scares where you will think an    SOMA is an intelligent philosophical, SCI-FI horror game that tackles some big questions, and succeeds.

    Gameplay

    The gameplay is the standard for a exploration game, but the horror in SOMA is done well, with only few enemies throughout each level, and instead of fighting/killing them, you must try to sneak around them. Also featured heavily is the false scares where you will think an enemy should be coming but it something else, and these moments add a lot of tension to the game, and is done well.

    Story

    The story in SOMA was exceptionally done, and focuses and big philosophical questions, which can be a hard thing to do. The questions posed were handled intelligently, and by the end of it, and also throughout, I was swirling with thoughts of humanity, and what it truly means to be human. For a game to get to me ponder like that is a feat that IMO earns recognition. The pacing is also well done to, with a good progression flow.

    Graphics/presentation

    The visuals are nice in SOMA, and the aesthetic designs of the environments give off an eerie feel, which sets the tone for the game. The only gripe I had was that the loading could be a bit of an annoyance, with slow downs occurring sometimes, but this didn't hinder my experience too much.

    Overall SOMA is a smart, scary, and Philosophically pondering game that tackles big questions, and does so with great intelligence. Even if you don't like horror games that much such as my self this game is worth a try.    … Expand
  6. gloriouspotato
    May 13, 2017
    8
    SOMA might well be one of the best horror games I've played. It might not have the scare factor of Amnesia: The Dark Descent or the Penumbra games, but of course one can't rate a horror game solely on its horror elements. The story that SOMA tells is well paced and very intriguing. The character dynamics are interesting as well. The subject material isn't anything new, but it's always niceSOMA might well be one of the best horror games I've played. It might not have the scare factor of Amnesia: The Dark Descent or the Penumbra games, but of course one can't rate a horror game solely on its horror elements. The story that SOMA tells is well paced and very intriguing. The character dynamics are interesting as well. The subject material isn't anything new, but it's always nice to have games that are willing to deal with more complex themes. The philosophical elements don't quite reach the level of sophistication as I found in The Talos Principle (another puzzle game with philosophical undertones), but there is still plenty of food for thought.

    The gameplay mechanics are quite solid, and Frictional's unique control scheme does provide an enhanced sense of immersion. I also thought that the puzzles presented were intelligent and arose organically. It seems that some people found the monster encounters tedious or frustrating, however I did not feel this way. I'd say the monster encounters are comparable to the Alien in Alien: Isolation, in that being hit is generally a one-hit kill and small mistakes often lead to your own demise. Like Alien: Isolation, the encounters in SOMA require thorough observation, patience and calculated movements, rather than rash decisions to sprint from harm's way.

    As one would expect from Frictional Games, the atmosphere and environment is masterfully crafted with fantastic sound design and art direction. From a technical standpoint though, there is definitely room for improvement. Low-res textures do pop up fairly often, and it can take a few seconds for textures to load properly upon loading a save. Screen tearing was also quite prevalent, and what vsync options there were seemed to be mostly ineffective. Not to say the game looks bad, but the visuals do sometimes look outdated. Some other minor complaints I have is that the protagonist's tone of voice seems very calm given his predicament, and some of the dialogue can feel somewhat contrived.

    Overall rating - 8.3/10    … Expand
  7. Jackies
    Aug 17, 2016
    9
    One of my favorite horrors of all time - I loved every minute of it even though I was really scared most of the time! The audiovisuals were impressive, too.
  8. ave
    Dec 31, 2017
    8
    I came to Soma with some assumptions from the previous Frictional games (namely Amnesia) - both good and bad.

    First, I really liked the fact that, after establishing your "character" in his "everyday life", the developers screws the player and left him alone to figure out almost... everything. For me Soma is a good sci-fi interactive novel that tries to answer - or at least explore -    I came to Soma with some assumptions from the previous Frictional games (namely Amnesia) - both good and bad.

    First, I really liked the fact that, after establishing your "character" in his "everyday life", the developers screws the player and left him alone to figure out almost... everything.

    For me Soma is a good sci-fi interactive novel that tries to answer - or at least explore - the ramifications of deep questions about what it is to be human ; not unlike Talos Principle and with winks at popular games like Bioshock.

    And because of that, even if I find the "monsters" kinda scary, they are not really meaningful and more... something to get past in order to further your exploration and understanding of yourself and the situation you're in.

    Many times I wished I started the adventure without them, just to enjoy the journey at my own pace.    … Expand
  9. Skarwind
    Oct 13, 2015
    8
    Soma is one of the better horror games to come out in awhile and I am pleased to say that it delivers an engrossing story and atmosphere befitting of the genre.

    Frictional Games, creators of the Penumbra series as well as Amneia: Dark Descent, brings us the story of Simon Jerret, a brain damaged man from Toronto, Canada. What begins as a journey to hopefully heal and survive his    Soma is one of the better horror games to come out in awhile and I am pleased to say that it delivers an engrossing story and atmosphere befitting of the genre.

    Frictional Games, creators of the Penumbra series as well as Amneia: Dark Descent, brings us the story of Simon Jerret, a brain damaged man from Toronto, Canada. What begins as a journey to hopefully heal and survive his traumatizing experience soon becomes a story of terror and survival under the unexplored oceans of Earth.

    The graphics of Soma aren't ground breaking but they do a good job of showcasing the different environments as you transition from different parts of Pathos II into the depths of the ocean and back again. Seeing the coral formations, sea wildlife, and the aged buildings in disrepair help to immerse the player and give a sense of dread as you slowly realize what is going on in the world. Pipes burst from the walls seeping black ooze onto the floors and machinery. The dim lighting casts eerie shadows onto the walls painting a picture of dread and fear as you walk through the hallways.

    The game does a good job of giving you enough light to see where you are going and what you need to find without having to resort to cheap pitch black areas where you will endlessly grope in hopes of finding your objective like most cheaply made games do. The enemy design is a well blended combination of science fiction meets Lovecraftian horror and befits the world of Pathos II and the unexplored depths of the ocean floor.

    The sound design seems very simple, with music only appearing after objectives are completed or something important to the narrative has happened. It's just you, the sound of your footsteps echoing through the halls, and the occasional blare of a computer or air vent attempting to sound relevant in a dead world. It is odd that sounds appear to be the same during the ocean traveling bits as they are inside the research facility, but doesn't detract from the game too much. The voice acting is hit or miss as the queues between characters sometimes feels flat or out of place. The voice of the main character is probably the best of the cast as he voices his frustrations and concerns within his environment.

    The gameplay is probably what separates this game from many of its competitors. There is no combat whatsoever. At first glance this game may seem similar to Alien:Isolation but the player will quickly learn that no weapons exist for Simon to use. The character can interact with objects found throughout the environment ala Penumbra or Amnesia but there is a lot of clutter that is at odds with the rest of the game. It could be seen that the developers wanted to showcase their physics engine as if this were new technology, but it could be the fault of the game's engine more than an actual design feature since Frictional Games are using the same engine. The segments between each enemy are composed of hiding in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity to pass or using objects to distract them from your position. There is one interesting bit later in the game where your standard duck and hide or throw a bottle in the opposite direction does not work and is refreshing to see at later stages in the game.

    The scare factor will be hit or miss for some. There are a minimal number of jump scares and even these are used to full effect with the game building suspense between encounters or points in the story where it is necessary. Most of the horror will be built with the game's artistic and sound design and your own psyche using the environment to instill a sense of the unknown as to when your next encounter may be. Soma does not pay homage to traditional modes such as extreme violence and gore. You won't find blood spattered all over walls or bodies mutilated beyond belief. There is the occasional headless corpse or blood stains where it is obvious that someone was either hurt or killed in that area. The lack of jump scares may deter some people but if you are a fan of great atmosphere and suspense then Soma will surprise you.

    On a minor note, there is one aspect of this game that is a bit troublesome for some. The choices that you make throughout the game do not impact the narrative and are included more for you as the player to weigh the impact of your decisions, to which there is nothing wrong with, but it would have been fun to see if different choices impacted the story at all. It's a small thing that many have noticed but the overall experience of the game is worth the price.

    Soma was worth the long wait and Frictional Games has proven, again, that they are masterful story tellers and wonderful game designers.    … Expand
  10. xDaudex
    Oct 17, 2015
    9
    Pros:
    Very good immersion and atmosphere
    Amazing environments
    Great story and characters

    Cons:
    Sometimes you may get lost or not know what to do (had to look a few things up online)
    At times the monster's AI can seem a bit glued to you which can lower immersion
    Sometimes the physics with objects can be a bit odd
  11. Rezaee
    Oct 25, 2015
    9
    Amnesia The Dark Descent a game with great gameplay,great story,great characters.However I personally had a problem with the way Amnesia was showing the game.It was a game with good story but no good cinematic moments.
    But what we have in Soma is a really better version of the Amnesia The Dark Descent.This game has a great story(with a mind **** ending),Great Characters ,Great    Amnesia The Dark Descent a game with great gameplay,great story,great characters.However I personally had a problem with the way Amnesia was showing the game.It was a game with good story but no good cinematic moments.
    But what we have in Soma is a really better version of the Amnesia The Dark Descent.This game has a great story(with a mind **** ending),Great Characters ,Great gameplay,Great graphic,Great atmosphere,Great Monsters and a good music.And The best thing nobody will fight or argue about this game being the best horror game or best frictional games work.It's a game that you can enjoy without hearing anybody pissing you off with saying this games is the best,or anybody saying this game is the worst.
    What I will start with is the Monsters cause I think this is the best thing about the game.(though I loved the story)This Game's Monsters were different.They thought about how the monsters should be.They can Teleport,They are blind but have a great sense of hearing.It's not like any regular game that have some things or people chasing you.It was good.
    The Story.At first it might look a little cliche but after you come to understand a little about the game you realize how great it is.and the ending was absolutely amazing.It was brilliant.
    Characters were great they were Lovable,Cool and Of course REAL.Not Much to say about them you have to see them to realize.There were 2 main character and one other guy who was kinda important.
    If I have to talk about graphic (which I don't like at all)I can say that it had a really great graphic (that's all I can say!!)
    however about the atmosphere.It had a great one.When you're in the ocean you can feel that you are way down.you can feel that It's cold,It's lonely and very heavy.while it's very calming it's also feels very unsafe(you can also see how beautiful the graphic is).in the stations you can feel that this place is dangerous.(you can also see how beautiful the graphic is)(AGAIN)And of course the horrible feeling when you see the robots and humans.and at the same time the pleasant feeling of seeing an Apocalypse without any ******* Zombie!!
    About The Music,It was a good music.It was a music made for the game.There were Mostly relaxing musics!(you know They weren't Horror or anything you didn't get that feeling!!)
    And about the gameplay!Smooth.I didn't had a single problem with it.the puzzles were good.a little problem with the no inventory thing.(I mean the way Amnesia was)I loved the movement in the ocean.and the freedom in the ocean.you could easily go way to deep in the ocean.I mean if you keep going you will die but you know what I mean!!!!And Also it wasn't too deep.(you know like IGI!!!)
    If I have to compare it to Amnesia,It definitely wasn't at all as scary as Amnesia(Or any other scary game).however It was better in story and graphic and character and I also think it was better in music.(Amnesia was better with the gameplay-This was better with the rest!)
    so if you are in it ONLY because of the gameplay I don't recommend it however if you're in it for the rest totally recommend it and you should definitely play it.    … Expand
  12. PatrykPolewiak
    Aug 17, 2016
    8
    I was really impressed by another Thomas Grip's child: Amnesia: The Dark Descent. SOMA is something like a continuation of this game but with much more deep story. And I think the story in SOMA is the most great thing in this game. But why 8/10? Because of not being scary. I don't like the deisng of the monsters and their mechanics.
  13. ZeetorNara
    Nov 4, 2015
    10
    Easily the best story in any game I've ever played, Just the moral choices and ideas on life itself make this game amazing. The voice acting, graphics and sound/music were superb and despite not being as scary as the first Amnesia, this game didn't need to be.
  14. CrazedJester
    Oct 18, 2015
    9
    SOMA over all its not perfect but when it comes to making you feel powerless confused on what to do scared of whats around you it does a Perfect job at making you feel powerless. at times the story makes you feel like a monster to move forward and the suffering you see in the NPC's its a great game I give it a 9 you guys should go try it or take a look at my youtube channel PlayerSOMA over all its not perfect but when it comes to making you feel powerless confused on what to do scared of whats around you it does a Perfect job at making you feel powerless. at times the story makes you feel like a monster to move forward and the suffering you see in the NPC's its a great game I give it a 9 you guys should go try it or take a look at my youtube channel Player Character Theater the story is just over so good its hard to not give this a 9 this is the start of the game so it does not give away to much https://youtu.be/-Zkr0ErvvWY I hope this helps its got a really good story you all should buy game… Expand
  15. iktag
    Dec 3, 2015
    9
    One of the greatest FPS sci-fi horror games (though there are not many of them).
    Super detailed world, stunning atmosphere. I feel like I want to play it again and again just to know all the details.
    It could be 10, but the game lacks of some action and interactivity.
  16. Jerm
    Dec 17, 2015
    9
    Anyone with a taste for deep, meaningful stories shouldn't miss SOMA, a game that will leave you questioning what it means to be long after you've played. As the pro reviewers put it, the greatest horror of SOMA is coming to terms with reality, and it isn't easy.
  17. antapeti
    Dec 22, 2015
    10
    top 10 for me out of the few thousand games i've ever played with. if i had to choose between bioshock infinite (which is a very good game) and soma i would pick the later. it's like the talos principle, just more compact and living. it's not too long, not too short, no boring or frustrating parts. looks great. sound desing is beyond words.
  18. Madalena
    Jan 22, 2016
    9
    SOMA is an absolutely breathtaking trip to the depths of the world. At first I thought we were in deep space, but when a huge hammerhead shark appear I was revived. The pace of the game is beautiful too, yet I feel the scares could be more intense and last for longer. It is not a game very much like Amnesia, that lives on deep psychological horror, but a voyage instead into the depths ofSOMA is an absolutely breathtaking trip to the depths of the world. At first I thought we were in deep space, but when a huge hammerhead shark appear I was revived. The pace of the game is beautiful too, yet I feel the scares could be more intense and last for longer. It is not a game very much like Amnesia, that lives on deep psychological horror, but a voyage instead into the depths of the human mind, raising some incredible thoughts and questions of existence and morality and that for me won the entire gaming experience. The sounds, environments, dialogues, (did I refer sounds) and storytelling clearly survive on it's own. Fans of Amnesia will feel a bit disappointed after expecting it to be as intense as it, but truth being said I was one of those but the gain in psychological involvement and empiricism cut the chase to which won the ranking. It was amazing, truly, to be immersed in an sci-fi experience that did not lack on eerie and horror packed scenes but was also much more than just that. The no lag experience on my pc added to the experience - it flowed almost flawlessly and I am glad I played this on pc instead of in my PS. The cut scenes and dialogues add to the experience of the game and aid you in feeling a sense of belonging, something I somehow always lacked in Amnesia that felt cold all the time (which was obviously their goal). If you played Alien Isolation you will feel it is similar in so many ways to it, even though not as detailed, but what you lose in detail you gain in opportunity to roam around and endlessly explore, something I always love to do. Also sometimes I felt that I missed some door, locker or something due to running away from monsters, which added to the feeling of being able to replay the game and still be awed. Options and moral decisions also play a part in this and added to the psychological thrill. All in all SOMA is an amazing experience, not as scary as Amnesia but it is also so completely different they lack terms to be compared. It is yet one powerful piece of art and should be played with intense openness and respect. Absolutely amazing Frictional.… Expand
  19. Robinjhoe
    Feb 14, 2016
    8
    SOMA is an interesting Game.

    As a Game it is pretty decent. The Puzzles aren´t too hard and are most of the time pretty much predictable. For the most time it is find that thing and put it in that other thing. And do not get caught by some evil Monster! The sound, the world itself is, ironicaly, very beautiful and emersive. I do not like comparisons between games, so I will not give    SOMA is an interesting Game.

    As a Game it is pretty decent. The Puzzles aren´t too hard and are most of the time pretty much predictable. For the most time it is find that thing and put it in that other thing. And do not get caught by some evil Monster!
    The sound, the world itself is, ironicaly, very beautiful and emersive. I do not like comparisons between games, so I will not give examples to other games here. One problem is: If you do not like waiting and looking for every little inch of backstory, then this is not for you.

    The main reason why I personally give this game a high rating is its really awesome story. Maybe for some people it is very dull or something, but for me the story is what makes this game so good.

    You can really feel the tension, the fear to be caught from these machine human hybrid monsters. You gather more and more back information and realize what happened to the crew, what happened to you. This game makes you think what it means to be human. It makes you questioning your sanity and everything you stood for. It begins very low, like you just kill the robot at the beginning without thinking too much about it. But then you realize what you are, and you have to make one decision after another, and one bigger than the other.
    I could talk days about the story. And try to think about what happens after the ending. It could drive you mad.

    All in all. Decent game. Nice graphics and sound. More thinky than scary. And an awesome story for me.    … Expand
  20. kurniau
    Nov 14, 2017
    8
    Интересный сюжет, хочется быстрее игру пройти и узнать чем история закончится. Враги немного приедаются, но не надоедают. Грустная концовка служит призом игроку за прохождение игры. Больше бы таких замечательных игр
  21. RagingPoet
    Nov 30, 2017
    8
    Soma got interesting and thought provoking plot, great atmosphere and visuals. Gameplay itself is little bit stale especially stealth parts, but I enjoyed Soma a lot although horror is not my favorite genre.
  22. okamimiyazaki
    Oct 31, 2015
    10
    You're probably wondering if SOMA is Frictional's recovery from the awful Machine for Pigs... The answer is: yes. It is much better than MfP and just as good as the Dark Descent. It may not be quite as scary as TDD but it's still very scary at parts and definitely a thrilling experience. The game is extremely immersive with amazing sound effects; a must-buy if you like these types ofYou're probably wondering if SOMA is Frictional's recovery from the awful Machine for Pigs... The answer is: yes. It is much better than MfP and just as good as the Dark Descent. It may not be quite as scary as TDD but it's still very scary at parts and definitely a thrilling experience. The game is extremely immersive with amazing sound effects; a must-buy if you like these types of immersive 1st person games or if you liked TDD.… Expand
  23. lb90
    Nov 25, 2015
    9
    not as scary as amnesia maybe, but a better and more interesting story. definitely a worthy successor. production values seem pretty high too, and the voice acting is awesome. overall a very solid game.
  24. Klewer
    Jun 10, 2018
    9
    This is one of those rare games where the great story and atmosphere gets you through. The game play is ok and can feel a little slow at times but the locations and story telling is amazing and this is a must play.
  25. BellinoP
    Oct 22, 2015
    10
    Great game, if you love exploring not too complicated puzzles and a great sci-fi story that has you on the edge of your seat the whole time then this game is for you. scary as hell in part do to the fact you can only hide and not kill anything but that just adds to the tension.
  26. EpicWinGuy
    Oct 16, 2015
    9
    What a wild ride. Existential crisis philosophy, underwater levels, corrupted robots, this game has the threshold of what a successfull horror game needs to have. The story and voice acting is clearly the strong part, because some of the enemies and the mood set for the environment isn't as good as it was in Amnesia. There were some parts were I couldn't figure out where I was supposed toWhat a wild ride. Existential crisis philosophy, underwater levels, corrupted robots, this game has the threshold of what a successfull horror game needs to have. The story and voice acting is clearly the strong part, because some of the enemies and the mood set for the environment isn't as good as it was in Amnesia. There were some parts were I couldn't figure out where I was supposed to go, so if Frictional would fix that, that'd be great.… Expand
  27. artemonster
    Oct 28, 2015
    10
    This is perfect. On every level. THe philosophy questions it raises are just amazing. The gameplay combined with atmosphere is also great. I didn't like the monster parts of the game, because they kept interferring with my bits and pieces of story that I tried to collect. Still, an amazing 100% game.
  28. BethesdaFan
    Nov 30, 2015
    9
    SOMA is the newest game by horror connoisseurs Frictional Games. Yet again, they hit home with this terrifying installment. The only gripe with the game is that sometimes the story telling is a bit muffled, or hard to follow. On another note, this is the scariest game on next gen in its current state. So if you're looking to purchase a game that is a phenomenal play on its own, and whenSOMA is the newest game by horror connoisseurs Frictional Games. Yet again, they hit home with this terrifying installment. The only gripe with the game is that sometimes the story telling is a bit muffled, or hard to follow. On another note, this is the scariest game on next gen in its current state. So if you're looking to purchase a game that is a phenomenal play on its own, and when your friends are huddled around you as well. Then boy does Frictional Games have a game for you.… Expand
  29. Nickolababaiko
    Mar 18, 2018
    10
    Умный научно-фантастический хоррор! Где есть и наука и фантастика и местам страшно! Глубочайшая атмосфера и интереснейший сюжет! После концовки минут 10 переваривал её...конец и хороший и плохой одновременно! Рекомендую!Умный научно-фантастический хоррор! Где есть и наука и фантастика и местам страшно! Глубочайшая атмосфера и интереснейший сюжет! После концовки минут 10 переваривал её...конец и хороший и плохой одновременно! Рекомендую!
  30. dimakosrou
    Nov 12, 2015
    8
    Despite some narrative shortcomings---probably because of its heavy theme---SOMA is a unique, philosophically horrifying experience of a humanity which, desperate for survival, lost its way on the avenue of transhumanism.
  31. LifeHistory
    Apr 19, 2017
    9
    Frictional Games done it again after Amnesia!
    Now this one is even better, and not only that but one of the most special, unique and memorably games you'll ever play. Great levels and nice idea and the story is Amazing and that ending is wow. Its world reminds of Bioshock, beautiful yet creepy. Even if you are not a horror fan, you'll love this one.
  32. Aeromusic
    Nov 21, 2017
    9
    Игра напоминает фильм "Шестой день" со Шварцем, рассказывающий про клонов. Великолепная подача, крутейший сюжет и финал. Очень атмосферное приключение для думающих людей. Мнение о концовке (спойлеры) - http://gamenewsblog.ru/2017/11/kontsovka-i-smysl-igry-soma-razbor-syuzheta-so-spojlerami/Игра напоминает фильм "Шестой день" со Шварцем, рассказывающий про клонов. Великолепная подача, крутейший сюжет и финал. Очень атмосферное приключение для думающих людей. Мнение о концовке (спойлеры) - http://gamenewsblog.ru/2017/11/kontsovka-i-smysl-igry-soma-razbor-syuzheta-so-spojlerami/
  33. kamhagh
    Mar 25, 2018
    10
    Listen to the 730 people this game is freaking amazing :3

    Loved it c: also it's scary and spooky af. Ehm..... I chickened out and watched someone else play the rest half-way trough it because I'm a chicken.
  34. Datamari
    Nov 8, 2015
    9
    It's very good. Not perfect, but still good.
    Soma is a psychological horror game made by the same company behind Amnesia: The Dark Descent, so you know that this game is going to be good. There's a lot to this game, and as you go deeper and deeper into it, you start to dive deeper into insanity because some of the choices you have to make can really question if you're a good person    It's very good. Not perfect, but still good.
    Soma is a psychological horror game made by the same company behind Amnesia: The Dark Descent, so you know that this game is going to be good. There's a lot to this game, and as you go deeper and deeper into it, you start to dive deeper into insanity because some of the choices you have to make can really question if you're a good person anymore. Then again, that may just be me; you get the point. The puzzles are pretty hard, and in this case, it's not that good because this game more focuses on story than any, so the puzzles are a no. Plus the stealth parts of the game are pretty sloppy, so don't expect too much from that. The jumpscares are pretty lenient, so the game fortunately doesn't fall under that trap.
    Overall, Soma is a solid horror experience, it has most of what you expect out of a horror game, a spoopy atmosphere, the uneasy feeling as you make choices, and the engaging story make this game worth your time. While it's not perfect, it makes for an intense horror experience.

    Soma gets a 9/10.    … Expand
  35. jakoob26
    Sep 29, 2015
    8
    Soma has definitely met the expectations I've been garnering since I saw the first teaser all the way back in 2013. It's a first person adventure game with a sci-fi horror theme and both these themes are utilized to their full potential. The futuristic setting feels appropriately implemented and the various entities in the game feel unique. I absolutely love environmental story telling asSoma has definitely met the expectations I've been garnering since I saw the first teaser all the way back in 2013. It's a first person adventure game with a sci-fi horror theme and both these themes are utilized to their full potential. The futuristic setting feels appropriately implemented and the various entities in the game feel unique. I absolutely love environmental story telling as a medium for delivering a plot and Soma has this area covered. The way in which you receive information feels natural and believable, never really taking you out of the experience. Writing is great with one or two lines feeling a bit forced but the voice acting was absolutely phenomenal. The main character tends to express his emotions and each delivery was filled with emotion that conveyed such realism.

    The minute to minute game play of walking around searching different areas did start to wear out its welcome after a couple hours but the intense I drive had to continue playing once I stepped away was something I have not experience in a long time. Puzzles felt relatively simple and while I hate to admit it, I did glance at a walk through for a couple sections but I think I could have done just fine without them.

    The two biggest problems with the game are the load times and glitches. The game only loads once on the initial start up and after that it is seamless but man that load time was ridiculous. Glitches mainly had to do with enemies that seemed to be stuck in place. I don't know if some enemies were supposed to stay in the same spot but when I noticed them doing that, it immediately broke immersion. Aside from that, I'd say this game was definitely worth the $30 asking price for me. While the entertainment did not come from the game play design, the story was one of the most profound things I have ever experienced. The amazing thing is that this story works so well through the medium of a video game so your experience feels more significant after the end credits than it would if it was a movie or book. This game is a classic in my book.    … Expand
  36. Bacontron
    Nov 4, 2015
    10
    Soma is properly the best narrative game i have experienced for about 2 years(since i first played Bastion). It builds up a world, that is very well made and without that many plot holes. Its two characters, Simon and Cathrine, are superb characters and while Simon, the main character, can be hard to understand sometimes, by the end, you are going to feel empathy for the guy.

    What    Soma is properly the best narrative game i have experienced for about 2 years(since i first played Bastion). It builds up a world, that is very well made and without that many plot holes. Its two characters, Simon and Cathrine, are superb characters and while Simon, the main character, can be hard to understand sometimes, by the end, you are going to feel empathy for the guy.

    What really sells the game, and what makes it an awesome game, is the story. The choices that you make throughout the game, makes you question your own way of thinking and you might even have to pause the game to give you extra time to think. The choices that you make, might not have too much impact ingame, but because the game makes these choices either hard or terrifying, you are personally gonna remember them until the end of the game.

    Soma is a great game, no doubt about, but if you are looking for a great horror game, this is not it. The horror aspect is lowered down from amnesia, but narrative experience is turned up to 11. I give this game 10/10 because it is a game, that i felt was easy to play yet it challenged me emotionally and intellectual and 3 days after i finished the game, its theme of life and death, still roams in my head.

    Well done Soma... Well done.    … Expand
  37. makakz
    Oct 24, 2015
    8
    Not a good horror actualy.But it' still very interesting and exciting.It makes you thought about life and what life means to us.If you wanted to play something new this is for you.
  38. ManekiNeko
    Oct 28, 2015
    10
    An amazing game just finished watching it. It has an Amazing story and a bitter/sweet ending, the game has good sounds and plot and graphics and i wouldn't be surprised if it would become the game of 2015. It had a few scary parts though. All around SOMA is a fantastic game.
  39. dsr07mm
    Nov 24, 2015
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Another title from Frictional Games, the creators of Amnesia: The Dark Descent wildly appear after 2 years since first announcement to fulfill spot in sci-fi horror genre, SOMA.

    Guy, brain damage, experiment, empty underwater facility, robots and creatures. Shortly definition of SOMA without spoiling too much. You are taking role of Simon, guy who had accident and now is trying through experimental way with Dr.Mushi to fix problems although things go horrible wrong once when you need luck most. Simon wakes up in dark and empty facility where he needs to survive and figure out whats happening and where is he located.

    As Frictional Games predecessor you will find yourself in dark corners often trying to escape and avoid creatures, this time without sanity system which I’m not sure that is great idea. In fact once when you are in danger, screen glitches and distorts which contribute to immersion in begining but not so much for overall feeling and impression afterwards. This time you will be able to return something to them and potentialy neutralize them which makes situations a bit more challenging and interesting. New method of dying system which Frictional Games used for first time is one extra life, where after being spotted and “killed” you get second chance on same exact location but with bloody and blury screen; where you can either die and return to last checkpoint or find way to refill your health.

    Game is made in first person and once again you get chance to interact with world in same mechanics as in Amnesia. Click on a door to grab it, then push with the mouse to shove it open. Everything you touch, push or pick feels heavy and tangible. There are obviosly no weapons and despite already well known approach of hidding and running this feels for some reason a bit more complex then what actually it is.

    Essentially all comes to hidding and making progress from one destination but not always alone. Most impressive aspect of the game is probably PATHOS-II facility itself. As we mentioned its located underwater, at the bottom of the ocean, it’s like Rapture meets the Nostromo. Most of the time dark, claustrophobic full with metal corridors created of hard sci-fi set design which suits to atmosphere absolutely perfectly along with flickering lights and weird black alien goo seeping through cracks in the ceilings. You are supposed to investigate and go through couple different small facilities and eventually get to desired destination.

    Major difference with SOMA comparing to previus horror titles is that creatures are scary at first while once when you figure out what is happening and who is after you, it all come to hide and seek, but this time you have feeling that you are doing that with guards in completely other genre. Sure horror aspects are still here with everything above described but tension is going down as further as you progress and you will probably get more frustrated then scared as loong as you are stucked in one section. It feels like that SOMA deliver much more to sci-fi genre while horror aspects are here just to make things better. You will encounter couple different AI with different mechanics, while once you will try to be quite, next time you will need to avoid looking at your enemy and hope that he isnt going to appear behind your back. Some are faster, some not, sometimes you will need to get your strength and go for a run; all depends on your choice !

    Once in a while you will get opportunity to make step outside of facility where you can explore and enjoy in underwater world. It feels like that area is huge but it’s hard to lose yourself neither its possible to leave facility surrounding but you really dont have that feeling which is result of great level design. As inside you will encounter some puzzles and levels where exploring is important but also where you can leave behind some important and crucial info for overall story. This time there are no long notes which are narrated by character voices or you need to read them, in fact you get couple ways of collecting informations about story and characters around through audio recordings and couple more not so “natural” ways which I shouldnt explore if I want to avoid spoilers.

    There is another aspect which is expected to be seen in this kind of game. Puzzles. Personally I didnt encounter any frustrating puzzle while many complaints about same. They are not simple puzzles which you can solve in one room neither really fast but with logic and little bit of thinking you will find a solution which will usually require a bit of backtracking but nothing near that what we experianced in Amnesia. Despite having more distanced parts of facility you arent going to worry about backtracking on scary places or privious levels..well no if you already didnt go there for no reason which will most likely happen.    … Expand
  40. agurczuk
    Apr 5, 2017
    9
    A very atmospheric first person sci-fi horror game.

    The story starts with you going for a brain scan. After an accident you've got little time to live so you go for an experimental treatment where they're going to take a full scan of your brain. You sit in a chair and the vision goes black. When you wake up you're somewhere completely different - in a space station looking like    A very atmospheric first person sci-fi horror game.

    The story starts with you going for a brain scan. After an accident you've got little time to live so you go for an experimental treatment where they're going to take a full scan of your brain. You sit in a chair and the vision goes black. When you wake up you're somewhere completely different - in a space station looking like environment. And here's where the real game starts - you go on discovering where you exactly are, how you got there and how will you be able to escape.

    I'm not a big fan of horror games but I must admit I enjoyed this quite a bit. Probably because of a nice balance between the horror scary parts and the exploration parts. And there is quite a lot of exploration and puzzle solving apart from running scared from the entity hunting the underwater research facility which you get to travel through.

    Graphics are really nicely done. It's dark, it's damp - it's very atmospheric. The world design is top notch as well. The facility does feel very alien like sci-fi. There's plenty to discover about the previous inhabitants leaving on the base. A nice touch - you're able to pick up any object even though it serves no purpose - but it's fine to do. Looking at numerous photographs also adds to the back story of the full game.

    A bit let off is that it does take place underwater and there are plenty of water levels (ugh!). And while the visuals are really nice I did got lost once or twice in them and did not enjoy them as much as the rest of the games. Though entering the really deep ocean places was impressive and scary.

    The game is driven by two mechanics - exploration puzzles and horror survival. The first part was definitely enjoyable - you go around the bases, switch a lever here, push a button there. The exploration feels interesting and the puzzles are not that complicated. The survival horror is similar to Amnesia - you have nothing and IT's coming. Not as scary as Amnesia but still too scary for my personal liking.

    The game asks interesting questions about identity, consciousness and what it means to be alive. And answers them almost perfectly as far as I'm concerned. Especially with the epilogue. A really nice food for thought.

    Overall a great game with a great atmosphere. Highly recommend.    … Expand
  41. Captain_Chaos
    Nov 4, 2018
    8
    I normally do not play games like SOMA, but it caught my interest some time ago while I'd been watching a Let's Play of it. On principle I wouldn't think I'd enjoy a game where the player is defenseless against the enemies, but SOMA is so well-presented and so creepy that It's excusable. Compared to the earlier Amnesia: The Dark Descent, it's clear Frictional Games has learned a lot asI normally do not play games like SOMA, but it caught my interest some time ago while I'd been watching a Let's Play of it. On principle I wouldn't think I'd enjoy a game where the player is defenseless against the enemies, but SOMA is so well-presented and so creepy that It's excusable. Compared to the earlier Amnesia: The Dark Descent, it's clear Frictional Games has learned a lot as they've worked on this blend of horror and puzzle solving that characterizes their lineup.

    A Canadian man goes in for a brain scan one day, only to suddenly find himself transported far away and into a living nightmare, a crumbling undersea research base overgrown by techno-organic growths. SOMA is a game that asks difficult questions about what it means to be human, and saddles the player not with punishment or reward for their decisions but merely to reflect on them. It offers a particularly unpleasant take on the idea of transferring a consciousness from one body to another.

    SOMA flows much better then Dark Descent, and is more akin to Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs, as it does away with inventory management in favor of a greater emphasis on narrative and psychological and existential horror. It retains the use of puzzles and using stealth to evade monsters as basic mechanics, but these are secondary to the experience of the game's bleak, chilling setting and you have the option of playing on a "Safe" mode where the monsters do not actively seek to harm you.

    SOMA impressed me overall and I'd be willing to play similar games in the future.    … Expand
  42. BobbyJohnson
    Aug 17, 2016
    9
    Gotta love this one! Not as scary as Amnesia, but scary enough with great storytelling. The atmosphere is fantastic and the graphics are quite good. It was a great experience.
  43. dandalis
    Feb 12, 2018
    8
    Im not into horror games whats so ever, but i heard SOMA is more of a adventure game with horror game elements than full blown horror experience, also the themes, the premise grabbed me so after 2 years being on my wish list i finaly started playing SOMA.

    And what can i say, its a great experience. The 2 main characters Simon and Catherine are quite superbly done both writing and voice    Im not into horror games whats so ever, but i heard SOMA is more of a adventure game with horror game elements than full blown horror experience, also the themes, the premise grabbed me so after 2 years being on my wish list i finaly started playing SOMA.

    And what can i say, its a great experience. The 2 main characters Simon and Catherine are quite superbly done both writing and voice acting wise that reached a degree that i really felt and cared for them all the way till the end. Story is very good aswell and it handles themes excellently such as what it means to be human, to be sentient, what could go wrong with an AI responsible for keeping people alive and well, its all really well executed. Frictional also simply nails the game's atmosphere, it oozes dread, theres stuff that disturbed me to bone, in a good way, the sadness and sorry feeling i felt when i saw workers of Pathos II who have fallen victim to WAU or other threats. Segments where you must travel across sea bed were just excellent in my opinion, especially the one taking place 4 KM deep, that felt like youre on a whole other planet, so dark, scary, atmospheric and unknown. Graphics might not be cutting edge, but the devs use what they've got to the maximum potential to create a believable under sea, under water base setting. And i must mention the audio design, bravo in that department.

    What held it back for me ? I guess its the pesky puzzle solving, lot of times you just have go with trial and error till you get them done, the monsters while leaving an imposing feeling from great audio and visual design they dont feel as much of a threat than a nuisance due to bloody average stealth gameplay. Also game is just using the chromatic abberation visual effect to quite extreme margins, and sadly developers dont give the option to turn it off, few times my head actually got dizzy from that crap. I wasted quite some time during my play simply searching for my next objective, the game doesnt have any hand holding like icons, mini map or way points on screen which i normally welcome cuz it ruins game immersion and AAA games are just filled with that garbage, i simply wish they made a minimaly intrusive HUD, a map in menu screen or something to make the player more aware of the envoronments and where to go/search for something. And lastly, it might just be me, but i really wanted the game's epilogue to last just a bit longer than it did, it kinda left me little bit unsatisfied after the emotional ending.    … Expand
  44. Pinkpansylove
    Aug 17, 2018
    10
    I think this is the best story in video gaming BECAUSE it can only be experiences as a video game. While gameplay is lacking, the enemies are visually and audibly excellent. The environment feels harsh and uninviting while having a subtle beauty due to its unique scientific location. It was a blast to walk on the deep ocean floor. The story is excellent and a true horror classic.
  45. Archound
    Aug 15, 2018
    9
    One of the best game horrors ever made, it can be put on the same shelf with Silent Hill 2. Mood of the game is astonishing and the plot is very clever and interesting. Very close to 10/10!
  46. FireSpark_
    Jul 3, 2018
    10
    Лучшее что я видел!
    Очень при очень годный сюжет, прям вообще нравилось за ним следить. По моему было очень крышесносна ходить по всему этому океану вместе с Кетрин (ну уж сильно мне это зашло). Хоррор составляющяя тоже не подкачало (либо я школяр который ссусь каждого звука), либо слишком годная атмосфера (а она тут ну просто шикарная!). Ещё что мне понравилось, это слияние хоррора и    Лучшее что я видел!
    Очень при очень годный сюжет, прям вообще нравилось за ним следить. По моему было очень крышесносна ходить по всему этому океану вместе с Кетрин (ну уж сильно мне это зашло). Хоррор составляющяя тоже не подкачало (либо я школяр который ссусь каждого звука), либо слишком годная атмосфера (а она тут ну просто шикарная!). Ещё что мне понравилось, это слияние хоррора и годной истории.
    Саундтрек был довольно адреналиновый, прямо прибавлял экшена в некоторых моментах. А концовка...концовка...просто мурашки по телу.
    Извините за такой наплыв эмоций, но уж слишком она мне зашла.    … Expand
  47. KARF4GEN
    May 10, 2018
    9
    Dead space, которого так хотелось
    Биошок, о котором все мечтали
    все эти восторженные эпитеты в сторону истории, ее подачи и общей гнетущей атмосферы геймплея до злости мало, впрочем меня устраивает. других игроков - нет, продажи говорят сами за себя. первая амнезия ушла за 3 миллиона копии, а Сома и 400 тысяч не пробила. так что, однозначно - да, для поклонников Фрикшионал и хорроров в    Dead space, которого так хотелось
    Биошок, о котором все мечтали
    все эти восторженные эпитеты в сторону истории, ее подачи и общей гнетущей атмосферы
    геймплея до злости мало, впрочем меня устраивает. других игроков - нет, продажи говорят сами за себя. первая амнезия ушла за 3 миллиона копии, а Сома и 400 тысяч не пробила. так что,
    однозначно - да, для поклонников Фрикшионал и хорроров в целом абсолютный маст хэв.
    и нет - для тех, кто предпочитает много-много экшна и слабо знаком с почерком шведов...    … Expand
  48. ManChile
    Jun 2, 2018
    10
    The best story I've ever experienced in a game or movie. One of the only that's gotten an emotional response from me. And it messed me up for a couple weeks, stuck in my mind. I loved it. Definitely give it a playthrough. If you don't like the hide-and-seek style of gameplay, the new safe mode is your answer.
  49. MavenUMP
    Feb 4, 2019
    10
    SOMA has a nice litte story it tells. And the trick is the gameplay and narrative who do not hurt each other and are implemented perfectly. Immersion is the key for me and for me immersion means interactivity instead of spectating which means: no cutscenes, no handholding, not overly scripted, or simply: do not take away control from me, do not force me into spectator position ever. AndSOMA has a nice litte story it tells. And the trick is the gameplay and narrative who do not hurt each other and are implemented perfectly. Immersion is the key for me and for me immersion means interactivity instead of spectating which means: no cutscenes, no handholding, not overly scripted, or simply: do not take away control from me, do not force me into spectator position ever. And SOMA respects and understands that perfectly. Also it tells its story primarily through gameplay. Here and there you can read, hear or conversate. But it is not cinematic like most modern games nor reading-heavy like Bioshock and still manages to tell us its story.

    For me it feels like a mix of underwater Half-Life just without shooting and therefore more thrill and philosophy.

    The art design is nice (looks a bit like Bioshock without the kitsch), the atmosphere is just great, the sounds are nice. Must play!

    SOMA understands that gameplay and interactivity is the best way to tell a story! It understands that the player him-/herself tells the story as well. SOMA understands how to lead the player into the right direction without using cutscenes/scriptsequences. Subtle and immersive!    … Expand
  50. Anxiety666
    Jan 29, 2019
    10
    A horror game that is for me, a game with a very good scenario! the same style of play that once finished, you continue to think about all the things you did! a game that allows everyone to interpret it as they want, or understand it!

    The game does not rely on jumpscare, only by pure fear

    A game to have!
  51. Chubac
    May 13, 2020
    7
    Good horror which tries to copy the formula that made Amnesia great, but sadly it's not as good. The tons of walking kinda kills the momentum of the game.
  52. MrMezz
    Aug 31, 2022
    9
    Hi,

    I am Abdallah Mezzouri, lets talk Soma... SOMA has one of the most complicated stories I have ever experienced in a video game yet! and above all else it makes you go on a emotional roller coaster. Now for the Environments , You can interact with almost everything for example if you need to get to the top of something you just simply grab a chair or whatever there is in that    Hi,

    I am Abdallah Mezzouri, lets talk Soma...

    SOMA has one of the most complicated stories I have ever experienced in a video game yet! and above all else it makes you go on a emotional roller coaster.

    Now for the Environments , You can interact with almost everything for example if you need to get to the top of something you just simply grab a chair or whatever there is in that specific environment that will get you up there, and the environments are just stunning while playing. I can remember just exploring the world for 15 minutes just doing nothing but admire the game. Of course it’s a horror game so there are creepy places but that’s where you can see the environment really shine, it really makes you feel like your in there scared of what’s about to happen next.

    The Gameplay is very unique which makes you want to play you and in the game you will be running from HORRIFIC beings.

    The Puzzles really compliment the environment and Game design , there is a puzzle where you have to find a Employee number to log in to a PC in game so you look around in this abandoned futuristic world and see a dead body in the hall way and on him there is a tag with that persons information and on there you see a 4 digit number and of course you are going to try that code on the PC and it works! There are of course better examples but this one was at the top of my head.

    I have no complaints about the game! But this is not for everyone because I've noticed its very slow-paced and that might not be for everyone, that's why i am giving SOMA a 9/10!

    Thank you for reading my review.    … Expand
  53. Reviewer13
    Feb 5, 2023
    6
    I found the game to be incredibly boring. Too much important story plays out in emails and such like. The horror elements are week and more laughable than scary. You can pick up almost every object which leaves you at a point of not wanting to pick up any object when you enter a room. Story was OK and it was quite an original game in it's setting as well. But I just didn't enjoy playing itI found the game to be incredibly boring. Too much important story plays out in emails and such like. The horror elements are week and more laughable than scary. You can pick up almost every object which leaves you at a point of not wanting to pick up any object when you enter a room. Story was OK and it was quite an original game in it's setting as well. But I just didn't enjoy playing it and it became a drag to play through.… Expand
  54. shinitaru
    Sep 25, 2015
    8
    This game is awesome! Reminds me of System Shock 2 and Dead Space but without the combat, just pure interactive storytelling. My only complaint is that the game is a bit too easy, they could have thrown in more/harder environmental puzzles. Still, it gave me 12 solid hrs of fun over a 2 day period where I couldn't think about anything else. Riveting and immersive
  55. anime_is_real
    Jan 27, 2016
    10
    I just want to make this clear: I made a Metacritic account just to rate this game. I mean it's that good. Frictional definitely has the formula for scaring people down as was made clear by Amnesia: The Dark Descent, but the narrative for that game was lost about 20 minutes in. SOMA, however, kept me intrigued from start to finish. In fact, the narrative is so powerful you could write aI just want to make this clear: I made a Metacritic account just to rate this game. I mean it's that good. Frictional definitely has the formula for scaring people down as was made clear by Amnesia: The Dark Descent, but the narrative for that game was lost about 20 minutes in. SOMA, however, kept me intrigued from start to finish. In fact, the narrative is so powerful you could write a thesis on it (that's all I'll say here). There was never a moment I wanted to stop playing -- I always had to force myself. That said, if you go into the game thinking it won't be as scary as Amnesia, you'll be in for a bad time. I'd say it's a bit more upsetting than Amnesia since it not only throws horrific fleshy monsters at you, but it also messes with your head with existential philosophies and surreal situations.

    tl;dr fantastic game, everyone should play it (unless you're a wuss, then play the wuss mod)    … Expand
  56. Euknowia
    Sep 23, 2015
    7
    Conceptual, and at this point conventional, parts (Matrix meets Bioshock meets Alien Isolation) are combined into a melting pot, warmed to varying degrees, and served as a dish that is aromatically familiar yet still tastes fresh and appetizing. Yes, I am hungry.
    Unoriginality isn’t something I generally critique in and of itself- but I couldn’t help but feel a bit unsatisfied that    Conceptual, and at this point conventional, parts (Matrix meets Bioshock meets Alien Isolation) are combined into a melting pot, warmed to varying degrees, and served as a dish that is aromatically familiar yet still tastes fresh and appetizing. Yes, I am hungry.
    Unoriginality isn’t something I generally critique in and of itself- but I couldn’t help but feel a bit unsatisfied that Soma’s story consisted, dare I say fairly largely, as a composite of “key themes” from many other stories, theories, or just widely popularized ideas spread throughout all kinds of media. Simply put, there are a plethora of conditions that usually help filter my mental process of discerning whether or not a story is too cliché and I expect they are not identical to, and also vary from person to person. So I doubt it is the games fault that I found its plot to be, well, a tad unimaginative (seeing as my imagination has already considered simulation theory, Bernard Williams’ “The Self and The Future,” I Robot, the Matrix trilogy, works of Descartes, etc.) For me, I thought that the (actually poor) questions of personal identity composed too much of the “main story line” whereas the more unique (as I see it) bits- like WAU’s monsters, were left on the backburner when they deserved the limelight. So, the entertainment value of this game was undermined, only partly, by my perception (however misconceived) of this…
    Aesthetically, I found the atmospheric environment to be quite enjoyable, though also not so innovative, certainly engrossing. The monster animations needed some work- I caught them a few times moonwalking around. Sounds seemed solid, voice acting was at least decent, and dialogue was written in a way that seemed genuine or appropriate considering the fluctuating circumstances. Graphics, in general, were fairly par- though there were certainly some frame drops here and there. Gameplay had its thrilling moments (though less than what I desired), however, and this is my biggest critique of the game, the puzzles were MUCH TOO EASY. They were indubitably laughable. Perhaps the underwhelming horror aspect highlighted their over simplicity, but either way, awful. Everything else seems nitpicky compared to this particular criticism. Fairly good game by Frictional, nonetheless (especially if you find the story to be unique or interesting)..    … Expand
  57. aquiles1990
    Oct 7, 2015
    10
    Masterpiece of Horror Storytelling . This game insert fear on the script rather than their enemies. Truly one of the most unique Sci-Fi tales i've ever experienced . Buy this game and support Frictional games . This guys are only the few truly Horror developers remaining on the industry
  58. Theninjagecko
    Oct 1, 2015
    10
    Slow starter but the pacing after is amazing, story driven at its best. I think this could be a movie, simple idea and implemented perfectly. Cant wait to go through it again.
  59. avenom
    Oct 9, 2015
    9
    В очередной раз убедился в превосходстве инди-хорроров над ААА-хоррорами с набившими оскомину кат-сценами. По геймплею ничего нового, все те же игры в прятки как в Amnesia и Alien: Isolation, но с большим упором на сюжет, который может и не назовешь твердой научной фантастикой, некая упрощенность все же присутствует, но подан он хорошо и ненавязчиво.

    После финальных титров есть кусок    В очередной раз убедился в превосходстве инди-хорроров над ААА-хоррорами с набившими оскомину кат-сценами. По геймплею ничего нового, все те же игры в прятки как в Amnesia и Alien: Isolation, но с большим упором на сюжет, который может и не назовешь твердой научной фантастикой, некая упрощенность все же присутствует, но подан он хорошо и ненавязчиво.

    После финальных титров есть кусок геймплея и единственная за всю игру полноценная кат-сцена.    … Expand
  60. Antek
    Sep 26, 2015
    10
    It's a fantastic game. The story seems familiar if you are into si-fi, but authors "tell" it in a very immersive and emotional way using really good visuals and sound.
  61. Bademantel
    Feb 14, 2016
    10
    Perfect in every way! Exceptional Sound/Atmosphere, after some minutes you feel so linked to the main character! Really unique setting (maybe a bit "Bioshock-ish") and an awesome unexpectable plot. Played through with my mates. I really recommend this game!
  62. maths
    Oct 1, 2015
    10
    Given that I like psychological story driven games, this was one of the best gaming experiences I ever had. Do not spoil it by reading about the game or watching videos. This game is best enjoyed when you do not know what to expect.
  63. Greeensky
    Sep 29, 2015
    10
    The beauty of discovering the bits and pieces of this scifi plot is absolutely genious, it'll give you the goosebumps that's for sure but don't weaver. For the ending is worth it all, in a way if you follow the concept the ending shouldn't have been surprising and yet, the truth is hard to swallow.

    Enjoy.
  64. Ambient
    Oct 1, 2015
    10
    More like Penumbra: Black Plague/Overture than Amnesia, this game should be played slowly and carefully. The story told here is much more thought-provoking than anything coming from more mainstream releases, and Frictional Games has made yet another great game. If you loved Penumbra and Sci-Fi horror in general and don't nitpick every little thing that may or may not be wrong with theMore like Penumbra: Black Plague/Overture than Amnesia, this game should be played slowly and carefully. The story told here is much more thought-provoking than anything coming from more mainstream releases, and Frictional Games has made yet another great game. If you loved Penumbra and Sci-Fi horror in general and don't nitpick every little thing that may or may not be wrong with the game, then this is worth the time.

    There are times when I am reminded of what the fabled System Shock 3 might have looked like in terms of design and atmosphere when I play this game.    … Expand
  65. RaistClaster
    Oct 8, 2015
    9
    Frictional Games achieves making a unique new game after the enormous success of Amnesia without leaving anything behind. Providing a story with philosophical theme filled with great characters, this adventure is absolutely gorgeous, terrorizing and heartwarming.
    Walk into the abyss, leave everything behind, ask yourself about your own human condition and question every single aspect of    Frictional Games achieves making a unique new game after the enormous success of Amnesia without leaving anything behind. Providing a story with philosophical theme filled with great characters, this adventure is absolutely gorgeous, terrorizing and heartwarming.
    Walk into the abyss, leave everything behind, ask yourself about your own human condition and question every single aspect of your existence. SOMA is something more than a horror game, it is also a window into mankind´s soul.    … Expand
  66. horrorfanwithth
    Oct 9, 2015
    10
    Developers underestimate the power of stress. Someone could sit down and die from playing this game. It's as serious as a heart attack. People have real problems and people find video games are as effecting as film.
  67. adam000
    Mar 16, 2016
    10
    this game is a thoughtful, psychological horror/ sci-fi masterpiece. If you like deep storytelling, and heavy atmosphere then this game is made for you. The scariest thing about this game that it will make you think about life and death, and not in the happy way. there're far worse fates than just dying, it's not an easy game to just digest.
  68. ChosenOne
    Mar 12, 2016
    10
    Story & atmosphere in Soma are just superb! It could be a great movie, or a book, but instead it's an even better game. Looks like guys from Frictional games just know what they are doing.
  69. Adgalo
    Oct 25, 2015
    9
    Great story and atmosphere. Maybe not as scary as Amnesia or Penumbra, but definitely equally unsettling. Sound-wise SOMA is a triumph. All in all, Frictional Games have outdone themselves, creating their best game yet.
  70. Retortful
    Oct 7, 2015
    10
    This is one of the best games I have ever played. Like the Portal series, Bioshock series, and Half Life series, this game is a true work of art that reflects the creatives behind it. While the graphics aren't quite up to standard with triple A titles such as Alien: Isolation, this game surpasses most in it's art style. From an artistic view, this is one of the most well-crafted games IThis is one of the best games I have ever played. Like the Portal series, Bioshock series, and Half Life series, this game is a true work of art that reflects the creatives behind it. While the graphics aren't quite up to standard with triple A titles such as Alien: Isolation, this game surpasses most in it's art style. From an artistic view, this is one of the most well-crafted games I have ever played. Beyond visuals, Soma has one of the most enthralling stories I've ever played as well.

    I even consider this to have a better story than Bioshock 1 and 2, and I find it on par with Bioshock Infinite, as well as Portal 2. I don't think I've ever been more satisfied with a game's story as I have with Soma. I haven't really said anything about the story, and it's because I think going in to this game with no pre-conception of what the story is will make it all the more entertaining.    … Expand
  71. Oliwarrior
    Oct 5, 2015
    10
    Frictional Games has done it again. Let's all forget the Chinese Pigs that were like a Nightmare trying to ruin our dreams, and just let our scan take us to the future.

    SOMA is a excellent game with a really a masterpiece from FG. I will go over what i found really good and what i find less good. To start out with the obvious: Graphics and Engine: SOMA is using the their all-new    Frictional Games has done it again. Let's all forget the Chinese Pigs that were like a Nightmare trying to ruin our dreams, and just let our scan take us to the future.

    SOMA is a excellent game with a really a masterpiece from FG. I will go over what i found really good and what i find less good.

    To start out with the obvious: Graphics and Engine:

    SOMA is using the their all-new engine HPL 3 which add all new features (which i havent seen nor tried to figure out, too into the game to do anything with the editor atm). If you guys have ever tried Amnesia(If not, i can recommend it :)you know that a lot of the rooms were really generic and, tbh, not very detailed, with some exceptions. In SOMA you find different rooms, super detailed, great lightning and just sharp textures. While this is not like the new AAA games out there, it is defiently a good addition to the game. Every room is filled with cables, Structure gel stuff, advanced robotics and i could continue. Every room is unique, which is nice.

    Story:
    While I'm really bad at giving summaries and writing a story short and understandable, I'll just make it as good as I can. You are playing as the protagonist Simon, or should I say, the Protagonists(plural)Simon. The game starts with you in a dream, dreaming about the day you was in a car crash, and a friend of yours die, and you end up with brain damage. You then agree to do a Brain scan. Suddenly you are in the future, scared and confused at the events that has just occured to you. You end up finding that the scan you did, was later put into another body, and weird **** happens(as well as scary) Don't wont to spoil to much, so ill stop here. Excellent overall, and I'll come close to this as well.

    New features:

    There is a lot of new features in SOMA: Voice Acting, Choices and all new interactions. The best of all is the voice acting. It is in the top, really, just amazing. Not that we didn't have this in Amnesia, but you remember that it was only briefly when you were looking back in time, memories, that the voice acting was there. Here you are talking, in the present, with other beings. This really adds to the atmosphere, and you even have the choice to keep talking to learn more of the events thats happening. The choices is a close runner-up to the Voice Acting. The decisions are really REALLY hard. I can say one: Before you is a man called Carl, which is plugged to power source neaby. To get to the next area, you can either risk your own life, by turning off some power, which will let the monster in, or turn the switch in Carls room to bypass the monster, but (pretty sure it probably)kill Carl. Obvious is to go to the power room, but to get to the power room, you have to know that there IS a power room. A friend of mine missed the Power room, though that killing Carl was the only way.. Seriously, kill a Dude instead of trying to find another way? Well, you get the point i hope.

    Now to what i find less good:

    In Amnesia the monsters were really scary, but easy to trick. I tried to stay alive by hiding behind a picture.. Really monster? In SOMA some only react if you move or look at them. Even when the atmosphere is so scary, it really kills it that you can flash and look at the monster, without it really doing anything. People will probably miss the fact that this is a thing (Ermm.. ChristopherOdd E.g.) But this is not that much that I don't think it is scary. The game is worth a big pile of structure gel for FG's.

    All in all, this game is just amazing, and if you haven't bought it by now.. Who knows, maybe the other you did? Let's hope so.

    Oli is Out for now,
    Thanks for reading    … Expand
  72. bigtimegamer1
    Oct 14, 2015
    9
    This game is certainly far from perfection, but few games manage to tell such an engrossing, interesting story, that will really make you stop and think. It's fear factor doesn't even come close to that of Amnesia TDD, but it's exceptional audio desgin combined with the thought provoking story, make for an incredibly immersive, unsettling atmosphere. It may not be the scariest horror titleThis game is certainly far from perfection, but few games manage to tell such an engrossing, interesting story, that will really make you stop and think. It's fear factor doesn't even come close to that of Amnesia TDD, but it's exceptional audio desgin combined with the thought provoking story, make for an incredibly immersive, unsettling atmosphere. It may not be the scariest horror title ever made, but in terms of story, and the overall experience, it is for sure one of my favorite games this year… Expand
  73. DealR
    Mar 17, 2016
    10
    This is probably one of the best games I have ever played. After finishing it I felt like I have read a very good book with a perfect storyline :) Just simply....very good game.
  74. Velsuan
    Sep 25, 2015
    9
    An amazing game! Atmospheric, dystopian, intelligent. A wonderful experience! I've played it in two nights, each from 8PM to 3AM, hooked, thrilled and absorbed (that's the good word!). The story is satisfying, to say the least.

    There's three downsides: simplistic gameplay, poor loading implementation and some annoying monsters. I'm a huge Philip K. Dick fan, and this game reminds me    An amazing game! Atmospheric, dystopian, intelligent. A wonderful experience! I've played it in two nights, each from 8PM to 3AM, hooked, thrilled and absorbed (that's the good word!). The story is satisfying, to say the least.

    There's three downsides: simplistic gameplay, poor loading implementation and some annoying monsters.

    I'm a huge Philip K. Dick fan, and this game reminds me of some good stories by this great writer. This game is, I think, a tribute. Thanks Frictional Games!    … Expand
  75. SuperkenGaming
    Sep 26, 2015
    9
    SOMA
    A Canadians worst Nightmare
    Soma is a survival horror game where you play as a Canadian in his late 20s what could possibly go wrong perhaps you could wake up 1000 years later and everyone around is gone.. or robots.. or both.. or neither and the fate of humanity is in your Canadian hands. Like Bioshock, SOMA takes place underwater and is terrifying and relaxing simultaneously.    SOMA
    A Canadians worst Nightmare
    Soma is a survival horror game where you play as a Canadian in his late 20s
    what could possibly go wrong
    perhaps you could wake up 1000 years later and everyone around is gone.. or robots.. or both.. or neither and the fate of humanity is in your Canadian hands.
    Like Bioshock, SOMA takes place underwater and is terrifying and relaxing simultaneously.
    The game is so varied and well-paced that even getting scared half to death is actually fun.
    There’s no telling what if anything lurks behind the corners as you make your way through sea and buildings throwing switches and solving the problems thrown at you.
    There are mechanical monsters of all variation in SOMA, these encounters keep you on the edge of your seat and are forgiving enough to not make the game ever feel frustrating.
    While these encounters are terrifying, you’ll rarely die if caught, you’ll only be much slower and have blurred vision, which leads to a very casual friendly experience.
    To shake the blurriness you can find these weird monster mouth things to stick your hand into… or monster butts.. or something else.
    I’m not sure what these are but they heal you.
    You’re given no weapons in SOMA, if a monsters around, your only options are to turn off your flashlight and hide, try to sneak past them, or run as fast as you can while a fluid thirsty alien looking robot is chasing you down the halls, just try not to run into a dead end, or you’ll meet your dead end.
    The majority of the gameplay though is trying to create a domino effect of unlocking doors to proceed to the next section of the game and soak in all of the information you can about this world you’ve woken up in.
    What makes Soma so great though is that the story is always being pushed forward.
    Back tracking hardly exists, and when it does it’s in a very confined space.
    Of course you’ll have to run back down stairs to open a door you’ve unlocked, but you never have to go back to areas you’ve completed in the game.
    Which leads me to the sea, the sea sections to me were really the most relaxing sections,
    I found the deep blue to be beautiful.
    There are very few threats out here and it does a great job of making the entire game feel connected and whole.
    I’ve never enjoyed being scared by anything until I played SOMA.
    If you’re a fan of horror in anyway, you owe it to yourself to play this game.
    For what it is

    Survival Horror:
    9/10

    Overall:
    8.5/10    … Expand
  76. baraba
    Sep 26, 2015
    8
    An interesting game, if I can call it that. It is more of an interactive experience than a game-game; a few light puzzles, some creeping around to avoid the monsters, lotsa atmosphere and "questions" that get answered by the end.... that kind of thing. The story is solid, if not really particularly interesting or original (or scary). Another take on today's insistent SF themes along theAn interesting game, if I can call it that. It is more of an interactive experience than a game-game; a few light puzzles, some creeping around to avoid the monsters, lotsa atmosphere and "questions" that get answered by the end.... that kind of thing. The story is solid, if not really particularly interesting or original (or scary). Another take on today's insistent SF themes along the lines of Matrix and P.K. Dick's work. But it is done well, as is the atmosphere, the graphics, the sound, writing, voicework... As a matter of fact, everything is.. done well.

    If you like linear gameplay railroading you into a pre-determined sequence of experiences ranging from fear to wonder, if you're still not tired of the "man vs machine" and "what is reality" themes and are simply looking for a well made and solid 12 or so hours of gameplay value with zero replayability then don't look further than SOMA.

    Oh and underwater environments are done particularly well, though I must admit the whole sea and rust theme gets old at one point. Maybe the devs should have added some thematic breaks along the way, the story would definitely allow it. And the protagonist we're supposed to identify with is none to bright as well as lacking any character or personality, a mortal sin imo. I know the devs do it so the audience can identify more easily with 1st person perspective but this is seriously misguided. The very point of fiction is that it allows you to identify with someone radically different from yourself, and perspective has nothing to do with it. At a few points in the dialogue I swear I thought I'm supposed to be playing Fry from Futurama, but without the charm.

    All in all, I'm giving it an 8. A good tight directed experience but maybe just a tad too tight and directed for me.    … Expand
  77. Masterhummel
    Sep 23, 2015
    8
    Soma is a great example of what a horror game can be. An interesting setting mixed with a very well crafted story that doesn't get carried by unexpectable twists but by the way the story is continously presented to the player. Soma comes pretty close to what defines sci-fi, not only the futuristic setting but also exploring the possibilities of the future and how they would affect theSoma is a great example of what a horror game can be. An interesting setting mixed with a very well crafted story that doesn't get carried by unexpectable twists but by the way the story is continously presented to the player. Soma comes pretty close to what defines sci-fi, not only the futuristic setting but also exploring the possibilities of the future and how they would affect the protagonist.

    Where Soma stumbles ist the feeling that it drags itself out for a little too long, much like Alien Isolation Soma doesn't know when to stop. After the eight easteregg hunt, even the monsters start to get just annoying as they keep you away from what you actually wand to experience. The story and strange world of Soma. However, at this point i was invested enough in the protagonists story and the one of his sidekick that i carried on.

    In the end, Soma is worth it for it's atmosphere alone but prepare for some drawn-out easter egg hunts inbetween.    … Expand
  78. Soujirop
    Oct 3, 2015
    8
    Frictional games titles still are a bit amateurish on the gameplay aspect, but they still are a 10/10 in inmersion and narrative too. Even if this is not as frightening as Amnesia, it's still VERY frightening. Some aspects of the story are left untold and I don't think we will ever grasp exactly what's going on there under the ocean, but still the bits of lore offer enough info to get theFrictional games titles still are a bit amateurish on the gameplay aspect, but they still are a 10/10 in inmersion and narrative too. Even if this is not as frightening as Amnesia, it's still VERY frightening. Some aspects of the story are left untold and I don't think we will ever grasp exactly what's going on there under the ocean, but still the bits of lore offer enough info to get the general, wicked, idea.… Expand
  79. Izitmee
    Sep 28, 2015
    9
    I hate horror games. But I knew Soma was meant to be much more than that, and I wasn't disappointed. The constant sense of oppression and fear isn't used as a mean to make a horror game, but as a mean to fully immerse you in the game, in its atmosphere, in its complex and fascinating story. Nothing else exists around you while playing Soma. That's a beautiful achievement, if a littleI hate horror games. But I knew Soma was meant to be much more than that, and I wasn't disappointed. The constant sense of oppression and fear isn't used as a mean to make a horror game, but as a mean to fully immerse you in the game, in its atmosphere, in its complex and fascinating story. Nothing else exists around you while playing Soma. That's a beautiful achievement, if a little estranging.
    Game philosophy apart, it ran perfectly on my rig. The graphics, the environment audio and the pacing are fantastic. The story is fascinating and told in an almost perfect way: not too much, not too little, leaving it open to interpretation and exploration. All in all the second best video game story ever told, in my opinion (first place goes to Bioshock Infinity). I don't give it a 10 just because of the lame-ish voice acting (especially for the main character), and because I think it misses some storytelling opportunity (which I won't mention to avoid spoilers).    … Expand
  80. fukery3
    Sep 26, 2015
    9
    Too be perfectly honest, after I finished this game I would have given it a slightly above average score (7ish).... but I couldn't stop thinking about it!

    Not because it covers new ground, or because its particularly insightful (it's not at all): but more because the story is so layered and there are so many subplots and explored concepts rolled up into one narrative. It really lets    Too be perfectly honest, after I finished this game I would have given it a slightly above average score (7ish).... but I couldn't stop thinking about it!

    Not because it covers new ground, or because its particularly insightful (it's not at all): but more because the story is so layered and there are so many subplots and explored concepts rolled up into one narrative.
    It really lets the player speculate on small plot threads and think about the events that transpired. Hell, even if the plot was lame, this game would still get points for having an awesome portrayal of the deep ocean complete with the haunting elements of said environment.

    So this one is kind of weird for me... it is a downgrade from Amnesia for having stripped mechanics, toned down horror, and a less original story. But its just so goddamn engrossing! Not many games have me thinking and browsing forums days after I finish. I'd highly recommend it!    … Expand
  81. ricmetal
    Apr 16, 2017
    10
    This is a rare game for me, in which i found every aspect to be perfect. The world looks awesome, very believable and makes you feel you really are there, in that world. Story-telling and story are on point. Enemies are the exact amount of difficult, balanced with everything else. Just 5 star experience.
  82. Gnawer
    Jan 1, 2016
    10
    Great interactive story with a lot of ideas to think about. There is a lot to explore while you progress along the game, and every detail gives some extra insight into what happened there and how the story progresses.
  83. Radioactivebuny
    Jan 12, 2016
    10
    The one good scare I got out of it quickly became an afterthought in the face of the immense questions it presented about the very nature of being a conscious, extant being. With such monolithic concepts as what it means to BE, period, what it is to be human, how consciousness works and what the mind is being the primary concepts dealt with by the game, SOMA stands out as a solid horrorThe one good scare I got out of it quickly became an afterthought in the face of the immense questions it presented about the very nature of being a conscious, extant being. With such monolithic concepts as what it means to BE, period, what it is to be human, how consciousness works and what the mind is being the primary concepts dealt with by the game, SOMA stands out as a solid horror game with its true scares being the questions and doubts it leaves with the player. And those are things the player will almost certainly carry with them for the rest of their life.

    SOMA helped me finish (for now) solidifying my understanding of those issues. I actually did quite well, I'd say, in figuring things out for myself beforehand. No philosophy textbooks needed. I would actually recommend SOMA as a very well-put-together presentation of those issues.    … Expand
  84. twkonefal
    Oct 5, 2015
    10
    I was jumping in my seat on more than one occasion. I get creeped out just loading it up. No clunky 'pick-up' mechanics or power-ups to grind through, just solve puzzles and work your way through this world to discover yourself and your purpose. Put on a good pair of adult diapers for this one!
  85. stjimmy96
    Oct 8, 2015
    9
    I was interested in this game basically because it is signed by Frictional Games, and that means the game is gonna be great. But as soon as I started playing this game myself I figured out I was understimating it.
    Soma is not a great game, it is simply amazing.
    The setting is so well done. It is a complete sci-fi adventure and I really enjoyed the enviroments of all the stations. When    I was interested in this game basically because it is signed by Frictional Games, and that means the game is gonna be great. But as soon as I started playing this game myself I figured out I was understimating it.
    Soma is not a great game, it is simply amazing.

    The setting is so well done. It is a complete sci-fi adventure and I really enjoyed the enviroments of all the stations. When you travel through Pathos-II you actually get that sci-fi feeling. Everything is prepared to give you a full immersion in the near future.
    Let's talk about some horror. SOMA is scary, it is not its strenght though. I'll find some parts of the game where you will be actually freaked out but it won't affect all the playthrough. Also, when you actually understand how monsters work you can manage to avoid them if you play smart enough.
    Anyway the whole atmosphere is definetly horror. You always have the feeling that something went terribly wrong down there, and I really enjoyed that.

    But let's talk about the strength of this title: the narrative and plot. Soma has a definitely strong plot which is really full of mysteries. The whole story is narrated very well. You get to know it piece by piece, between a danger and the other. The game won't ever simply throw everything up to your face, but it will say always little pieces of the main story so you'll keep playing even just to find out more about what's going on.
    But SOMA has even more to offer. This game makes you really think about some topics. It starts playing and messing around with our concept of existence, of life and of counsciousness. It really makes you reflect about who we are.

    In conclusion, you should really buy this game. It is not one of those game you play, finish and then completely forget about. I'm sure you will remember SOMA, or at least, the questions you made to yourself while playing it.    … Expand
  86. raorian
    Nov 4, 2015
    9
    a very well told mystery horror story.
    a not to clarify other reviews:
    this game uses philosophical theme to amplify the horror of it. when u are not sure about anything it makes the game better :). the talos principle is the other way around. it uses gameplay to amplify the ideas behind it (and actually refers to many philosophers). this game uses philosophy to amplify the gameplay.    a very well told mystery horror story.
    a not to clarify other reviews:
    this game uses philosophical theme to amplify the horror of it. when u are not sure about anything it makes the game better :).
    the talos principle is the other way around. it uses gameplay to amplify the ideas behind it (and actually refers to many philosophers). this game uses philosophy to amplify the gameplay.

    don't read spoilers. u'll enjoy it more.

    was actually scared at several moments. amnesia was scarier to me. this game is better overall though.    … Expand
  87. Artemyster
    Jan 5, 2016
    10
    It's very good game, I spent many hours playing it. Sounds, story, gameplay are amazing.
    IMHO the best game of 2015 year. I'm going to recommend all my friends to play it.
  88. MysteriousAeon
    Jan 19, 2016
    10
    It's in Turkish, sorry if it's against the rules.

    Az önce SOMA'yı bitirdim. 1 gün içinde. Bugün başladım, bugün bitirdim. Diyebileceğim tek şey var. 10/10, tam bir masterpiece. Hepinizin oynamanızı öneriyorum. Korku elementleri açısından genellikle gerilim ve atmosfer üzerine dayanıyor oyun ama yinede işini iyi yapıyor. Ara sıra mecburen chase oluyor yani sürekli stealth yaparak    It's in Turkish, sorry if it's against the rules.

    Az önce SOMA'yı bitirdim. 1 gün içinde. Bugün başladım, bugün bitirdim. Diyebileceğim tek şey var. 10/10, tam bir masterpiece. Hepinizin oynamanızı öneriyorum.

    Korku elementleri açısından genellikle gerilim ve atmosfer üzerine dayanıyor oyun ama yinede işini iyi yapıyor. Ara sıra mecburen chase oluyor yani sürekli stealth yaparak canavarlardan kaçamıyorsunuz.
    Oyunun hikayesini fazla spoiler vermeden anlatmam gerekirse Simon adlı bir karakteri oynuyorsunuz ve... gerisini söyleyemem. Oyunu oynayarak öğrenmeniz gerek. Bu bilginin ilerisi aşırı büyük plot spoilerları oluyor ve kesinlikle buraya yazamam.

    Hikayeye genel olarak baktığımızda aşırı sürükleyici, etkileyici ve eğer duygusal bir insansanız kolaylıkla psiklojinizi mahvedebilir. Özellikle ending, ah o ending. Hem iyi hem kötü. Hem pozitif hem negatif. Beni mahvetti, dürüst olayım. Ama bayıldım.

    Amnesia: The Dark Descent ve Penumbra gibi korku oyunlarının yapımcısı olan Frictional Games'ten bundan azını beklemezdim. Oyun beklentilerimi karşıladı. Tekrarlıyorum, 10/10. Kesinlikle SOMA'yı oynamanız gerek, korku oyunlarıyla aranız iyi olmasa bile.

    Edit: Outlast'ten katlarca iyiydi her açıdan.    … Expand
  89. Cpt_Cloudless
    Jan 25, 2016
    10
    I'm long time Metacritic follower, but this is my first review, I just had to, because this game is brilliant, and it is just a one word to describe it. Long time has passed since I played such immersive, emotional and thrilling game. As a horror game it isn't much scary as it is highly intensive game. Just brilliant, I'm thankful for this masterpiece.
  90. OldSkoolGamerz
    Sep 24, 2015
    7
    It's not a bad game. A lot of the themes are based on the classic Japanese anime "Ghost in the Shell" (brilliant film by the way) and of course The Matrix, Bioshock etc etc and I also found it had a Doom 3 atmosphere about it. But the story and atmosphere doesn't really let the game down too much, it throws you in the deep end and you want to continue playing to piece things together inIt's not a bad game. A lot of the themes are based on the classic Japanese anime "Ghost in the Shell" (brilliant film by the way) and of course The Matrix, Bioshock etc etc and I also found it had a Doom 3 atmosphere about it. But the story and atmosphere doesn't really let the game down too much, it throws you in the deep end and you want to continue playing to piece things together in a pretty decent immersive world.

    My biggest problem with the game, and why I've decided to knock it back to a rating of a 7 is because the puzzles are far too easy, predictable and the game can be finished in two sittings. There is not really enough content other than puzzle solving to justify full-price atm. I guess there are people who will disagree, and find enjoyment opening every single empty cabinet or reading the back of every medication bottle - but I found there was a lack of reward and satisfaction in exploring every detail, especially when the story isn't a new concept and is a tad clichéd.

    To look at this game in a more positive light I would describe the experience as a 10 hour movie. Immersive, a bit of suspense, progression that leads to development in story and characters etc. You play through it once, just to experience it and say you've done it, and then you move on with life.

    This game is definitely worth a try for the experience, but it's not enough of a masterpiece to rush out and buy straight away.

    Wait until this one is on sale.    … Expand
  91. Lustikurre
    Sep 24, 2015
    9
    What does it mean to be human? What is life? What is consciousness? Who is to decide the answers to those questions?

    I think, therefore I am. Right? Even after the ~15 hours it took me to see the credits rolling down my monitor, these are just some of the questions that still boggles my mind. It's games like this that may make your head spin, and to question your very own existence.    What does it mean to be human? What is life? What is consciousness? Who is to decide the answers to those questions?

    I think, therefore I am. Right?

    Even after the ~15 hours it took me to see the credits rolling down my monitor, these are just some of the questions that still boggles my mind. It's games like this that may make your head spin, and to question your very own existence.

    Even with the above being said, remember that this is a horror game and it may make you s**t your pants.

    Oh well. On to the game itself.

    Aside from being scary, the game offers an extremely deep atmosphere and story. Combine this with existential questions, horrifying gameplay and breathtaking artistic design, graphics and sound, and you should at least have an idea what this game has to offer.

    Without spoiling the story or any plot points, I will just say that if you're a fan of sci-fi, you will greatly enjoy the story and the setting this gorgeous, yet haunting looking world has to offer. It will also force you to make some very morally difficult choices, unless you're a cold-hearted human being that is. This is one of those games that sucks you into it's world, making you not wanting to exit the game until you've reached the credits.

    If you ever played Amnesia, the last masterpiece released by the same company, you should feel right at home with the controls and physics offered by this game. Pulling out desk drawers, opening doors, it's all controlled the same way (holding the mouse button down and moving the mouse) and feels just as good.

    While there is no inventory screen you can still carry some items around with you that are used automatically in their proper places. There is also no HUD for health, but the game gives you very good visual feedback about how close you are to dying. When really low on health you can no longer sprint and instead are limping around and the screen gets much blurrier etc.

    The game ran fine on my GTX970 and I managed to almost always maintain 60fps on the highest settings at 1920x1080 resolution (except when the game clearly loaded the world and it dropped). I found some minor bugs, like places where you could exit the level's boundaries although they required me to really going out of my way to jump around looking for them (as I have a tendency to do :P ), otherwise no game breaking bugs to report.

    So, without dragging this out too long, here are my conclusions.

    Would I recommend this game?

    If you like great stories and atmosphere where you can really take your time to absorb and interact with the world around you, then yes, without a doubt.

    If you enjoyed Amnesia, then yes, this is for you as well.

    If you're too afraid of scary games, but still want to experience the story? I'd say stay the **** away!

    Is it worth the 27,99€€ steam asks for it?

    After completion, for me, personally, that's a "Yes, definitely".

    ps. "robots" can be freaking terrifying. Sleep tight...    … Expand
  92. afroduckie
    Sep 24, 2015
    9
    SOMA is a brilliantly crafted horror game that breaks free of survival horror stereotypes to bring us an amazingly poignant, story driven, surreal horror game.
  93. roberttrufant
    Jun 4, 2017
    10
    This game is so deep and engrossing and thought provoking that I have to review it. I have been playing PC games since 1983. This is the first time I have stayed up all night playing a game in over 15 years. That is how good it is.. Although it is a terrifying horror game, it is the story that is so incredibly good. The story, the atmosphere. The thought provoking premise will be inThis game is so deep and engrossing and thought provoking that I have to review it. I have been playing PC games since 1983. This is the first time I have stayed up all night playing a game in over 15 years. That is how good it is.. Although it is a terrifying horror game, it is the story that is so incredibly good. The story, the atmosphere. The thought provoking premise will be in the player's mind for years to come. One of the best games since computer gaming began. If you have ever thought about existence, you really should play this game. It is more than a game. It's an outstanding story that is perfectly realized in the computer gaming environment. Look past the fear and into the real deal here: Life, death and everything in between.… Expand
  94. turqouise_bluse
    Mar 15, 2016
    10
    I think this is the best game I've ever witnessed. It was so touching and existential. I love sci-fi and I love the whole concept of this game that is extremely interesting for me. It was beautiful and frightening at the same time. Mysterious. A big move forward. Love the game and developers. Thank you.
  95. stephen427
    Sep 26, 2015
    10
    This is hands down the best story for a game I've ever played in my life. I did not really like their previous games at all. It was not as scary I expected it to be but definitely had its moments, Which was definitely an upside to me as I dont usually like any kind of horror games. This is a great game, It has some rough sides here and there but it makes up for it with the incredible wellThis is hands down the best story for a game I've ever played in my life. I did not really like their previous games at all. It was not as scary I expected it to be but definitely had its moments, Which was definitely an upside to me as I dont usually like any kind of horror games. This is a great game, It has some rough sides here and there but it makes up for it with the incredible well made atmosphere where you want to explore every corner of the map while finding more clues about the story. All in which the sound design excels aswell where actors did a great job at making it sound very believeable.

    It's been a while since I've been so immersed in a game before, I did not expect to be so damn emotional about it!

    I can heartly recommend this game to anyone who is looking for great philosophical horror sci-fi story. While retaining some of the puzzle elements of the previous games.    … Expand
  96. LyonSH
    Oct 1, 2015
    10
    For a long time did not go good games with the plot, just 10/10
    Great graphics, the atmosphere of the game and a soundtrack that makes the brain. I would recommend.
  97. NemoZon
    Sep 24, 2015
    10
    Flawed in sections, but overall fantastic

    I didn't know what to expect from this game. I saw one teaser trailer but other than that went in completely unaware of what SOMA would be. I've played Amnesia: The dark descent (though I never could finish it), but I think the two are quite different. The story and pacing of this game are fantastic. Apart from a few sections where I felt my    Flawed in sections, but overall fantastic

    I didn't know what to expect from this game. I saw one teaser trailer but other than that went in completely unaware of what SOMA would be. I've played Amnesia: The dark descent (though I never could finish it), but I think the two are quite different.

    The story and pacing of this game are fantastic. Apart from a few sections where I felt my progress was being held back by the devs trying too hard to make me feel uncomfortable or push a bit of backstory, the whole thing flows like a long movie.

    The scares become annoyances pretty quickly, but having said that I never really lost the feeling of immersion and every new chapter had me willing to give the game another chance.

    Pick up this game, play it just for the story. It's a unique and great concept and you won't regret playing it through til the end.    … Expand
  98. Eastw1ng
    Sep 22, 2015
    10
    I wanted to register an account with Metacritic just to let everyone know that this is very much worth your time and money. This game is so very vibrant in all aspects and delivers a great experience. Very thrilling and compelling to just continue and finish in one go. I'm glad that I bought it and I would love to see more of these kind of thrilling story games come alive in the form of aI wanted to register an account with Metacritic just to let everyone know that this is very much worth your time and money. This game is so very vibrant in all aspects and delivers a great experience. Very thrilling and compelling to just continue and finish in one go. I'm glad that I bought it and I would love to see more of these kind of thrilling story games come alive in the form of a PC game : )… Expand
  99. auralvance
    Sep 22, 2015
    10
    Once again, Frictional has delivered on all promises and brought the hype to life. SOMA is a refreshing take on what it means to be human and the psyche as a means to horror over cheap jump scares. This is a phenomenal bit of story telling and atmosphere people, take note AAA developers, Frictional does it right! So worth the $30, I would have gladly paid more. Amazing story telling andOnce again, Frictional has delivered on all promises and brought the hype to life. SOMA is a refreshing take on what it means to be human and the psyche as a means to horror over cheap jump scares. This is a phenomenal bit of story telling and atmosphere people, take note AAA developers, Frictional does it right! So worth the $30, I would have gladly paid more. Amazing story telling and production values. Highly recommended.… Expand
  100. Samawoodo
    Sep 23, 2015
    10
    Amazing game.

    The sounds is just too good, texts and the interactive items. The experiences is awesome.
    Is less scary than Amensia, but who cares? We have better graphics, story and ambientation.

    Good work Frictional Games
prev
Page:

Awards & Rankings

29
#29 Best PC Game of 2015
18
#18 Most Discussed PC Game of 2015
20
#20 Most Shared PC Game of 2015

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
84

Generally favorable reviews - based on 68 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 63 out of 68
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 68
  3. Negative: 1 out of 68
  1. Quarter to Three
    Feb 13, 2016
    100
    As with any thoughtful storytelling, Soma works on multiple levels.
    Read full review
  2. PCWorld
    Jan 19, 2016
    100
    SOMA is not the horror game I expected out of Frictional, but I don’t care and it doesn’t matter. This is an excellent work of science fiction, not necessarily unique but uniquely told through its skillful use of video game conceits. It’s System Shock 2 for a modern sensibility, BioShock freed of its AAA chains. It’s damn good and, for my money, the most cohesive and ambitious game Frictional’s made so far.
    Read full review
  3. CD-Action
    Dec 16, 2015
    85
    I parted with Soma with the same feeling that came over me while I was watching “Matrix”, “Interstellar” or “Inception”. Once again someone came up with something no one thought of before and took me for an amazing ride into the unknown. [12/2015, p.40]
See all critic reviews »