The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan

Man of Medan doesn't have the most terrifying nor the most interesting horror story, but the exploring the alternative scenarios to keep all your characters alive and the Co-op component gives some value to the experience with the potential to present something better with its next horror story.

Man of Medan isn’t the success that Until Dawn was, and it represents a big step back in terms of player interaction and storytelling, but it’s still a thrilling horror experience that made me scream, laugh, and want to jump right back in for a second or third playthrough to see if I could keep everyone alive.

Man of Medan lacks the campy charm of Until Dawn, but still offers an unnerving horror adventure with consequences that felt directly linked to my actions. If you can get through its slow beginning twice, playing through with a co-op partner is a blast as you both properly explore its many branching storylines.

The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan keeps alive the "interactive horror movie" proposal that gave Supermassive Games such good results with Until Dawn. However, this new adventure falls short in every sense, but mainly the narrative.

While the story didn’t live up to expectations, the actors' performances are fantastic as Man of Medan delivers its quota of horror tropes in chapter one of The Dark Pictures Anthology.

Visually a great "slasher" horror with an incredibly branched story. Shame it has cheap jumpscares, short play time and stiff controls with frequent QTE moments. If you use horrors to relax, this game is for you. [Issue#298]

One look at the score and you might feel that the The Dark Pictures Anthology has a long road ahead to prove itself, but as is the case with the anthology format - it’s one spectacular or memorable story away from becoming a cult or out-right classic. The format, setting, technology, craft, and interactivity on display in Man of Medan bodes well for the future. What we’ve got here, although replayable, doesn’t quite invoke the sense or feeling or general incentive for you to go back to re-watch or re-play. A so-so debut for a promising series.

As a fan of Until Dawn, Man of Medan certainly scratches a similar itch and has moments that remind me of the PS4 exclusive. The multiplayer modes are a welcome addition, making Man of Medan into a bit of a party game in a way that I would never have expected going in. Unfortunately, the host of technical issues really impact the fun here, in a very negative way. So, provided these things can be fixed, then I would say Man of Medan is worth your time. However, I would absolutely hold off on a purchase until we hear of or see improvements down the road.