Amnesia developer Frictional Games' superb existential sea horror SOMA is coming to Xbox One on December 1st, and it'll include a new monster-free 'Safe Mode'.
Safe Mode, in Frictional's words, will permit you to "explore the story without being eaten by monsters . Scrubbing out the bit of the game that presents the most traditional form of challenge might seem an odd decision to some, but it's generally agreed that SOMA's stealth-based monster encounters are far from being its strongest element.
Personally, I found SOMA's hide-and-seek sequences more frustrating than frightening, really only serving to hinder the flow of its puzzles and darkly philosophical narrative - so a Safe Mode is certainly welcome. Your enjoyment of SOMA's nautical assailants may vary.
Read more…