Amnesia: The Dark Descent is the latest title from indie developer Frictional Games, creators of the acclaimed Penumbra series. Amnesia is a first-person, survival-horror game that puts players in the role of Daniel, a mysterious protagonist who awakens in a dimly-lit castle. Uncertain of his past, it's up to the player to piece together events from Daniel's fractured memory in order to uncover the secret of a malevolent darkness that pursues him.
Unlike most other titles waving the banner of "survival-horror," Amnesia isn't another dimly-lit shooter filled with monster closets. In fact, it's more of an adventure game with action elements. The game's narrative is told via collectible notes scattered around the castle, some written by Daniel himself, pre-memory loss. In-game, narrated cut-scenes are also fairly frequent, coating the screen with a dream-like visual filter when triggered. In both cases, Amnesia's expository measures are immersive, albeit a bit unsettling. They help keep the player firmly rooted in the protagonist's shoes.
There's not a single weapon for the player to use in Amnesia. If you encounter a monster in Amnesia, you have only a few choices: run, hide, or die.
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