When some games end, the credits of all the people involved are longer than the game itself. It goes into the thousands for some games, from the lead developer to the head of paper in the accounts department.
But it’s the creatives in their bedrooms or those at small studios, working solo and coming up with a game from scratch and taking on all the roles, where the true magic comes from.
Pneumata is one of those games, tackling the survival horror market with a hint of Resident Evil and a lot of darkness thrown in.
I love how Pneumata starts. You are in bed, and there is a knocking at the door. You see a figure out of the window watching, and when you go downstairs and open the door, they have gone. A package is there with a VHS tape. You can tell from the house that you are in bad shape and have been searching for your missing wife. The tape holds a clue to somewhere called Milton. You drive there, and that’s where the story truly begins…
The atmosphere and setup of the game are very good. Being in first-person, the main character self-narrates sometimes, and it does get slightly annoying. But overall, I enjoyed the story and the events that take place. It can still be scary at times too, even though it doesn’t tread any new ground.
The gameplay puts you in the first person and has that blend of exploration, puzzle-solving, inventory management, and combat. It feels like an old-school Resident Evil and Silent Hill game merged; both of which must have been a heavy influence for the developer. In exploration terms, Pneumata has a sense of horror around every corner, and sometimes it’s quite easy to get lost due to the darkness of the game. There are no maps to help you on your way either, so you’ll want to rely on your sense of direction and muscle memory to get through the game.
The puzzles aren’t difficult, and normally you can find any required item in the area you are in. Codes for the locks can be found or worked out quite easily, but that suits me fine. The controls themselves take a bit of getting used to and are not as refined as other games in this genre, but there is also a charm to this as well.
In terms of combat, Pneumata does a good job with the weapons and limited ammo you get. You get to use pistols and shotguns and can craft bandages for first aid. You are going to need everything at your disposal too, as it’s quite easy to get overwhelmed, and you have to run away and try to regroup. Luckily, the AI of the enemies isn’t the brightest, so you can outsmart them quite a lot.
The visuals are deployed through the use of Unreal Engine 5. There are some very impressive moments, with some great instances of creepy atmosphere and use of lighting. But a lot of the time, Pneumata feels all a bit too dark, and you will be sick of not being able to see properly. However, I liked the design elements of the game and the strange cutscenes, even if it is a bit buggy at times; these problems are slight and forgivable.
I loved the sound design and the audio effects, which help support the environment and the whole mood. Voice-over performances are solid without being remarkable.
Pneumata should be applauded as a piece of work from a solo developer intent on creating a vivid and disturbing world of horror and mystery. I like the story and the world created, even if the controls of the main character take a bit of getting used to, sometimes a little rigid. The combat is fine but can get overwhelming, but it must be said that visually it is strong, albeit dark.Â
You should certainly be giving Pneumata a go though, as you take in a scary, intriguing, and entertaining world.
Pneumata Unleashes Psychological Horror on Xbox, PlayStation and PC – https://www.thexboxhub.com/pneumata-unleashes-psychological-horror-on-xbox-playstation-and-pc/
19 New Games to Keep You Busy This September on Xbox and Game Pass – https://www.thexboxhub.com/19-new-games-to-keep-you-busy-this-september-on-xbox-and-game-pass/
Buy Pneumata from the Xbox Store – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/pneumata/9MSW6K446GXD
