It's the worst example of degradation curve in gameplay mechanics since Dungeon Keeper series (we started off with plentiful Penumbra Overture, where you could greatly risk your life by clumsily swatting dangerous enemies with a pickaxe or broom if you liked, use the environment to trap the beast, waste a consumable and lure them away with tasty steak or safely and patiently sit them out; then "streamlined" the gameplay in sequel by leaving just battery / lantern oil hunt with some hide-and-run mechanics to encounter the enemies and ended up having nothing BUT hide and run, leaving entire gameplay pace at the grace of stupid AI, which, come to think of it, is an appropriate metaphor for one of the in-game plot lines).
Good to know, the leading talents in Frictional Games have announced plans on rolling back to more elaborate gameplay mechanics of their previous works for future projects - not sure, how they will top SOMA, but Godspeed to them, crazy bàstàrds. Because SOMA might be some of the best sci-fi stories told both in videogames and movies.
It has both immersive storytelling that manages to answer all the major plot-related questions, whilst keeping enough food for afterthought on our own, AND has balls to give players one hell of a satisfying, conclusive ending one can ever hope to have in a modern era of interactive entertainment, where both small and big creative teams preemptively "plant" their ambitions for sequel-making before they even had success with their first title, in a form of annoying cliffhanger, leaving the player with an ever fading hope for planned sequel ever come to pass. (not mentioning any names, Valve!)
So what does it leave us with?
- Bland gameplay;
- Mostly not scary horror for horror veterans (guess, it might still scare some newcomers, 12 years olds and Pewdiepie);
- Great story;
- Best ending;
- Best after-credits sequence (spoliers!);
- "0" replay value.
Take it as you like.
I'd call it the best walking simulator I've ever played in my life and would definitely suggest you trying to sit this one through the end.
