SOMA (PC) Review

Truth be told, when I originally found out about SOMA, I expected something along the lines of Dead Space or the more recent Alien: Isolation. I’m glad that once I finally got my hands on the game, it turned out to be something else entirely. Instead, I was treated to a sci-fi story of survival and, more importantly, an intriguing narrative that makes you ponder what many consider perhaps the single most asked question of all time: Who am I? What does it truly mean to be human? Yes, folks, SOMA is the kind of game that not only entertains but also introduces moral overtones. Even before diving into the game, if you’ve paid attention to the trailers released by Frictional Games, you’ll have a sense of what you’re getting into.

Game Name: SOMA
Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 4
Publisher(s): Frictional Games
Developer(s): Frictional Games
Release Date: September 22, 2015
Price: $29.99
Reviewed on: PC

In SOMA, you play as Simon, a young man we meet at the start. Right off the bat, we see he’s dealing with the aftermath of an accident and is scheduled for a brain scan to find out what’s going on with him. Sounds simple, right? Sure, until that brain scan leads to something else entirely. Simon’s world is upended, sending him spiraling as he begins to question what exactly is happening and why he ends up in the desolate underwater facility of PATHOS-II. If I were to describe PATHOS-II, just imagine the underwater city of Rapture from BioShock combined with the cold, uninviting setting of Dead Space’s Ishimura, and you’ll have a good idea.

 

SOMA is played from a first-person perspective, so you never see the character directly, but you do eventually see his hands. Gameplay involves navigating and interacting with your surroundings as you attempt to unravel the story surrounding PATHOS-II and, well, your existence there. As you progress through the game, you’ll encounter various challenges, like being chased by creatures or solving puzzles to advance. While SOMA is a survival game, it handles death differently than others. For example, if you’re injured by a creature, you don’t just die and see the game-over screen. Instead, Simon goes into what I call “limp mode.” You slow down and get one more chance to escape and, hopefully, heal. If you’re hit again in this state, then it actually is game over. That said, it feels a bit like cheating since you never truly feel in danger; it’s more like a redo than a restart.

Like most survival horror games, you’re typically alone for much of the journey. You’ll meet others—some just as lost as you, some still trying to finish what they started, and others who… well, let’s just say they’re what you’re up against. As for the creatures, I wish they posed more of a threat. It seems Frictional Games went for a more understated approach in handling them, but the result feels a bit underwhelming. While I understand the concept of helplessness, the hide-and-seek dynamic becomes tiring over time.

I usually avoid spoiling the gaming experience, but with SOMA, it’s hard to describe the game without touching on its story. While I can’t reveal too much—since the story is the main reason to play—you’ll find plenty of thought-provoking decisions and questions to ponder. SOMA makes you wonder whether the events in the game could actually happen, and if they did, how you or anyone else would handle it. That’s all I’ll say; you’ll just have to play to find out.

Thanks to the extraordinary visual and audio design, the game creates an eerie atmosphere, with effects like blurred vision, the sound of your heart racing, and perfectly timed visual cues. The execution of these effects is satisfying and convincing, providing a sense of helplessness at just the right moments. The real star here is the vast environment you’ll traverse. Though the game is set in an underwater hellscape, it’s visually stunning. SOMA doesn’t rely on jump scares, which I expected, but I found my heart racing several times, even with only the tense atmosphere keeping me on edge.

It was as if my mind was preparing me to be scared while simultaneously expecting it. Regardless, the audio and visuals are top-notch. Since I played on a medium- to high-end PC, I enjoyed the game at max settings at 1080p/60fps. There were occasional frame rate drops when loading new areas or transitioning between rooms, especially with water effects, but these were minor and didn’t detract much from the experience.

SOMA delivers a memorable gaming experience that’s worth playing, even if you aren’t a fan of survival horror. There’s so much the game does right, taking you on an emotional rollercoaster that doesn’t let up. If I had to criticize one thing, it would be Simon himself. I never felt any attachment to him and honestly didn’t care much about him. He came off like a frustrated child when things didn’t go his way, while I felt more sympathy for the NPCs I encountered, who I sometimes accidentally tortured or killed.

And the ending—well, it makes you think. Plenty of movies have used this type of perspective, but it’s rare to see it in a game, and SOMA handles it uniquely. Don’t spoil it for yourself by watching gameplay or the ending on YouTube; it’ll lessen the experience. Instead, take your time with it. Play during the day or at night—it doesn’t matter—just enjoy the ride.

SOMA is currently available for the PC and PlayStation 4.

PC code for this review was provided by the publisher.