PGC NEWS

Supermassive Games’ The Devil in Me, released in November 2022, concludes the first season of The Dark Pictures Anthology. Following the interactive cinematic style of previous titles like The Quarry, Until Dawn, and House of Ashes, players control multiple characters, explore environments, and make crucial decisions affecting survival. This review analyzes the game’s chilling narrative and assesses its strengths and weaknesses.

Lonnit Entertainment’s Deadly Documentary

The Devil in Me centers around Lonnit Entertainment, an American documentary film crew struggling with their current project, “Architects of Murder,” focusing on America’s first serial killer, H. H. Holmes. Seeking to revitalize dwindling viewership, the crew’s boss, Charles Lonnit, receives a mysterious call from Graham Dumet. Dumet claims to be an H. H. Holmes enthusiast and has meticulously reconstructed the World Fair Hotel, the site of Holmes’ gruesome murders. He offers Lonnit Entertainment exclusive access for filming, but only if Charles accepts immediately. Desperate, Charles agrees despite his reservations.

Unfortunately, Dumet is a deranged individual seeking to emulate H. H. Holmes, trapping the film crew in a deadly game. Players must navigate this terrifying scenario and make choices that will determine the crew’s fate.

A Chilling Atmosphere

The Devil in Me’s strength lies in its atmospheric horror. Instead of relying on jump scares or gore, the game cultivates dread through its oppressive environment. The World Fair Hotel, with its claustrophobic hallways, dim lighting, and labyrinthine layout, creates a constant sense of unease. This unsettling atmosphere extends to other locations within the game, making exploration a tense experience.

The sound design further enhances the game’s chilling atmosphere. Subtle audio cues create a sense of dread, often leading to genuine moments of tension. A standout sequence involves Erin, the crew’s sound engineer, using her audio equipment to navigate the darkness, guided by the unsettling sound of a woman’s cries. This forced proximity to a source of potential danger heightens the psychological horror.

Flawed Choices and Pacing Issues

Despite its atmospheric strengths, The Devil in Me suffers from poorly designed choices and pacing problems. Some crucial decisions lack sufficient context, offering no clues or hints to guide the player. Saw-inspired death traps, requiring players to make life-or-death choices for their companions, often feel arbitrary due to the absence of meaningful clues about the traps’ weaknesses or the utility of available items. This reduces these critical moments to guesswork rather than rewarding observation and deduction.

At approximately eight hours, The Devil in Me boasts the longest playtime in the Dark Pictures Anthology. However, this length feels excessive due to unnecessary padding, particularly in the beginning and end. While new mechanics, such as character-specific item usage and enhanced movement akin to parkour, are introduced, their implementation is superficial and ultimately contributes to the game’s sluggish pace.

While the “Curator’s Cut” offers an alternative perspective, the overall experience remains underwhelming. The drawn-out narrative and lackluster implementation of new mechanics make The Devil in Me a disappointing conclusion to the first season of The Dark Pictures Anthology.

Conclusion

The Devil in Me offers a chilling atmosphere and some genuinely tense moments. However, its flawed choice design and pacing issues significantly detract from the overall experience. The game’s length ultimately feels excessive, and the implementation of new mechanics falls short of its potential. While fans of the anthology may find some enjoyment, The Devil in Me represents a missed opportunity to end the season on a high note.