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Until Dawn, a horror game released in August 2014 exclusively for the PlayStation 4, offers a chilling interactive narrative experience. Originally envisioned for the PS3 with PlayStation Move functionality and a first-person perspective, Supermassive Games ultimately reimagined the game, delivering a stunning third-person adventure that captivated players. This review explores the strengths and weaknesses of Until Dawn, comparing it to other successful interactive drama games like Heavy Rain, Beyond: Two Souls, The Walking Dead, and Life is Strange.

A Visual and Auditory Masterpiece

Until Dawn – Stunning Graphics

Supermassive Games masterfully crafts a chilling atmosphere through clever lighting and effective shadowing. This technique adds depth and creates a sense of foreboding that draws players deeper into the game’s mysterious world. The character models are another highlight. Using motion capture technology and the likenesses of young Hollywood actors, Until Dawn breathes life into its characters, capturing complex emotions and elevating the game’s visuals to new heights. The result is an immersive and emotionally engaging experience.

Until Dawn – Atmospheric Environments

Complementing the stunning visuals is a haunting soundtrack composed by Jason Graves, known for his work on Dead Space, F.E.A.R. 3, Tomb Raider (2013), and The Order 1886. From howling winds to unsettling sounds and strategically placed musical cues, the audio design enhances the suspense and keeps players on the edge of their seats. The experience is amplified when played at night in a dark room with headphones, promising a truly immersive and potentially terrifying experience. The combination of visuals and audio makes Until Dawn a chilling masterpiece on the PS4, a captivating and haunting horror experience.

Engaging Gameplay with Depth

Until Dawn – Interactive Gameplay

Interactive drama games often face criticism for feeling more like movies than games. Until Dawn, however, successfully addresses this concern with its engaging and layered gameplay. While sharing similarities with titles like Heavy Rain and The Walking Dead, with players progressing through a narrative, exploring environments, and making choices during crucial moments through quick-time events (QTEs), Until Dawn stands out with its Butterfly Effect system.

Until Dawn – Choice and Consequence

This system tracks the consequences of player choices, impacting the narrative and the fate of the eight playable characters: Josh, Sam, Mike, Matt, Emily, Jessica, Chris, and Ashley. The game autosaves after character deaths, ensuring the story continues seamlessly regardless of the outcome. The time-sensitive QTEs and choices add tension and weight to every decision.

The Butterfly Effect, combined with Totems (collectible items foreshadowing future events), Clues (providing insights into the story), and the evolving relationships between characters, adds depth to the gameplay. The Totems, categorized as Death, Guidance, Loss, Danger, and Fortune, offer cryptic hints about the characters’ fates, similar to the Final Destination films. Clues uncover the mysteries surrounding the group’s gathering at Josh’s mountain retreat to commemorate the anniversary of his twin sisters’ deaths.

Until Dawn – Exploring the Environment

Player choices affect character development, relationships, and the overall narrative, leading to unexpected outcomes. The combination of compelling gameplay, a gripping storyline with surprising twists, and classic horror tropes creates a unique and highly replayable experience.

Lingering Shortcomings

Until Dawn – Minor Technical Issues

Despite its strengths, Until Dawn suffers from occasional frame rate drops, a common issue in graphically demanding games, particularly noticeable during cutscenes. While updates have improved performance, the problem hasn’t been entirely eliminated. Another minor drawback is the occasional simplicity of choices, sometimes limited to A or B options instead of offering more nuanced possibilities. However, the robust consequence system compensates for this, ensuring that choices have significant impact.

Conclusion

Until Dawn delivers a captivating and thrilling horror experience on the PS4. Its stunning visuals, haunting soundtrack, and engaging gameplay mechanics combine to create a truly immersive adventure. The Butterfly Effect system, Totems, Clues, and complex character relationships add depth and replayability. While minor technical issues and occasional simplistic choices exist, they do little to detract from the overall enjoyment of the game. Until Dawn successfully elevates the interactive drama genre, offering a unique and memorable horror experience.