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TheHalf - Lifemod fit has lead to plenty of hugely successful project over the years . Although thebiggestHalf - Lifemodsinclude major name such asCounter - Strike , discerningHalf - Life 2players may turn toNightmare House 2as an example of how Valve ’s Source locomotive could swap military action for horror more successfully than some full sack . Now , the team behindNightmare House 2has revealed a standalone game calledIn Sound Mind .
Developed by We Create Stuff , In Sound Minddefinitely feels unlike from the team’sHalf - Life 2mod . WhereasNightmare House 2contained plenty of activeness within its horror atmosphere , In Sound Mindramps up the survival horror elements considerably . Based on an early preview of the secret plan , We make Stuff has adapted well to turning up the scares .
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In Sound Mindticks plenty of boxes that will feel familiar to longsighted - terminus lover of survival horror , particularly in comparison to other first someone repulsion games . It kicks off with a bout of amnesia , while lots of the preview is pass in decrepit buildings , creepy-crawly basements , and abandoned supermarkets .
From a gameplay perspectiveIn Sound Mindalso covers what veteran horror fans might expect . The player must compile items to progress through brain teasing puzzles , manage their resource and health effectively , and occasionally face off against foe that offer up a serious threat . There ’s a effective insurance coverage of whatother horror games do well , particularly in the way that it interweave together into a foreboding atmosphere .
From this abbreviated prevue , there are some thing thatIn Sound Minddoes otherwise . In part , this comes down to a level of coherency to the direction that the game meld its various horror trope . Even where it adhere too close to where players suspect it may go , at the very least it delay a step above the litany of other first person horror game that are presently uncommitted .
In Sound Mind ’s handling of resource management and detail aggregation is rather well done . wellness replenishment is rare , and thankfully items can be carried in the player ’s inventory for when next needed . The histrion also needs to be on the sentinel for batteries for their power - thirsty torch , although this is a banality that feel extremely haggard out by now .
In malice of this , generally the preview showcases stiff floor design . In Sound Mindoften admit puzzle that require the histrion to find items , be it the different component part of a handgun or particular to progress through a level such as coins or fuzes . The player will by and large see the reason for their item pursuit before they come across said particular naturally , quash the old school adventure game mechanic of grabbing whatever is around to try and fit it into the game at a later full point .
The more straightaway horror of foeman creatures is handle well , too . In Sound Mindfeatures shimmering , sullen entities that come across like a more ethereal version of the Molded inResident Evil 7 . The basic model of these is capable of have a chip of a scare in the role player , particularly when in groups , although a smart mechanic allows the actor to identify whether they have been spotted by the creatures depending on the colour that is emanating from their one , open eye .
This use of light is one of the most interesting portion ofIn Sound Mind . Yes , the game is extremely dark and the player will be urgently happy of their thirsty great mullein throughout , but there are splashes of colour that generally indicate an approaching cause to be frightened . This could be an enemy creature , a dangerous meaning , or a signpost to more abstract horrors , and it does make the plot more interesting to look at than some dingier horror games .
This also attach into the more psychological element of the plot . In Sound Mindhints at some kind of disaster that has occurred , with the player capable to attend out of the windowpane of their claustrophobic building to see a overflowing world . However , the player will be asking themselves from the off whether what they are seeing is true , or whether there is something more playing out within their own mind .
It ’s here where visuallyIn vocalize Mindworks best . There ’s something unsettling about cross its dreaming worlds , accomplished with elephantine tapes playing audio logs in the screen background . It ’s not quite as impactful as similar elements used in Remedy game likeControlorAlan Wake , but it scratches the same itch .
So far there ’s a good deal to like aboutIn Sound Mind . It may be reminiscent of other horror games , but for the most part it has been created with quality . contribute in those elements that feel unique ( and the power to stroke the plot ’s cat , which is a definite bonus ) , and it becomes one to keep an eye on .
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In Sound Mindreleases in 2021 for PC , PlayStation 5 , and Xbox Series X. Screen Rant was offer with a microcomputer download code for the design of this trailer .