Wasn't there something moving? Quickly light a match and light the candle. Even better: a fire bowl or torch! Because without light, the next panic attack is not far away. You should always provide bright islands so as not to get lost in the black of this labyrinthine cave. But if you venture too deep into it, you can feel more than just your fear: because something else is lurking there.
The heroine had sought refuge and answers here. After a plane crash, she awoke in the desert with no memory - and no one to be seen. To escape the biting sun, and in the hope of finding her husband and other survivors there, she followed the trail of debris and suitcases and reached this cave, which she has been exploring ever since in the first-person view. But don't worry, it doesn't stop at underground wanderings: there are respectable areas above ground, including old fortresses and towns.
You realize quite early on how serious Frictional Games is about the narrative focus because you find a lot of notes that initially refresh your lost memory only fragmentarily. But you don't just have to read: This mosaic is further completed by sometimes disturbing flashbacks that show scenes from the past.
Thus, backgrounds to characters, places as well as relationships slowly emerge. The narrative style is reminiscent of What Remains of Edith Finch sympathetically. The story weaves together three threads: the heroine's old life and her marriage, her investigative presence with time-critical references to colonialism, and the mystery of the supernatural events in North Africa.
In addition to the convincingly staged fear in the dark, classic puzzles provide entertainment in which one acts more like a detective: For example, how to make the crumbling floor collapse to get to the room below? How can the elevator be repaired? Most of the time it's a matter of searching the area for objects that you can attach something to or actively move - like the heavy cannon.
But terror is never far away either. Sometimes it's a matter of timing: if a creature shuffles in from the dark and you have to quickly open a door by moving heavy bags out of the way beforehand, you can start sweating - especially if you forget to close and lock it again. However, these well-dosed shock moments are usually followed by important rest phases, so that there is a good balance of stress and relaxation.
CONCLUSION
Amnesia: Rebirth is an atmospheric horror adventure that is told well. Besides the convincingly staged fear in the dark, classic puzzles provide entertainment, and well-dosed shock moments are followed by important rest phases. Some things seem illogical and I would have wished for more interaction and ambition. But Frictional Games noticeably ties in with the first Amnesia: The Dark Descent from 2010 in terms of direction, which I still consider one of the best survival horror games in the then still "new" storytelling school. This creates an experience that is as emotional as it is gruesome, which reminded me of What Remains of Edith Finch in places, despite the terror. Add to that the interesting African setting, the critical look at colonialism, and a touch of cosmic horror à la H.P. Lovecraft.
