Genre: Survival Horror
Developer: Frictional Games
Publisher: Frictional Games

Despite being brought to life by a totally custom graphics engine, Amnesia looks a lot like the Gamebryo-powered Oblivion; the texture resolution is impressive and there are lots of simultaneous shader effects, yet mediocre art makes the game world look a little plastic-like and artificial. At least some post processing effects are put to fright-inducing good use at appropriate moments.

Mikko Tarmia's soundtrack isn't particularly memorable in and of itself, but it is masterfully employed by the game's designers, and is probably the most significant factor as to why the title can be so flat out terrifying at times. Sound effects are put to similarly effective use. As for voice acting, Sam Mowry is too stereotypically sinister sounding to be effective as the admittedly one-dimension "Alexander", while Richard Topping puts in a top-drawer performance as the voice of "Daniel".

Amnesia's mechanics are in total harmony, and the balance feels perfect; the rate at which sanity decreases in the dark means that it is definitely a relevant consideration during play, but never so much that the game is frustratingly difficult. The same can be said for the puzzles, and the fact that the player is restored to a nearby location with no progress lost upon death means that the game is just difficult enough to keep the player engaged and progressing from horror to horror.

Amnesia has two counts against it: the first is that the game's subject matter too often triggers greater feelings of repugnance and disgust than outright horror; the second is that the castle's setting, which seems in theory like it'd be a fertile source of awesome dismay and astonishment all by itself, somehow manages to feel somewhat flat and dull. Outside of these two complaints however, Amnesia is an outstanding representation of the genre, what with its fantastic pacing, stage layouts that feel very deliberate and thought through, and often terrifying antics.