Among The SLeep REVIEW
By Edwin Velez
Reviewed on Xbox ONe
You Are Going To Want Your Mommy
The majority of fear is naturally derived from the mind, and specifically ones imagination. Our minds react to the things that go bump in the dark in a way that makes us imagine the worst possibilities in a situation. Imagination, and fear for that matter, can take many shapes. Through the eyes of a 2 year old, imagination and fear can be a dangerous combination. In Among the Sleep, you'll face just that as you take control of a toddler in an immersive horror-adventure. Though not the scariest game I have ever played, Among the Sleep has some terrifying moments and a praiseworthy conclusion that make it worth the trip.
It's your second birthday, and everything is going great so far. There’s cake and a smiling mother, what else can you ask for? Then a knock at the door draws your mother away, and she returns upset, but bearing a gift for you. You are taken to your room and left to play, and are greeted by your present, a talking teddy bear. Though other worldly, he is on your side in the long run. After being swept away to bed soon after by your mother, you are abruptly awaken when your crib tips over. Your mom is missing, and it’s up to you and your bear to find out where she is. This is where the nightmare begins for the young child and the player.
It's your second birthday, and everything is going great so far. There’s cake and a smiling mother, what else can you ask for? Then a knock at the door draws your mother away, and she returns upset, but bearing a gift for you. You are taken to your room and left to play, and are greeted by your present, a talking teddy bear. Though other worldly, he is on your side in the long run. After being swept away to bed soon after by your mother, you are abruptly awaken when your crib tips over. Your mom is missing, and it’s up to you and your bear to find out where she is. This is where the nightmare begins for the young child and the player.
Among the Sleep is definitely a scary game, but one that is unfortunately inconsistently so. The intro was a strong start, but quickly muddled by a dull second chapter. The third chapter is arguably the best and scariest, with the fourth being a close second. While crawling my way through some dark environments, my imagination usually got the best of me. I often got spooked at the creak of some wood, when moments later I would realize it was just the surface I walked on. The aforementioned third chapter is where the game truly takes shape, as it features a physical monster that you have to avoid to survive. Many horror genre games make you feel helpless, but when you are a two year old child it doesn't get much more helpless than that. This worked in the games favor, for when I felt I was in danger, I practically just had to accept it which is terrifying all on its own.
The game is mostly dark, but when you get closer to the visuals they too are inconsistent. Some textures are bland while others don't look half bad. The title doesn’t push any boundaries when it comes to the tech but it holds its own. Unfortunately, some issues break through and show themselves ever so apparently. One issue I ran into often was some frame rate stutters during movement. At one climactic point, the game became so jagged and slowed down that I could not tell what was happening. There is also some pestering glitches that were apparent. I became stuck several times throughout the course of the game when I would climb onto certain surfaces. Another glitch occurred later in the game, this time having to do with collectible drawings. Normally when found, they disappear and an assuring tune plays. For the last chapter, none of my found collectibles were actually collected so to speak, though I do think the game technically recognized them because it auto saved. These issues were not the worst I have ever dealt with but did effect the overall flow of everything.
The game is mostly dark, but when you get closer to the visuals they too are inconsistent. Some textures are bland while others don't look half bad. The title doesn’t push any boundaries when it comes to the tech but it holds its own. Unfortunately, some issues break through and show themselves ever so apparently. One issue I ran into often was some frame rate stutters during movement. At one climactic point, the game became so jagged and slowed down that I could not tell what was happening. There is also some pestering glitches that were apparent. I became stuck several times throughout the course of the game when I would climb onto certain surfaces. Another glitch occurred later in the game, this time having to do with collectible drawings. Normally when found, they disappear and an assuring tune plays. For the last chapter, none of my found collectibles were actually collected so to speak, though I do think the game technically recognized them because it auto saved. These issues were not the worst I have ever dealt with but did effect the overall flow of everything.
I don't think this is right...
The games underlying themes are brought to a stellar conclusion, which I won't get to into because of spoiler reasons. I will say, however, that the conclusion is a scary real world problem, not one that is of fantasy like the majority of the game. Krillbite tackled this in a unique way, one that reflects on the innocence of children and their imaginations. During my roughly 3 hours playing through Among the Sleep, I crawled, awkwardly ran, and hugged my bear to my heart’s content all in the name of figuring out where my mother was. I definitely appreciate the material at hand, but I wanted a more in-tune experience. Anyone looking for a solid romp in a haunted house can rely on Among the Sleep to get the job done though, and it is certainly a success for the genre in the long run.
*Note: A copy of the game was provided by the developer for the purposes of the review
*Note: A copy of the game was provided by the developer for the purposes of the review
FINAL SCORE: 7/10
|
+Unique Experience
+Some Strong Segments |
-Technical Issues
-… but also some really weak segments |
Release Date: 6/3/2016
Developer: Krillbite Studio
Publisher: Krillbite Studio
Developer: Krillbite Studio
Publisher: Krillbite Studio