Staying in a replica of H.H. Holmes Murder Hotel. What could go wrong…
Supermassive Games is one of my favourite studios. Since Until Dawn back in 2015 I’ve bought all their games in the Dark Pictures Anthology upon release, so it’s only natural I picked up The Devil in Me on release day. I really enjoyed The Quarry earlier this year, so I had high hopes. And so far, I’m not disappointed.
I’ve stayed in worse places…
For those who don’t have a weird fascination with serial killers, H.H Holmes was an American murderer and con artist, sentenced to death for murder in Chicago, 1896. He built his ‘Castle’ there; the first floor was a drugstore, and the floor was made into apartments. He claim he was going to build a third floor, which was going to be a hotel capitalise on the World Fair taking place in Chicago.
In reality, the hotel portion was never finished, but after his conviction and his claim he had killed 27 people, it was claimed but the press that his hotel was in fact his ‘Murder Castle’, and he built secret rooms, traps, torture chambers and gas chambers where he butchered his victims. Why let the truth get in the way of a good story, eh? Holmes also claimed he was possessed by Satan, but he wasn’t known for being truthful; At least a few of the people he claimed to have killed were actually found to still be alive.
The Devil in Me takes the sensationalized version of Holmes and his Murder Castle and runs with it. But it’s a horror game, so that’s to be expected. The story is a group of documentary markers are invited to a replica of Holmes hotel. After being picked up by a mysterious Limo, they are instructed to lock up their mobile phones, because they ‘won’t need them’ whilst they are there. Which, of course they do with barely any arguement.
Have these people never watched a horror movie?!
So let’s stop a minute. You are being driven to an EXACT REPLICA of a serial killers murder hotel, which is in the middle of nowhere, and you have no communication devices. And this doesn’t alarm anyone?! Well, like I say, it’s a horror game, so let’s suspend our disbelief, not scream “What are you thinking!!!” at the screen, and do our best to guide these gullible idiots poor, unfortunate souls to survival. Or their horrible deaths if that’s your bag.
Just like Until Dawn, The Quarry and the other Dark Pictures Anthology games, The Devil in Me focuses on storytelling and making choices rather than action. Using the Butterfly Effect system, your choice have consequences that can change the whole direction of the game and who lives, who dies and everything in between. There are Quick Time Events where you need to press the right buttons at the right time, but the focus of the game is the story. So if you like more action and less puzzling things out, this (and all the other games in the series) aren’t for you. But if you like a game with a strong narrative then you’ll love it.
Though ultimately similar to the previous games, The Devil in Me has far more environmental interaction, and you now have an inventory system, so you can pick up items that may help, or hinder, your progress. Plus the game is longer than the earlier installments, at 7+ hours. This may not seem much, but the beauty of these games in their replay value. You can go back and make different choices and see how they change the outcome.
I have a very special tale for you to tell
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Dark Pictures Anthology game without The Curator.
The mysterious figure who both records the story and guides you, the Curator and his sinister library has appeared in the four Dark Pictures Anthology games, and I am sure will be in the others going forward. It’s never really explained who he is, or how he came by his knowledge of the each games events, which can be spread over hundreds of years. Personally, I believe he is some kind of personification of Death, if not Death himself. He certain seems to be supernatural in origin, and knows far more than a mere mortal should. And he is voiced by Pip Torrens, with a delightfully sinister British accent.
ACCESSIBILITY
The Devil in Me has great accessibility options. There are different difficulty levels, but look at all the option to help everyone enjoy the game. I’d love to see this as the norm. I mean, just look at them all! It’s so refreshing to so much effort being made to include all gamers.
Verdict
Whilst not as good as Until Dawn (which is no surprise), The Devil in Me is a strong entry into the series, and is my favourite so far. I had been a little put off by House of Ashes, but this has rekindled my love for these games. It has great accessability options, from There are different difficulty levels, so it caters to all gamer as well. I’d love to see this as the norm.
I can’t wait for season 2 to start!
If you want to try multiplayer with me, add me on Steam