For some of you readers, the idea of space may terrify you. The vast, existential depths of our universe, the untold secrets of our existence. With these notions in mind, Lovecraft set forth to create terrifying works of science-fiction horror. Over time, with Lovecraft’s work influencing artists, we’ve got loads of fascinating narratives that explore the dark possibilities of our universe. Moons Of Madness is a game that wants to do that; it sells itself as an adventure experience that embraces the chilling strengths of cosmic horror. But, as one strives to make it through the game, it will not be Lovecraftian creatures or existential darkness that haunts them, but mediocrity.
Moons Of Madness plays in the vein of walking-simulator adventures (think Layers Of Fear). You take control of Shane Newehart, an engineer stationed on Mars who must confront the horrors taking place on the planet. Little by little, Shane comes across new monstrosities that threaten the lives of him and his colleagues. As he digs deeper into the cosmic forces at play, he discovers a threat far beyond his mortal understanding.
In general, environment design isn’t half bad either. Though some parts Shane explores are a little plain, the growing evil cosmic presence helps to spice things up. There are numerous Lovecraftian visual traits throughout the game; gigantic tentacle arms, Cthulhu-looking creatures, and an evil occult book are all here. To go along with its literary influence, the game also involves a psychological aspect to its story. At times, these qualities make for solid components to the experience. Some cool environment designs bring life to the game’s setting, offering some stark and chilling atmosphere.
As far as gameplay is concerned, players utilize Shane to explore locales and interact with puzzles. And throughout one’s playthrough, you’ll come across a good variety of puzzles. One task may have you manipulating security cameras and another may have you sneaking past robots. Some puzzle types appear more than others, but there’s enough change to keep your mind busy. Puzzle difficulty ranges as well, with some requiring little to no thought, and some providing more of a challenge.
All this said, however, the positives of Moons Of Madness do not ease the pain of its issues.
One big area where Moons Of Madness shows struggle is in its writing. For starters, the game’s characters are dull. Given that Shane spends so much of the game by himself, communication comes through in the form of radio chatter. Efforts are made to provide a mix of dialogue that is comical, suspenseful, and emotional, but most of it comes across corny.
When it comes to the game’s narrative, credit is due regarding the Lovecraftian, cosmic horror angle. Though a little generic and vague at times, there are some interesting ideas the narrative explores. That said, and without giving away spoilers, the psychological approach feels empty. One can see that the writers were going for an intriguing angle, but the writing never fully commits, and only treads the emotional potential.
On top of all of this, the overall presentation of horror throughout Moons Of Madness is weak. Along with the mediocre elements of psychological horror, the game throws a few jump scares at you, as well as moments of “tension.” I use quotations because when there is a moment that a monster is chasing you, it’s quite easy to avoid any real threat to your life. Managing other threats, such as violent plants and tentacles, proves to be even easier. Unlike the gripping tension and unnerving gameplay of titles like Outlast, Moons Of Madness is more passive in its gameplay.
You would think that the mix of cosmic horror and Lovecraft would come together to create this brutal air of despair, with monsters and mystery that work to crawl under your skin. Instead though, Moons Of Madness just wants to show interesting visuals, but not have them be all that interesting to engage with. With all the cool concepts that are present, it’s weird for them to feel so dull.
While the world design and puzzle engagement are serviceable, Moons Of Madness disappointments. Given what the game is pulling from for inspiration, it’s a shame to see a story and characters without substance. Moons Of Madness may get you to lose your mind out of boredom before any alien entity can get near.
Moons of Madness review code for PS4 provided by the publisher.
Moons of Madness is out now on PS4, Xbox One, and PC.