Game: Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Genre: Survival horror/psychological horror
Style: light Lovecraft influences
Verdict: Not Recommended
Amnesia: The Dark Descent is a fantastic Lovecraftian story in addition to a good horror game, but what about it’s sequel?
I finally played Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs earlier this month, and one of my first thoughts was, “Did I make a mistake putting it on my list of Lovecraftian games?”
When I originally made the list, I included it largely because it was an Amnesia game. The Dark Descent was so steeped in Lovecraft influences, it just made sense that its sequel would be as well.
Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs has a sort of steampunk setting and focuses much more on industrial environments. It’s a combination of industrial horror together with psychological horror on a personal level – the horrific things a person is capable of. There’s even an unexpected thread of AI horror.
But Lovecraftian horror? It’s hard to actually describe it that way.
However, it’s set in the same universe as The Dark Descent, and one of the Orbs does play a role in A Machine for Pigs. It’s used differently, however, so the overt Lovecraftian elements don’t really appear.
So, what about A Machine for Pigs as a horror game in general? The survival elements are greatly lessened in favor of a more linear game focused on storytelling. It has a grim atmosphere and a decent story, although nothing makes it particularly stand out when compared to other horror stories.
If you want a decent psychological horror story, A Machine for Pigs isn’t a bad option, but if you’re looking for a great horror game or something with strong Lovecraftian influences, it really isn’t your best choice.