Until Dawn is changing the way we look at modern gaming and it’s also scary as Hell!

Totally going out on a limb and trying something new. Yes I’m reviewing a video game. (Applaud Now) In a house full of gamers (myself included) it’s only natural that at some point a game would be so special, so different, that I would want to write about it.

Until Dawn

When eight friends are trapped on a remote mountain retreat and things quickly turn sinister, they start to suspect they aren’t alone.

Gripped by fear and with tensions in the group running high, you’ll be forced to make snap decisions that could mean life, or death, for everyone involved.

Every choice you make in your terrifying search for answers – even the seemingly trivial ones – will carve out your own unique story.

With spine-tingling performances from a Hollywood cast including Hayden Panettiere (Heroes, Nashville) brought to life with the power of PlayStation®4 – your actions alone will decide who survives Until Dawn.

In an unpredictable and dynamically adaptive story, crafted in consultation with Until Dawn scriptwriters and indie horror auteurs Larry Fessenden and Graham Reznick, eight friends come together at a remote mountain getaway and embark upon a night of unexpected terror. Through the course of the night, anyone can live, anyone can die, and things aren’t always what they seem. Twists and turns will keep you guessing right to the end as you play each of the friends. The decisions you make on their behalf will determine who survives Until Dawn.

With innovative choice mechanics and the Butterfly-Effect Interface, players can clearly see the path of their story amid the thousands that are possible. Seemingly insignificant choices as well as huge moral dilemmas that will question your sense of fairness, good and evil, can have major unforeseen consequences.

The Game

Until Dawn is a triple-A game which means the creators had a ton of money to put into it and it shows in every way. It is also part of a genre of games that are increasing in popularity as technology has reached impressive heights. In terms of game play, graphics and sound, these choice-driven games (Think “Choose Your Own Adventure” books) are getting better all the time and award-winning Until Dawn is the creme de la creme.

Until Dawn Trailer

Unlike traditional games, your skill level is not necessarily a factor. Obviously you will have to control your character but the game play doesn’t rely on complex moves or combos. Most of it involves prompts and choice selection. Observers can literally watch alongside the player, and it is very much like watching a movie.

Until Dawn plays homage to classic horror flicks. Everything about it is designed to inspire fear and to get the proper response from its player. The ominous setting, mood and music are incredibly creepy and as someone who remembers playing Super Mario Bros. as a kid, it is truly amazing that a video game is capable of stimulating such complex responses. Of course the premise isn’t that original– a bunch of teens at an isolated “cabin” in the mountains, but it doesn’t matter. The formula is still the same and it is very effective.

This game blows my mind, particularly how realistic it is. This is the first time I have seen anything like it and it is awe-inspiring. It is so good you won’t want to play alone, or at night. That said, if you love horror, play it when the sun goes down, by yourself and with the lights out… I dare you!

Rating… A+

Super Massive Games