The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan Review

*Contains Spoilers*

As Powerful As Its Predecessor

Let’s be clear here. Man of Medan is not a sequel to Until Dawn. However, some of the aspects which made Until Dawn such an enjoyable experience have carried over to the first entry of a new decision-based anthology from Supermassive Games.

You play as a variety of characters, though the most impactful interactions are between a group of friends on a diving trip gone wrong. Each decision and interaction (or lack thereof) has consequences which have the potential of deciding whether members of your group live or die. However, it’s not always easy to tell exactly which decision is best for the sake of your group and you may unintentionally end the lives of your friends when you least expect it.

Luckily, the player has the ability to find paintings throughout the game which help inform your decisions, alerting you to potential outcomes that have not yet come to pass. If you take time to study the revelations from the paintings, along with documents and other information you collect as you explore, you can make more informed decisions that might just keep you and your friends alive.

The visuals are incredibly attractive. Each character’s face is articulated with extreme detail, and seeing as much of the game focuses on dialogue between individuals, it is only appropriate that they be this level of polished. The environment at every stage of the game is gorgeous and the “ghost ship” you find yourself on is downright spooky.

The soundtrack is fantastic. I knew the game was going to be a fun ride as soon as “A Conversation With Death” began playing in the intro sequence, and it only improved from there. The music was eerie and complimented the slow paced exploration coupled with the occasional glimpse of a ghostly figure in the shadows quite well.

Mechanically, the game focuses on timed decisions where the player selects from (typically) three options, quick time events [QTEs], and a “heartbeat” where the player was forced to match the beats with key presses to keep calm. The timed decisions are, for the most part, straightforward, though I found myself wishing for more than just three options on occasion. As long as you are paying attention, there is plenty of time to make a choice, however reluctant you may be about it.

The QTEs, on the other hand, were a different story. On PC, most of them required you to press either W, A, S, or D and even though I primarily play games with a mouse and keyboard, I missed most of them. It provided a significant challenge and I am curious to know if playing with a controller makes executing the QTEs a little easier.

The heartbeat mechanic was my favorite, because it forced the player to multitask executing the “beats” on time and paying attention to the action in the scene. Hit all the beats on time and your character stays cool, calm, and collected, allowing them to make a quiet getaway. Mistime the beats and your character panics, alerting the threat to your presence. 

Seeing as the decisions you make can produce several outcomes, that also means several possible endings - 14 of them to be exact. While the experience is rather short, the high replay value makes the price tag of $29.99 USD worthwhile.

One of the features that distinguishes Man of Medan prom its predecessor is the addition of co-op gameplay, which allows you and a friend to make side-by-side decisions which add a complicated layer to an already delicate balance of consequence and survival.

Overall, Man of Medan is a fun and high-anxiety experience that you can enjoy alone or share with a friend. You can replay the game and receive up to 14 distinct endings, which means hours of gameplay trying combinations of different choices. If you enjoyed Until Dawn, I am confident you will enjoy all that Man of Medan has to offer.

[Lady played Man of Medan solo on PC with a keyboard and mouse]