The Dark Pictures Anthology has been an interesting series to date. Now on its fourth chapter with The Devil in Me, this horror anthology has seen more twists and turns than a rollercoaster.
From its so-so beginnings with Man of Medan to the series high, House of Ashes, the masters of modern horror titles Supermassive Games feel like they are getting to really play with each new chapter, both in terms of ideas and genres in horror, which is not a bad thing.
Dark Cinema
The Devil in Me sees the British studio try to capture the lightning in the bottle that was their 2015’s hit Until Dawn. This is something that past chapters have never really nailed if we are being honest.
If you have played any of the past chapters in The Dark Pictures Anthology you’ll have a good idea of what is coming here. Expect cinematic thrills where your choices shape the tale and outcome for its ‘Hollywood’ cast. Which a bit more ‘TV’ this time around.
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Like past titles, The Devil in Me tells its own standalone tale, seeing a group of documentary makers receive a mysterious call, inviting them to a modern-day replica of serial killer H. H. Holmes’ “Murder Castle”.
But as they film their latest episode, they slowly begin to realise things are not quite as they seem. The cast are being watched and manipulated. And soon enough, they discover there is much more at stake than just their ratings.
Jessie Buckley, Nikki Patel and Paul Kaye
It’s a solid hook to get you on board as there is vibes of the Saw and Scream movies to the tale. The Devil in Me has more than a few interesting traps to overcome but a lot of the game is going to be carried by the cast. One which features high-profile stars like Jessie Buckley, Paul Kaye and Nikki Patel to name a few.
The voice talent do an alright job, if a little wooden at times. Their, at times, lacklustre performance is a surprise considering the work down on past chapters. But they get away with it for the most part. This is thanks, in part, to an interesting set-up and a surprisingly strong villain of sorts.
Running Time
You get a bit more freedom this time round as well. You can now jog which is a game changer as we have been locked to only being able to “fast walk” in the past. Plus you can sort of jump and climb too. And when not talking or taking part in action scenes, you’ll explore areas looking for items and the like.
You also have a small inventory now. This brings in a bit of item management as having different things on you. Having a screwdriver, for example, can change the outcome of situations you find yourself in.
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Though these are new directions for the series, the core of the game sticks to its guns. That is to say, the game is driven by your choices, and being fast on the button for the signature QTE moments.
Automatic Cinematic
Visually, The Devil in Me builds on the past chapters, but you can tell there is new tech at work. Character facial expressions are outstanding with the smallest of looks seemingly captured.
The world itself is dark, moody and gloomy, full of detail and surprisingly well-lit which adds an extra layer of atmosphere to the tensest of moments.
The Dark Pictures Anthology is now four chapters deep and The Devil in Me takes a fresh look at things and moves a few elements forward. Yet is never breaks away from its overall template. Something which fans will not mind, but will find it hard to win back those who bounced off its cinematic thrills in the past.