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Masochisia
PC (Steam)
Embracing the Pain
4/5 stars
Even though I play a lot of AAA games (sometimes paying too much for them - though I've weened myself off that particular habit), I also do my best to seek out smaller games that are a bit different. Since I'm also a fan of the horror genre, Masochisia peaked my interest. As such, this is the only game, thus far, released by Jon Oldblood, a developer out of Texas who created the game on his own, not really expecting many people to play it. I see why - Masochisia is a very unsettling game, full of disturbing images, dark themes and based on a very real (and very evil) person. Yet it expects you to somewhat empathize, with a faint glimmer of hope, but never letting you escape the horror. It's not super popular on Steam, but I found it to be a truly memorable game - even if it left me a bit shaken.
Presentation: The game has an excellent design - and by that I mean it's creepy as hell. The characters are very much cartoons, but seem to be based on early Americana paintings. The design is the first disturbing thing you notice - all the eyes are hollow, the various artwork scattered around the game features portraits with no eyes - just black, endless voids. Likewise, the music is suitably dark and sinister. There are a few jump scares that, while cheap, are still effective and though the game isn't fully voiced at all, there are a few instances of vocals that are truly well done and just makes your hair stand on end. The look of the game perfectly matches up to its story and once you see it, it will forever stay with you.
Story: So, so very dark and uncomfortable. The games starts off with a warning about people who suffer from depression or mental illness to maybe skip this one - and though you may think it's kind of facetious, it's actually pretty accurate. You play as Hamilton a teen/young man who is trapped in a hopeless situation - his alcoholic father beats him, his brother and his mother. His mother has her own issues, as she goes from doting and kind to hellish and screaming at the drop of a pin and also suffers from hallucinations. Speaking of his brother, he is kept locked in his room in a straight jacket and Hannibal Lector-like mask, because, you see, is a super masochist, who enjoys the beatings he receives while thinking of novel ways to self-mutilate himself. As if this wasn't enough, he soon meets another boy, Walter, who introduces him to an angel, Michael, who can see the future. Michael looks an awful lot like a demon, and he instructs Hamilton to do terrible things. The only one who seems to provide any hope of escape is a faceless girl named Grace who never speaks, but expresses emotions in his mind. Hamilton is stuck between trying to change the person he is predestined to become, only to face situations he cannot seem to control - and you must decide whether to embrace his madness or fight in seeming futility against it.
Things take an even darker turn if you dig a little to realize the story is based (partially) on the life of real-life serial killer Albert Fish, with several elements (including some of his real-life victims) taken in to account. Believe me, though, as dark as this experience can get, it's nothing compared to what Fish really did. If you choose to try to chance the outcome, the game ends - but not in the way you think it will, providing one last little twist. Oldblood also scatters ciphers throughout the game, giving more insight into Fish for those who choose to dig deeper. Finally, he also provides one, last creepy surprise in the form of txt files that show up on your desktop (or folder depending on your operating system). Supposedly he wanted to go even further with messing with your computer (and your mind) but ultimately decided it was too invasive and dropped it. Still, kudos for going through with such a devastating story.
Gameplay: A simple adventure game setup. You move from place to place simply by clicking on the edges of the screen. Likewise, you talk to the various characters by clicking on them, choose dialogue by clicking on the choices and pick up a few items by clicking on them. You can select items to use them, thought it doesn't often come into play. There are a few simple puzzles to solve as well. The game is short - I completed it in just over an hour, but don't worry, it has plenty of impact. It's pretty standard and not very exciting, but this is not the game's strength - it's the story and atmosphere that stand out.
Replayability: The "good" ending is such a twisted experience, I can't imagine at this time wanting to go back to get the "bad" ending (that is, giving in to your supposed destiny). That being said, if you want to know the full story, or solve some of the numerous ciphers, you could go back for another go.
Overall: This is a very dark game, with some heavy themes, but it's also a game that pushes the boundaries of what a game can be. It's a shame more developers don't take chances like this - it's not a game for everyone, but if you want a truly unique experience, seek this out.
Presentation: 4/5
Story: 5/5
Gameplay: 3/5
Replayability: 3/5
Overall (not an average): 4/5
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