Man of Medan: The Dark Pictures is a game everyone should experience

Supermassive Games has been a fresh influence on horror games and interactive stories in recent years. Until Dawn was a fantastic interactive horror film that embraced the tropes and cliches, but allowed players to play the role of the teenagers who were doomed in the story. The game allowed for multiple endings, which would not have been possible in a more formulaic story.

The studio has now released The Dark Pictures Anthology, a collection of interactive horror stories based on folklore and urban legends. It’s the gaming version of Tales From The Darkside, or The Twilight Zone.

As a first installment, Man Of Medan is based loosely on the disappearances of the Ourang Medan. It has some interesting quirks that help to gloss over the paper-thin character and the drab narrative direction.

Ghost Ship

The plot of is outrageous but it works. Five different characters are available, including four wealthy deep sea divers, their captain and a fifth character. They all venture into the ocean to search for old WW2 wreckage in order to find treasure. They are forced to abandon their expedition when they encounter pirates, and bump into an abandoned freighter. The freighter, however, has a dark and possibly supernatural past. As a result, horrific things begin to rise from its dark corners in order to terrorize the cast. The film is filled with spooky and scary shenanigans.

Man of Medan has a great atmosphere. Shawn Ashmore’s performance as a young adult who is out of his element and who has no sense of responsibility is a delight. The visuals and camera work are also excellent and keep you feeling uneasy. The jump scares are a little forced but they work because of the atmosphere of dread.

Minimal gameplay helps to breathe this atmosphere. You will be spending most of your time choosing dialogue options for the character you’re controlling, and occasionally hitting buttons during multiple Quick Time Event sequences. These are usually chase sequences against monsters or nail biting battles. The characters’ traits change depending on the dialogue you select, as well as their moral compass. This determines whether they will act in a selfless manner during chaotic moments.

Supermassive Schlock

‘s Presentation in Man of Medan is not something that can be hidden. Man Of Medan is only five hours long, and the cast feels like cardboard cutouts, with no clear motivations or arcs. The dialogue is snappy and adds some humanity, but I can’t remember the names of any characters or their defining characteristics after two playthroughs.

The story is also full of contrivances, and there are many hokey moments. There is a major reason why the ship is haunted, but there are many scenes that attempt to hide it. There are characters that appear in one scene and then show up randomly in another. At least one red-herring is introduced and it stops the story in its tracks.

But I’m not really against the Man Of Medan’s patchwork storyline; it adds to the authenticity. The whole thing plays out like a cheap horror movie you watch with your friends and a lot hard alcohol. It turns out better than its cheesy low quality trappings.

The only times this masterful atmosphere is broken is during the interludes of The Curator, narrator of The Dark Pictures and “host”. The Curator will comment on the current state of affairs that the characters are in and give you clues or hints as to what’s going on. Pip Torrens plays the Curator with absolute politeness, which makes these Fourth-Wall breaking asides seem natural.

Dude! Get the Popcorn

Man Of Medan might not seem to be my favorite game, but the co-op elements are what make it so special. Movie Night is designed for couch play. Up to five friends can choose one of the five main characters, and then the controller is passed to them. You will see what your friends do to advance the story as you watch the scenes unfold. The five-hour runtime is perfect for an evening of horror with friends. It’s also a great idea to add some social interaction to the game. The narrative can be a bit slow, which may lead some players to wait impatiently to see their character.

However, the real show is in the Shared Story online mode. Online, you and a friend can play the story from beginning to end. Each of you controls two characters in each scene. You and your friend can move and act independently, even though you’re not in the same place. Various scenes will still play out in real-time, even if you’re not in the same place. It led to some exciting situations, such as when my partner saved my life in a chase sequence or I got us caught after I misread a button prompt. This adds a new twist to the game, which makes it more interesting.

The only thing I don’t like about this mode is the requirement that you both have to own the game. There is no buddy pass. Man Of Medan retails for only thirty dollars, not the usual sixty.

Our Verdict

Man of Medan offers a good horror experience, which relies on past successes of the developers. The game is trashier than the previous one, but playing it with friends makes for a great evening. The perfect mix of suspense and genre silliness.

The next installment of Little Hope will debut next year. If it’s anything like the first, I am a fan.