A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead review: Shush

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As someone who prefers their scares on the big screen rather than in-game, I was initially skeptical about A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead. However, I must admit that Stromwind Games has managed to capture the essence of paranoia and tension that made the original film so compelling. The game’s world is a silent nightmare, where every sound you make could be your last.

It’s true that I’m not particularly fond of horror games, but there are exceptions. For instance, I appreciate Adam Wake’s tribute to Twin Peaks in Signalis for its clever cryptic elements, and Resident Evil just because it’s Resident Evil. However, when it comes to traditional scares in gaming, I usually steer clear. That being said, I do enjoy a good fright on the big screen. A movie like A Quiet Place presents an excellent concept for a video game, set in a world where creatures leap at every sound, and it was just a matter of time before it made its way to the buzz of consoles and PCs.

Big-screen horror on a smaller scale

In the early stages of Stormwind Games’ adaptation, a cautious and methodical beginning kept me on edge, listening intently to each crack of shattered glass and creak of an unlubricated door hinge. The initial exploration of a deserted resort while remaining vigilant, aware that every sound I made could be my last, created a highly suspenseful atmosphere. Right from the start, its world instills a sense of paranoia in the player that pervades throughout the universe. Tread lightly and keep quiet. The last time I found myself fixated on floor textures like this was when I played Death Stranding. A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead captures that specific aspect of the franchise exceptionally well, even though I had mixed feelings as the game came to a close.

In this game, you assume the role of Alex, a young asthmatic woman navigating a silent, post-apocalyptic world. Overexertion, such as lifting heavy items or coming too close to monsters, triggers her asthma attacks. She can find relief using inhalers and medicine, but supplies are scarce on the Normal difficulty level, leading to tense moments of sneaking and solving puzzles. Unfortunately, Alex’s story isn’t particularly compelling; it offers a wealth of post-apocalyptic writing ideas but little else. The early chapters establish character interactions and intriguing conflicts, only for these threads to be abandoned due to the game’s focus on stealthily maneuvering around monsters. This is disappointing given the promising start.

Adapted, not inspired

One potential rephrase could be: The main issue with The Road Ahead lies in its excessive focus on emulating A Quiet Place as a video game, which prioritizes monsters and horror over atmosphere. This focus often hinders the game from establishing its unique identity. The initial thrill of treading cautiously or scaring birds wears off quickly, transforming into a tense, prolonged journey through linear sections. I appreciate the moments when I’m exploring, quietly manipulating objects like doors and vent covers. These instances are engaging when they require delicate mouse or controller movements to open drawers or unscrew vents. However, when stealth sequences force me to navigate around one or multiple monsters while transporting a ladder from point A to B, it becomes frustrating. This frustration would be lessened if there weren’t so many of these encounters and the monster AI didn’t seem to always detect my presence even without any noise.

Not A Quiet Place at all

In the game titled “A Quiet Place,” there’s an unexpected abundance of sound instead of silence. The game is consistently accompanied by dramatic music, often signaling scares that don’t materialize. This is disappointing since one of the original’s key aspects was the absence of sound. Although the sound of gravel crunching underfoot can be both pleasing and frightening, it’s never left in solitude. There’s never a moment where you might regret a floorboard creaking in utter silence. The game “The Road Ahead” allows you to use your microphone for a more immersive experience. I tested this function sparingly when my home wasn’t filled with the faint snores of dogs, and it seemed to work well. However, its impact on my solo gaming experience was minimal. But when I played with a companion, the hushed conversations and sneezing into sofa cushions significantly enhanced the immersion.

Although The Road Ahead, the adaptation of the popular horror series A Quiet Place, offers a fair representation, it unfortunately lacks pace and originality in its storytelling, and features irritating stealth segments. However, despite these shortcomings, it remains an exciting, nerve-wracking journey within the universe of A Quiet Place, offering enough content to satisfy fans of the film.

For the purpose of this critique, I received a copy of the Steam edition from the publisher. As of now, you can purchase “A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead” for your PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, or personal computer platforms.

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2024-10-25 18:27