Third-person, single-player psychological horror game
The Medium is a unique horror release by Bloober Team. It employs a patented dual-screen gameplay mechanic, letting you observe two worlds simultaneously as you’re solving the mystery of a gruesome murder. You’ll switch between the worlds of spirits and people to reveal sinister secrets that lay within.
Story-driven atmospheric horror
This game will take you to an abandoned hotel where an unthinkable tragedy occurred. You play as Marianne, the only person who is able to see what happened due to her special ability to communicate with the living and the dead.
Like in the Evil Within, the story takes the driver’s seat, but the unique visual representation adds to The Medium’s immersive qualities. A fixed third-person perspective adds impact to scenes you witness, and the dual soundtrack by Akira Yamaoka and Arkadiusz Reikowski furthers the eerie atmosphere.
Exceptional visual worldbuilding
As you explore the hotel, you’ll enter dark rooms that set the tone for the predetermined plot. The screen splits to display the spirit world where you have control of two versions of Marianne. The difference between these two realities is gut-wrenching.
There’s not a lot of weapon combat, but you’ll have to slash and escape nightmarish creatures chasing you. The game keeps you on your toes, somewhat resembling Layers of Fear in its execution.
Straightforward plot-based mechanics
The introduction of dual-screen mechanics doesn’t overcomplicate the game. The 8-10 hours of gameplay present you with simple tasks of finding objects, solving puzzles, and avoiding ghastly enemies. Most of the mysteries are relatively straightforward, as long as you have the guts to look inside the other world for clues.
Bloober Team mostly executed the idea well without pushing it to its limits. However, there are some performance concerns, with volatile FPS causing you to miss out on critical scene moments.
Our take
Overall, The Medium is an excellent title worth mentioning in any future genre discussion. Despite the performance issues, it smoothly delivers an amazingly written story.
Should you download it?
Yes. If you’re a horror fan, this game offers a fantastic experience that’ll keep you coming back.
