Until Dawn

- Reviewed on PS4 -

Until Dawn released on August 25th, 2015.

Developed by Supermassive Games, Until Dawn is an interactive, episodic, horror game that focuses primarily on your (the players) specific choices and decisions to give you a different outcome from the plethora of end results possible.

Filled with amazing music, tension, and clearly defined characters, Until Dawn is a video game title, well worth your time. 

This review WILL have Major Spoilers so keep that in mind before continuing...

Taking place on Blackwood Mountain, Until Dawn follows the horrific journey of eight teenagers and their time at the Washington Lodge. 

Blackwood Mountain not only has the Washington Lodge, but also consists of a Mining Network, Guest Cabin, and Sanatorium, in which you will visit all of them throughout the game's roughly, eight-hour story. 

The main story (game itself) starts with the tragic events of Hannah and Beth. 

After the main cast of characters pull a prank on Hannah, Hannah decides to leave the cabin, distressed, only to then be chased by an unknown threat. Beth then goes after her and then the player choice aspect comes into play. 

You will be introduced to the exploration, player choice, and collectible features early on in episode one, and after progressing through the chase scene, Hannah and Beth are no longer involved. 

After the introduction title card is played (and finished), the game truly begins with the remaining teenagers revisiting the same lodge upon Josh's (Hannah and Beth's brother) request. 

The main cast of characters include...

    - Josh

    - Ashley

    - Chris

    - Emily

    - Jessica

    - Matt

    - Mike

    - Sam

Until Dawn has a neat way of player interaction with each character, putting you in control of every one of them in specific scenes per episode. 

One main feature that is crucial to player immersion in Until Dawn (noted earlier), is the collectibles. 

These collectibles (or called Hints in this case) are way more important than traditional ones in other games, as these collectibles help you (the player) understand the story and open up conversation topics with the other characters. 

The main problem for our cast, is that even though everyone agreed to come back to the lodge, even after Hannah and Beth's tragic event, there is something far more terrifying happening around them. 

These collectibles, or hints, help you with what's secretly happening, and certain hints can also give you futuristic advice! These specific collectibles being Totems. 

There are five different kinds of totems to find during your exploration, these being...

    - Danger Totems

    - Death Totems

    - Fortune Totems

    - Guidance Totems

    - Loss Totems

Each category gives you a glimpse into the future of the game, where if wrongly executed could result in Danger, Death, Loss, or if properly executed, Fortune / Guidance! 

You'll find these totems, and hints, by looking for small lights blinking in the playable areas. 

Walking up to them and inspecting them, will give you the unlocked hint (or totem) and can be viewed anytime in the main menu. 

The controls for movement aren't exactly to my liking, as it does feel like a constant delay when looking around with the flashlights or walking in the vast environments. Not a big deal, but definitely something to think about when in intense, chase sequences.

Speaking of which, there will be plenty of times where you have to perform quick time events, like for running, you have to push the right button quick enough, or my favorite, the "Don't Move" quick time event. 

These events are motion tracked, where you can't move your real-life controller or the future of that specific character could be up in jeopardy (trust me, I know). 

The inclusion of these quick time events really amplifies the intensity of each situation. 

And when / if failed, you truly do get a sense of failure and disappointment, as Blackwood Mountain is a dangerous place where anything could go wrong in an instant, with no way of fixing your mistakes. 

One way Until Dawn strikes fear in this episodic journey, are the enemies known as Wendigos. 

These Wendigos are the true antagonists of Until Dawn, despite what you went through during the game with other "certain characters".

Being extremely quick, deadly, and silent while hunting (only at night), these Wendigos can't see you if you're standing still, and they absolutely hate fire, which (in-game) is the only way to kill them. 

A lot of your characters could potentially die from the Wendigos, so it is important to learn as much as possible about them from the hints and dialogue during the game. 

What really makes Until Dawn special (to me at least), is the personal aspect it takes from your gameplay / answers. 

One notable instance are the portions of the game where you are at a table and answering questions "as yourself" instead as the characters, with the odd gentlemen named Dr. Alan Hill.

Depending on your answers from Dr. Hill, small changes will be made during the actual story with the teenagers where your fears and likes / dislikes will make an appearance, making the immersion factor an absolute wonder to discover! 

Until Dawn is a hidden gem of a game. It takes great story telling and combines it with an amazing immersion aspect / atmosphere, and throws you into a story well worth revisiting, as your playthrough will 99% of the time be different from your last! 

What characters survive "until dawn"? That is up to you to find out. 

Pros: 

    - Memorable Story

    - Character Variety (Personality Wise)

    - Great Immersion for Player(s)

    - Outstanding Level Design

    - Intense Quick Time Events / Music

    - Plethora of Collectibles (Hints, Totems, etc.)

Cons:

    - Not the Best Movement Controls 

My Rating for Until Dawn (on PS4):

5 / 5

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Disclaimer

All Reviews, Ratings, Pros, Cons, and Opinions Shared on this Blog (Press A Reviews) are my (Connor Butler) own Thoughts and Feelings.