Neverending Nightmares – Review

https://youtu.be/aJlsMQ98DuE

Neverending Nightmares

Developed by Infinitap Games, LLC, Neverending Nightmares is a psychological horror game that explores Thomas and the mental downfall that has trapped him in his own mind. Inspired by the developer Matt Gilgenbach’s own journey with depression, Neverending Nightmares aims to guide you through the horror of trauma and depression through a nightmare that doesn’t seem to end. Today, May 3, 2016, is the official release date for Neverending Nightmares on the Playstation 4 and the PS Vita for $14.99 USD. You can also find the game on Steam for the same price (released September 2014).

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The setting of this game is in many different locations, a mansion, graveyard, and insane asylum, and appears to occur at different times. Thomas, who you play as, awakes in a mansion believing he has killed his sister and thus his journey through his mental agony begins. The scenery has an Edward Gorey feeling and is mostly in black and white, colored items indicate the opportunity to interact with it. As you progress, it becomes clear that Thomas is in a place of torture within himself and finding his way out is not an easy feat. Running from his inner demons (literally), Thomas learns more about what it means to be with his mental illness. With four different endings, you learn what tragedy had struck and afflicted Thomas in this way.

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The game plays pretty straight forward and puts the player in a more exploratory mode than anything. There is the use of the X button, R1/R2 for sprinting, and the thumb stick naturally. There are some puzzles that are present that the player must solve to move forward and are simplistic in nature. The soundtrack supports the game and gives the player a sense of being in the moment with Thomas.

Here is the thing that is important about this game, the mindset one should be in when playing Neverending Nightmares is that of an understanding that this game explores mental health issues. This game is not traditional in the sense that it is horror at its most terrifying, but that it is a horror that millions of people battle with every day and this is how it can look for some people. While there are some startling aspects of the game, it is important to look at the deeper message. As someone who struggles with depression and severe anxiety on a daily basis, being able to experience someone’s journey in this manner speaks to me. Mental health awareness is still on the unknown side, and this is coming from a counselor in training, and this game sheds light on what it is to be haunted by your own monsters.

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While I was expecting this game to be on the psychological horror side like a Silent Hill or The Park, it was still scary in the fact that this was real for someone and is real for so many. I would recommend a playthrough of this game to anyone because there is a lot that happens that compels you to move forward. Is Thomas a murderer? Of his sister? Wife? Psychiatrist? Or have his past and present traumas trapped him? You can play and decide for yourself.

A review by Meghan Rodriguez (Twitter: @collins_m81)

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