Amy Review
The first time we heard about the horror survival title ‘Amy’, we were hopeful and eager. The premise is interesting, partnering an autistic and possibly gifted child with a woman protagonist who may turn into a zombie if the two of them manage to drift too far apart. That should be able to generate a lot of tension. In an industry where so many games come with zombie survival themes, the premise manages to shine. However, did the downloadable game turn out to be as promising as it sounds?
The Good News About Amy
‘Amy’ comes with a creepy premise. This is highlighted by the ominous sounds and the whispering words that warn just how far Lana is gone with her spreading infection. The 3D models are impressive, which is important in taking us further in a game that is supposed to be tension-filled and downright creepy. Also ‘Amy’ follows a tradition of horror titles that are only made up of one girl’s name. On its own, it is just an innocent and sweet little girl’s name. Placed in the context of a world of zombies and an infected companion, Lana, the name projects a spine-tingling vibe.
The Bad News About Amy
The problem with ‘Amy’ is that we don’t really get to see the ideas that promotions had been hyping about. The core of the story should be the relationship between the titular character and the protagonist Lana. We have expected something heartfelt and touching but ended up with a grown woman character doing nothing while the autistic child does plenty of the work, such as hacking computers or slipping into small spaces that Lana could have fitted in anyway. Also, instead of tension-filled, the action is repetitive. Even the novelty of the idea of Lana having to stick near Amy becomes the most painful part of the game. There are instances that look to be designed to become highlights of the game. In these puzzles, Lana and Amy have to battle the dilemma of being torn apart. We know the possible consequence of Lana leaving Amy’s side for long. These could all then be tension-filled sequences but somehow they ended up repetitive, old and annoying. There is no way that color-coded cards will be solving the day each time. We know that this is a horror survival title but there should still be an attempt towards logic. Also, when you die in ‘Amy’, you just might have to go through several portions of gameplay again because of the lack of checkpoints. Your whole inventory will also be wiped out. So, you come back with nothing.
The Bottom Line
‘Amy’ is a video game title that could have been awesome if it had been executed well and as planned. There are so many problems with the game, however, that just makes the gameplay repetitive and painful. The game lacks balance and sometimes exposes you to moments when both a slow pace and a fast pace could get you killed. That is not suspenseful but just plain exasperating.
- Share article with other networks
