By Mario Orozco
For my first game review of the new semester, I took a recommendation from an anthropology major and played Until Dawn. With the game getting a remaster in the coming months, now is a perfect time to dive in and see if Until Dawn is worth your money.
Until Dawn is an interactive horror game released in 2015 that follows a group of friends trying to survive on Blackwood Mountain. The game has a butterfly effect system that allows players to shape the narrative through their own decisions, making the experience a little bit different for each individual player.
My playthrough of this game would definitely be looked down upon by the perfectionists of the gaming world. By the time I made it to the end, only three of the eight protagonists had lived to tell the tale. Despite my lackluster performance, Until Dawn was an amazing experience that kept me hooked the entire time.
The first aspect of Until Dawn that I enjoyed was the cast of characters. Each one of the main cast has their own individual journey that develops their character as you progress through the story. The relationships the cast have with each other also changes depending on your choices. The beautiful part of character development within Until Dawn is that the decisions of the player can shape whether someone changes for better or for worse.
Until Dawn also excels at establishing its atmosphere. Most of the game takes place in a remote lodge in the middle of a snowstorm, adding feelings of isolation and vulnerability. The dark hallways, creaking floors, eerie music, and distant whispers give a constant uneasy feeling – as if something could jump out at you at any second. The game also incorporates moments of silence in a way that makes you feel like something is always just out of sight.
The final aspect I enjoy about this game is the branching narratives. I am a sucker for interactive storytelling, especially interactive storytelling that matters to the player. Until Dawn is a game where your decisions definitely matter and can lead to the survival or death of your favorite characters. Until Dawn’s butterfly narrative provides so much replayability, even the smallest change in the way you play can drastically change the fate of the characters and change the relationships they have with one another.
Despite all the good things about Until Dawn there is one main issue that I have with the game. Funnily enough, my favorite part of the game is also what I think could be improved. While the decisions of the player definitely matter, all they really do is determine who survives and who doesn’t. If certain decisions could also affect the ending of the game, it would add even more to the already high replay value. With the remaster coming Oct. 4, maybe this is something we’ll see in the near future.
Until Dawn took me a grand total of 9 hours and 13 minutes to complete. I genuinely enjoyed every minute of it and would rate it a 4 out of 5. If you’re into suspense filled horror, interactive games, or both, then I definitely recommend Until Dawn. Based on how good the original game was, I’m sure the remaster will be just as good – if not better.
If you have any games you would like me to review, you can email marsgaminggarage@gmail.com.
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