In this level, a lighthouse's rotating red gaze dealt damage to Desmond whenever he was caught in it. This tape was probably my favourite and took place in a more semi-open level outdoors. In fact, one nod goes as far as a level based around the recording of a man called Allen who is scared of the dark. It’s a labyrinth of mystery that slowly reveals itself as the game progresses, as not to overwhelm the player.įans of Alan Wake will likely pick up on a few nods to the cult classic from Remedy found within In Sound Mind. You’ll often be back tracking down corridors to find new secrets. Unlocking tools like the mirror shard allow you to explore previously inaccessible areas of the abandoned apartment building in an almost Metroidvania style. Again, though, these puzzles aren’t necessarily challenging but more to encourage you to explore areas fully. Though, acquiring the gun is subject to collecting its various parts by solving puzzles to find where they’re stashed.
Whilst Desmond initially starts off only wielding a torch, he later goes on to wield the shard of glass as well as other weapons such as a gun. Though, it’s also the tool that is used to cut down the previously inaccessible taped off areas. It’s here that you acquire the mirror shard, a tool that allows you to look behind you and protect yourself whilst on the move and not near a bigger mirror. So, like the Pied Piper, you have to try and bait and lead her to various mirrors scattered around the supermarket. In fact, she’s defeated by using a very interesting mechanic forcing her to see her reflection hurts her. But defeating her is not so straightforward. Here, a twisted, demented version of a young girl haunts the aisles. One of the earliest tapes you find and delve into transports Desmond to an abandoned supermarket. This is central to the tension that In Sound Mind builds as it doesn’t go for cheap jump scares but instead unsettles the player in a more unnerving, drawn out manner. Not only have Desmond’s patients been experiencing severe breakdowns but so too has the therapist himself. Though, that other world might just be the dark recesses of the human mind as In Sound Mind explores themes of mental health. Whilst it seems perfectly ordinary, albeit derelict at first, it’s soon revealed that something otherworldly is going on here.
It becomes apparent that not all is as it seems with this apartment building. Though, most aren’t too difficult and can be solved with relative ease for the most part. A lot of areas found within In Sound Mind follow a similar pattern whereby you must solve environmental puzzles in order to progress. So, you’ll explore around the murky basement and soon find a fuse in the laundry room.
There’s an area taped off, a vent that can’t be accessed, and an elevator that’s broken down and missing a fuse. There’s no mission markers so it’s down to you to use your brain. It quickly becomes apparent that In Sound Mind requires you to do some thinking. Desmond wakes up in an abandoned apartment building with no recollection of how he got there. Though, having said that, In Sound Mind starts off in an all too familiar way. Oh, if that’s not enough, there’s the mysterious antagonist who will dial telephones when you pass them just to taunt you and, before I forget, there’s also a talking cat. You play as therapist Desmond Wales, who can use tape recordings of his patients' sessions to travel to creepy, distorted, almost otherworldly locations conjured up by their troubled minds. For instance, let’s take the main premise of In Sound Mind. Whilst these games obviously cannot match the budget and quality of, say, the likes of Resident Evil Village released earlier this year, they make up for that with bolder experimentation and taking risks with fresh ideas. It’s a shame too, because when they do cross over, I’m hardly ever disappointed. As someone that does not game on PC, it’s not that often we console gamers see games of this ilk make their way over to consoles.
In Sound Mind is a psychological horror indie game by developer We Create Stuff.
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