The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me Review – Xbox Series X

Fresh from scaring us senseless this summer with The Quarry, award-winning indie developer Supermassive Games is back with the latest installment in their ‘Dark Pictures’ anthology of games, with The Devil in Me.

Steering (slightly) away from the supernatural, The Devil in Me delivers a tale interweaving history and horror, taking inspiration from a real-life hotel created with the sole purpose of doing harm to its guests…

Is it a fitting end to the first season of Supermassive’s seminal series? Read our Devil in Me review to find out what CRISP. thinks!

 

Storyline

The curtain lifts on a quaint couple checking into an unassuming if a little dog-eared, Chicago hotel at the turn of the 20th Century, hosted by H.H. Holmes – creator of the ‘murder castle’.

Indeed, his – real-life – hotel was full of all manner of traps and secret pathways created to kill unsuspecting guests, branding him as ‘America’s first serial killer’ by true crime aficionados.

After setting the scene, we’re pulled into the present day, greeted by the traditionally symmetrical cast of characters you’d expect from B-movie horror fare, as they attempt to create a documentary chronicling Holmes’ grisly crimes.

Needless to say, this doesn’t go smoothly…and the familiar sequence of lavishly produced cut-scenes, quick time events and puzzling that the series is known for, returns once again for this fourth outing.

Our diverse cast of characters is introduced, and that slow burn of developing relationships, figuring out which plot points will matter later and making initially innocent choices that may well mean the difference between life and death sets the Devil in Me up nicely for a brief – yet thrilling – experience.

 

 

It is indeed thrilling as opposed to simply scary. Despite the surprisingly affable cast of characters – including big-name stars like Jessie Buckley of Chernobyl and Men fame – the Devil in Me seems to veer into the kinds of gory horror noir made famous by films like Saw and Hostel, as opposed to the spooky Man of Medan…whilst also lending a psychological horror tone to proceedings.

This makes for an exciting – and somewhat disturbing – mix, which is charmingly effective in blurring the lines between historical fact and fiction.

Still not for the squeamish, Supermassive’s latest outing is a sterling example of a studio that has honed its craft over time, delivering a well-written narrative that reaches close to the blood-curdling cinematic highs of the surprisingly effective House of Ashes.

This one will once again have you throwing your popcorn at the screen, as the protagonists make another blindingly naive decision…which is why we love it.

And yes…the Curator is still there to guide you with his cryptic clues.

Gameplay

Gameplay is another area – for better or worse – that has evolved hugely over the series.

From Man of Medan’s Resident Evil-inspired ‘tank’ controls and rudimentary QTEs, through to House of Ashes’ Resident Evil 4-inspired control and action-driven set pieces, the Devil in Me is the culmination of that confidence in gameplay, married to yet more new ideas and mechanics.

Whilst there are some interesting ideas around each of the documentary crew having unique attributes – the boom guy being able to pick up on audio clues missed by others, for example – they don’t always seem fully fleshed out, or are often used sparingly, never to be seen again…

Some of the cleverly crafted situational puzzles do use the hotel as a challenge to the player itself, with its shifting rooms and disorienting corridors making for a disorienting experience…but locations and situations – much like the game mechanics – do vary just as they begin to outstay their welcome.

So whilst it’s very much an entry in this series, there are some changes in terms of item management and environmental puzzles that make the Devil in Me feel suitably unique.

 

Graphics

One thing that has impressed us since Until Dawn was Supermassive’s uncanny ability to capture the likenesses of their cast in the visuals.

So whilst you can tell its budget isn’t quite as lavish as The Quarry, which was scarily realistic at times, the cast of the Devil in Me’s characters and interior locations are detailed and definitely maintain the cinematic air of the Dark Pictures Anthology is known for.

Quick time event icons are more legible, the over-the-shoulder view is maintained, and the graphics are great – serviceable as opposed to sumptuous.

Sound & Music

The sound engineers have worked hard in Devil in Me by providing a beautiful and seamless music experience.

The game offers an equally cinematic score and the voice acting is also decent.

Pricing & Availability

The Devil in Me released across Playstation 5 and Xbox Series X and PC as well as the original Xbox One and Playstation 4 on November 18th.

A 60fps mode on those current generation devices makes a huge difference in the responsiveness and reaction to save your cast from the pitfalls of Holmes’ evil intentions…

 

Final Verdict

A fitting finale to the first season of the Dark Pictures Anthology – the Devil in Me is proof that not only is the horror genre alive and well, but can deliver a fantastic social experience.

Frightening fun solo or with friends, the Devil in Me is a bit of a bait and switch when it comes to the type of scares you’ll see, but is an entirely welcome one.