Agony is a first-person game that takes you straight into the depths of Hell. Fires consume the flesh of innocent humans with blood splattered all throughout the walls. This is not meant for the weak of heart. For those who have played games with a ton of gore such as Bloodborne, Devil May Cry, or possibly even Dark Souls, then Agony will definitely be a treat you can’t afford to miss! While it does have sequences of violence, what makes the game appealing is that the gory aspect meshes well with sections which require you to think. And if you’re planning to get out of Agony’s version of Hell, then you better do it as fast as you can!
Playing it for the first time, I notice that the gameplay was slow. Sure there was a lot of fire and corpses, but the fact that it overwhelms you with too many puzzles took out a bit of fun for me. But anyway, this is the short-and-simplified version! Below, I’ve made a more elaborate review of my playthrough with the game.
Platform Reviewed: PC
Platforms Available: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Developer: Madmind Studio
Publisher: Playway
Release Date: May 29, 2018
MSRP: $29.99
This review is based on a review code provided by Madmind Studio.
Graphics: Amazing!
The graphics were done so well that I would actually advise those who are hemophobic not to play it. There’s even a warning right from the beginning that those with epilepsy or heart problems should not push through with playing the game. I wouldn’t suggest this to those who are easily spooked either. The graphics make the gameplay so immersive that it actually feels as if you’re walking through the bowels of hell. I’ll even go as far as to say that Agony is the perfect game for you if you want a visual simulation of the fiery plains!
Storyline: Meh
Unfortunately, it’s as if the game doesn’t have a coherent storyline. It’s either too straightforward or there isn’t any plot at all. You simply have one goal and that’s to get out of Hell and return to the land of the living. It focuses more on the visual and psychological aspect, which probably resulted in the lack of a decent plot. When I played through Agony, I felt like the story had no direction at all; which may have been done purposely to make players feel that they were truly wandering through Hell.
So, what exactly do you have to do? Basically, the game just tells you to find the Red Goddess so that you can get out of Hell and return back to the living. It’s not much of a story really.
Gameplay: Above Average
If you’re the type who loves survival games, then you will most likely enjoy or even come to love Agony. But if you just want to rush through sections and enjoy doing so, then this isn’t meant for you. The game challenges your mind to think, all so that you can find the right items meant for certain puzzles. It’s a relatively more bloody and fiery version of Resident Evil 7, save for the lack of humans and more demons. There’s not much fighting as it’s more of the I’m-just-trying-to-survive kind of game. So for those who would rather hack through demons or fill them with holes like Dante from Devil May Cry, then Agony may not appeal to you.
Agony Over-all: It’s Okay
Frankly, it’s saving graces are undoubtedly the graphics and its overall atmosphere. Other than that, I wouldn’t say that the game is something you’d get pumped over with the adrenaline of violence and the satisfaction of victory. It’s more of the “I need to get out of here, I need to get out of here!” kind of feeling. And for those of you who are extremely spiritual and religious, then this will probably give you nightmares. This game is definitely not meant for those who have an eidetic memory or who have sleeping problems.
