Madison is a New Psychological Horror Game Now Available

Madison is a psychological horror game developed by Bloodious Games. Any gamer out there who has been hankering for another Fatal Frame, or something similar to it, is in luck. Madison will be played in the first person and it is ripe with gory surprises with an original story never really seen before in a video game. Even though there is a myriad of survival-horror games within the gaming community, very few come with an engrossing story.

The main appeal of this title is the fact that its story is rather mysterious, deep, and wicked to the core. Players will take control of Luca, who woke up in a dampened room with bloody hands. With no idea how he got there, he sets off on a quest to figure out where he is and what is going on. Decades ago, he evidently started a ritual to appease a demon named Madison. Now, he is forced to complete this horrendous act or pay a heavy price.

With each ritual completed, things get increasingly harrowing. This is an unnerving tale with intimate gameplay. Given that it is played through a first-person perspective, very few horror games have captured the sense of dread like Resident Evil 7 did, for instance. This is a whole new adventure with its own set of rules. There isn’t combat in Madison in the traditional sense. Instead, players will resort to using a camera to not only ward off evil but also solve puzzles.

Yes, there are puzzles in this game with various complexities. Thus, they will be a constant occurrence during this game’s turbulent playthrough. Needless to say, there are jump scares peppered throughout the game which will jolt gamers awake during quiet moments. There is a lot to digest here and this game offers a rather hearty campaign full of surprises.

Methodical Madness

Despite the feeling of vulnerability while playing as Luca, there is a sense of accomplishment garnered whenever a puzzle is finally solved. The camera is a rather interesting tool in a number of ways. Snapping a shot on a missing picture on the wall will reveal clues on what to do, for example. It’s also worth pointing out that there is no telling what may happen wherever Luca takes a picture. Sometimes a ghost may pop up out of nowhere, while other times a paranormal activity will spark.

There is no telling what can happen while using this item, which gives Madison a rather haunted house attraction feel to it. One interesting feature this game has is that players will need to manually shake the picture to slowly reveal the image. It’s definitely an old-school approach toward something that couldn’ve easily be replaced by more modern technology.

One problem that players may face is the fact that Luca can’t hold too many items. Even though this is standard fare with horror survival games, with Madison this really forces players to think ahead. Trekking from one side of the house to the next to retrieve stored items in the safe can be a bit tedious. This can also be a major hindrance when solving puzzles. There will indeed be a list of certain tools needed in order to bypass certain enigmas.

So, the constant inventory management might end up being something that will bog players down. The scares in this game are spread out in key moments to keep players on their toes. The hints of the threat are always there, especially with the audio clues and music cueing in. The audio design in this game is well-crafted and it will make players think that they really are trapped inside a creeky house.

Whispers from Beyond

Whenever Luca is rummaging through the house, he will find all manners of environmental clues and exposition in certain places. This is obviously put there to help players get a better grasp on what’s happening around them. The story can be a bit subtle and players will really need to have a keen eye in order to digest the narrative. Thus, there will also be disembodied voices speaking to Luca throughout the campaign, giving everything from mocking to hints of plot points.

The house is fairly large in size and each segment offers a new challenge and sometimes introduces new mechanics to keep things fresh. Not to mention the fact that the demon Madison is always on the prowl for Luca and there is no telling what twists it may have up its sleeve. Sometimes, a simple jump scare will commence or manipulation of reality will spring up to confuse the player.

Madison is certainly an old-fashioned survival horror game its core. Instead of stocking up on ammunition to blow away monsters, this game is a much more cerebral experience. Sneaking around, finding clues, and solving puzzles are essentially what this game is all about. It can be a nice palette cleanser for horror fans who are looking to switch gears and play something more atmorspheric. The campaign can be on the short side, clocking in around ten hours.

Of course, this depends on how gamers play it. It can be a bit shorter if a player gets lucky and figures out all the puzzles without getting hung up. There is also quite a bit of collectibles to find. Some help out with key gameplay moments while others are there to assist with the narrative. This game is dense, claustrophobic, and dripping with dread and any survival horror fan should enjoy it.

This Old House

Madison offers a refreshing take on the survival horror genre with its camera-induced puzzles and interesting villain. It is definitely a slow burner and it will take a certain amount of patience to complete it. It can have some intense moments and the scares are well-paced. Even the most hardened survival horror fans will get some surprises with Madison. It is not so much about the gore, but rather the vibe that manages to get into players’ bones. Madison is now available for the PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

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