Stifled (PC) Preview

This use of the microphone is arguably a little gimmicky, but Stifled is trying to elevate itself above similar attempts at unorthodox input. For one thing, it may actually reinforce immersion rather than shattering it (as in the case of motion controls), because many of the required actions - such as muttering about where to go or silently tensing up when something dangerous appears - are things most gamers probably do naturally. The readme file that came with this demo suggested putting the mic right in front of your nose while playing for added challenge, presumably because simply breathing could give your position away with such a setup. It's not necessarily a practical idea, but it's an incredibly intriguing one nonetheless.

Additionally, Stifled appears to be aiming not just to be a game that's controlled with a mic, but a game where sound in general is a central theme, of which the mic is just an extension. The world is revealed through more than just the player's voice (although that is the most useful method); footsteps, moving water, and crumbling structures all slightly contribute to the visibility while potentially drawing unwanted attention. This may also be the best-implemented example of the commonly used but rarely well-used idea of throwing a loud object to distract an enemy.

The most important lesson to learn from Amnesia: The Dark Descent was that a hostile entity is more likely to remain scary if you can never get a good look at it. In that regard, Gattai Games were fairly diligent students. The enemy that stalks the paths of the demo is certainly something grotesque, but exactly what it is is anybody's guess, what with the all-consuming darkness of the setting. That said, the creature's cries illuminate its own body too much for this effect to last. The art style still leaves its details largely indistinct, but its outline still shines a burning red, so hopefully its noises will be illustrated with a dimmer colour in the final product.

Presentation looks to be a specialty of the game as a whole. In addition to the echolocation effects being neat to look at, they create an unexpected medium for conveying information, such as the position of a monster as it scurries through a pipe. The beginning and end of the demo, which include some miniscule light and thus visible textures, look decent, but it's the excellent sound design and narrative hints that really make them stand out. The object interaction controls (in the vein of Frictional's titles, obviously) feel a little half-hearted, and there seems to be a problem with accepting mic input while walking, but on the whole, there's an impressive level of polish here for a 30-minute indie demo.