Penumbra Saga (Frictional Games)

[_Neptunno_]

A couple of days ago I finished playing the last game in the Penumbra series, Requiem, and I wanted to share my opinion on the entire trilogy. I finished the first one at the end of last year (although I initially tried it a year before, but I had left it paused) and the second one, Black Plague, I finished it practically starting this 2026. After finishing "the expansion" just a few days ago, I have an overall view of the cult series by Frictional Games.

Here I leave you a small summary of what I thought of each installment:

Penumbra: Overture. My first serious contact with the genre and I admit that at first I was quite scared... I'm not very used to this type of horror. I was surprised that, despite being an old game, it holds up very well visually and its physics are very good for the time, which provided a lot of gameplay.

• The best: The setting, the story and that ending so impactful that makes you think a lot (that is, when you finish the saga you understand everything).
• The worst: I found some bugs and that part of reading so many notes seemed a bit heavy to me, although I admit that they are important to get into character and enjoy the story.

Penumbra: Black Plague. Here I was already more familiar with the mechanics, but even so I have had moments of a lot of tension. Graphically it doesn't improve compared to the first one, but it is very effective. Special mention to the sound, it is incredibly immersive, but it is something that I would also highlight from the entire saga.

Impressions: The story hooks you, constantly surprises you and makes you maintain quite a lot of tension. The ending although perhaps doesn't have the brutal impact of the first one, but closes in an outstanding way.

Penumbra: Requiem. More than a sequel in the usual sense, it feels like a puzzle expansion. Here the enemies disappear and that part of direct psychological terror, focusing more on the puzzles and on reminiscing about scenarios and situations from the previous two. It is a different closure, more paused.

In short, a series that I totally recommend if you like good narrative and oppressive atmospheres. Despite the years, it remains a very powerful experience. And this is said by someone who is not a fan of this genre, mind you. Let's see if I get motivated now with Amnesia...

I don't know if anyone else has played this series, but you can share your impressions!!

Greetings!!

[Fassou]

I didn't watch the original trilogy, but I did play the fourth title published by Frictional Games: Amnesia - The Dark Descent (2010) and later SOMA (2015).

But even though they are first-person, I miss shooting something

Salu2! Jugones!

[_Neptunno_]

@Fassou I also sometimes miss not being able to shoot anything, but the charm of the game is precisely that feeling of helplessness, like you would experience in real life. They play a lot with psychological terror and, especially in the first and second Penumbra, with having to "defend yourself" using the environment or objects to your advantage.

Anyway, I think the Amnesia games are even more about pure psychological terror. In Penumbra, at least in the first one (Overture), you do have the possibility on occasion to "have something in your hands to defend yourself"

And what about SOMA? What is the plot or what is it about? I've heard very good things about its story, but I don't know if it's as oppressive as Amnesia or Penumbra.

Greetings!!!

[Fassou]

@_Neptunno_ The SOMA is a regular giveaway on Epic Games, so if you're interested you just have to wait

It's more Sci-Fi and has less gore than the others, maybe it can be defined as more elegant, but in the end the studio has a very defined style, and they know what the people who buy their games like.

Their regulars might be annoyed by that Sci-Fi touch instead of the more gore stuff, and those who like Sci-Fi might find the story very worn out in series and movies, but if they give it to you

Salu2! Jugón!