TL;DR
Source of Madness plunges you into a Lovecraftian nightmare as a new adept exploring the unsettling Loam Lands and the mysterious Tower of Madness. Its striking, two-dimensional horror art style and immersive soundtrack are definite highlights, drawing you into its dark world. However, the gameplay can be a tough pill to swallow. Expect challenging platforming, a steep learning curve for its ability system, and frustrating moments where enemies overwhelm and level design hinders progress. If you can push through the initial difficulty and occasional navigational woes, you might find a unique experience. Ready to dive into the madness and see if it's worth the struggle? Read our full review!
Source of Madness is a side-scrolling platform game set within The Loam Lands. Its aesthetics, encompassing graphics and music, are heavily influenced by the works of horror author H.P. Lovecraft. Players assume the role of a newly initiated adept, embarking on a nightmarish quest to uncover hidden secrets and the enigma surrounding the Tower of Madness.
Source of Madness presents a distinctive visual style, resembling two-dimensional illustrations brought to life. The core gameplay, however, adheres to a more conventional platforming structure, requiring precise timing for movement and jumps.
Throughout the game, players discover items that confer unique abilities, necessitating strategic deployment against specific enemy types. Initially, discerning the optimal application of these abilities proves challenging, frequently resulting in frustrating deaths. Overcrowding by enemies can obscure the player’s avatar, further exacerbating the difficulty. Strategic approaches often give way to frantic button mashing until either the player or the enemy is defeated, with the former being the more common outcome, which can lead to considerable frustration.
Another significant issue lies in the lack of navigational clarity. It is often unclear where to proceed to advance the game. Moreover, the graphical design sometimes obscures interactive elements, such as staircases, making it difficult to distinguish them from background details.
In summary, Source of Madness boasts a stylish aesthetic with a unique visual presentation. The sound design and music contribute to an immersive atmosphere. However, the game mechanics exhibit shortcomings, with simplistic enemy AI and potentially misleading level design. The final rating reflects these considerations.
Thunderful Games provided a review code for this evaluation. The provision of review materials does not influence our editorial independence.
