As I noted in my review of The Nun, crafting genuinely compelling horror is a significant challenge for filmmakers. Game developers, however, often find themselves in a more advantageous position. The player’s investment in the game world is different, and many will recall the terrifying brilliance of the dog attack scene in the original Resident Evil. Supermassive Games returns with another horror title following Until Dawn; this time presenting a branching narrative experience.
A narrator introduces each segment, setting the stage for the unfolding story. Visually, Man of Medan is impressive. On the Xbox One X, the game’s graphical fidelity evokes the feel of a high-budget animated horror film. The characters are brought to life by capable voice actors and benefit from well-written dialogue. The music and sound design further enhance the immersive horror atmosphere, creating moments of genuine tension.
However, Man of Medan exhibits a critical flaw: despite its polished presentation, it more closely resembles navigating an interactive film, such as the Black Mirror episode Bandersnatch on Netflix, than providing a truly engaging gameplay experience. There are numerous instances where the player advances to interact with an object, such as a cabinet, and is prompted to press a button to move forward, only to then require another button press to complete the action. These interactions feel like artificial padding, rather than integral game mechanics.
This issue persists throughout the game: a jump scare occurs, prompting a quick-time event (QTE) requiring the player to rapidly press X to avoid failure. Similar prompts are presented throughout gameplay. Detroit Become Human employs a similar system of unnecessary button presses, but offsets this with a deeply compelling narrative and characters that foster genuine emotional investment. In that game, the QTEs feel meaningful, and I recall the impact of sacrificing a character due to unfamiliarity with the PlayStation 4 controller. This level of engagement is unfortunately lacking in Man of Medan.
The game includes an “accessibility” menu that allows players to disable the timer on QTE sequences (while still requiring the correct button press). This may be a worthwhile option for those who wish to focus primarily on the narrative.
Man of Medan – Multiplayer?
The announcement of multiplayer functionality in Man of Medan generated excitement within the editorial team, with the anticipation of a true co-op experience akin to A Way Out. However, the implementation falls short. The game is fully playable in single-player mode, which offers the longest playtime. The “Don’t play alone” mode provides a slightly shorter experience. Local co-op (Movie Night, for 2-5 players) involves each player controlling specific characters, passing the controller as the narrative focus shifts. While the concept is promising, the execution suffers from extended play sequences (15-30 minutes), leading to prolonged wait times for other players. Faster, more frequent transitions, or the inclusion of two controllers for synchronized cooperative sequences, would have improved the experience.
Online co-op proves to be a superior alternative, offering split-screen perspectives and character-specific viewpoints. This creates a more intense and dynamic experience, with real-time communication enhancing the tension. Unlike A Way Out, which mandates two players and requires only one copy of the game, Man of Medan necessitates that each player own a copy. However, the game is priced at roughly half the cost of a full-price title, a factor to consider.
In conclusion, Man of Medan is a technically competent horror game, but its local multiplayer mode feels more like a novelty than a fully realized gaming experience. The game receives a passing grade, but ultimately falls short of achieving excellence.
