The Medium Reviews
The Medium was a game I really wanted to like. With its gorgeous graphics, old school tank control gameplay, and musical pieces composed by Akira Yamaoka himself it had everything that promised a memorable experience. But at the end, the journey was unfulfilling and forgettable.
As the game tackles dark subject matter and an intriguing mystery, The Medium offers a solid plot to absorb. It also gives the player an ending that they can interpret in a number of ways, though it might lack satisfaction. It’s not the scariest horror game out there, even by Bloober Team’s standards, but it’s frightening enough to get a few scares, and that’s nothing to be ashamed of. If you have Xbox Game Pass, you should experience this game.
It might seem a little early in the year for some horror, but after playing through the entirety of the psychological horror game, The Medium, I found it to be so much more. The Medium places you in the shoes of Marianne, a young woman able to commune with the dead and lost souls looking for a way to pass on. After the death of her adopted father, Marianne receives an ominous phone call. This leads her to the long-abandoned Niwa workers’ resort. Here she must face new threats in her pursuit of finding the truth about her past. What follows is a disturbing journey littered with secrets, revelations, and a horrific danger that will hunt you in this world, and the next.
The Medium is the best work of the Polish guys from Bloober Team. It is a valid horror game, both on a narrative and on a graphic level. Moreover, it is enriched by the novelty - gameplay-wise - brought by Dual Reality, which lets the game rejuvenate the genre via new types of puzzles.
Review in Italian | Read full review
There are a few writing and gameplay demons to exorcise, but that only keeps Bloober Team's latest from séance-sational horror game status.
The Medium marries old-school horror with modern technology to mixed results but succeeds in delivering a cinematic experience with a compelling narrative.
Hopefully there will be more to be seen in the universe built for the game, but under much better circumstances. What Bloober Team has achieved left me with mixed feelings by the time I reached its conclusion, almost 8 hours in. I adored the setting and fiction that’s been created for The Medium but I struggle to think of a single section of it that I truly enjoyed playing. It’s surely a weird place to be when it comes to a game I’m writing a review for, and one I’m not used to having to deal with. While I’m glad I got to see what it’s all about, I’m in no hurry to replaying it anytime soon; but then again, I want to see what could be in store in the story if there’s ever a (mercifully much better conceived) sequel.
The Medium is a wonderful game that must be played by anyone who has a Gamepass subscription. I recommend you get it, and it can be purchased here! Focus your power and get to the route of your being. Can you get the answers to all your questions and be content with who you are?
The Medium is a very dark story dripping with moody atmosphere and ambience. It has an old-school horror feel like the earlier Resident Evil games, but without jump scares. The thick ambience makes the environments very interesting to explore, as you uncover the twisted truth. I very much enjoyed my time investigating the cursed Niwa Resort, and uncovering the truth of the “Niwa Massacre.” However, it should be noted that the story includes some very dark subject matter, including child abuse. Players will get a glimpse into the minds of a number of characters along the way. It is a thought provoking story with an intentionally ambiguous ending. The weak point for The Medium may be replayability, but it does have a bunch of achievements and collectibles to get. The story is good enough that it will still easily be worth replaying again later on. I finished the game in 11 hours according to Steam, with the vast majority of the achievements. The Medium is available on Steam for $49.99, as well as on Xbox Series X|S. Are you ready to brave the darkness, free trapped spirits, and uncover the twisted truth of the abandoned Niwa Resort?
The Medium looks pretty, but outside of that, this game is not special.
While the small emotional ties to Sadness and Marianne only grow more complex towards the end, and the small performance hiccups and graphical bugs occur from time to time, The Medium is a strong title that – to some – will ultimately be held back due to awkward camera angles and the split duality emphasized by the use of split-screen gameplay to represent both the spirit world and that of the physical world.
The Medium is a Silent Hill tribute, trying to keep the survival horror genre alive in the absolutely old-fashioned way; during the approximately 6-7 hours it lasts, you will see an interesting script, superficial character presentation, some beautiful set pieces and ambitious mechanisms that, however, scrape and do not go deeper; it is not a bad game and of course I suggest it to fans of the genre.
Review in Greek | Read full review
The Medium is a perfect game for people who like a powerfull story. Gamer who let themselfs be carried away by the game's strong athmosphere and beautifull world design will forgive the always present bugs.
Review in Czech | Read full review
The Medium stays close to Bloober Team’s roots, strongly resembling a walking sim rather than a survival horror. Nonethelles, The Medium feels like a spiritual successor to Silent Hill with its eerie atmosphere of an abandoned hotel near Cracow, and visual ripped straight from Zdzisław Beksiński’s paintings. For the Polish players, it will also take them on a nostalgic trip to 1990’s Poland.
Review in Polish | Read full review
The Medium is a game with more highs than lows. Bloober Team has taken a definite step in the right direction with this latest venture and I look forward to seeing them build on these foundations.
The Medium presents us with a paranormal adventure in which its premise is to advance to discover its history, its greatest challenge being solving simple puzzles and trying not to die on very rare occasions. Do not expect lots of action as in a survival to use because you will not find it. The game is a very accessible title for every player
Review in Spanish | Read full review
The game’s arrival on the PlayStation 5 has been a long time coming. But thankfully, it was well worth the wait. With its unique dual-world gameplay mechanics and gripping narrative, The Medium is yet another macabre masterpiece from the talent at Bloober Team. If you have even a passing interest in horror games or are looking for a powerful supernatural story to experience that isn’t afraid to touch on uncomfortable subjects, this is one game that demands a spot in your PS5 library.
Overall, The Medium is a superb horror game. It’s a game that fully utilizes the capabilities of the PS5. It’s a game that even the bravest of players will get scared unexpectedly. It’s a nice addition to the ever growing library of the PS5.
In the past, Bloober Team have created incredible psychological horror experiences with games like Layers of Fear, and The Medium feels like a natural progression in their development style.
The Medium surprised me with its psychologically twisted, complex and intricate story that had me enthralled from the moment the intrigue turned into something more sinister and personable. Even with its simplistic gameplay design and clunky encounter mechanics, the atmosphere of the world and enjoyable tale should carry you through even its darkest corners. In the real world, The Medium would be basic, but in the spirit realm, it comes to life and will show you the disturbing but enchanting fabric of its reality.