In Sound Mind Reviews
At the start of the review, I asked myself if this was the horror game to finally click with me. And long story short, the answer is yes. In Sound Mind does a good job in juggling both horror and mystery, even if it leans more towards the latter at the end. Although the story conclusion was a little lackluster, the phenomenal voice acting, the great level design and the creepy atmosphere make In Sound Mind a game worth playing. And yes, even for those who aren’t horror game fans.
In Sound Mind feels like a call back to yesteryear, in a good way. A style of game design not often seen these days, more of a niche title but one that hits that niche VERY well. It’s easily the best psychological horror game I’ve ever reviewed here, and the amount of polish and sheer heart help it stand out even outside of the niche. Above all else, In Sound Mind is fun. The horror and melancholy of what’s going on in the plot is balanced out by light-hearted camp, the levels are all interwoven exploration puzzles where a new tool invariably makes you realize several new areas you can discover, it’s all so easy to just get lost for hours and hours until next thing you know it’s 3AM.
As a movie, In Sound Mind may have been an interesting and quirky, if slightly derivative, story of introspection and psychological understanding. As a game though, it simply doesn’t have the depth of mechanics to hold you through its 5-6 hour runtime. Sporting awful combat and stealth sequences, boring level design and inconsistent presentation, In Sound Mind activates too few of the adrenaline-controlling brain areas. Instead, it peaked some interest which slowly faded out the longer I played. You wouldn’t be out of your mind to play it if you’re a psychological horror fan, but you’ll potentially be in two minds of whether it was actually fun to play.
In Sound Mind boasts an intriguing story, decent (if repetitive) combat, and enjoyable puzzles and platforming. However, the lackluster horror, uneven character development, and lack of immersion bring down an otherwise solid psychedelic horror experience.
If you are looking for a psychological horror game with creepy Twin Peaks and X-Files vibes, I would definitely consider giving In Sound Mind a chance!
In Sound Mind is an experience to be had. The game relies above all on its plot and its atmosphere to lead the player to question the protagonist and what really happened to his patients. Despite some shortcomings, it is really addicting and you will have a lot of fun exploring the subconscious of different people.
Review in French | Read full review
In Sound Mind is a Survival Horror where we will play Doctor Desmond Wales and try to survive in a strange place where the most unpredictable events take place.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
In Sound Mind is an inventive and unique psychological game that pulls together a compelling mystery and unique gameplay mechanics that make every chapter standout. However the messy presentation, pointless stealth and overly long sections bring it down a touch. Don’t fret, though: if you’re a fan of the genre, this has more than enough redeeming qualities to entertain you until the very end.