The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan Reviews
Man of Medan isn't a bad story, adventure game or honestly experience, it just has plenty of ways to improve. Between a slow burn leading to a quick fizzle at the end and performance issues, it's the type of experience that really requires a love for the genre or experience to have. You just have to ask yourself how much do you want to explore a largely linear world with seemingly limited choices to fight a threat that might not even exist and see how many of your friends make it out alive.
The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan pales in comparison to Until Dawn in practically every way and only surpasses it in its amount of jankiness.
Although there were some cringy-dialogue options and I feel as if I spoiled the entire mystery by asking the curator for advice, I enjoyed my time playing through the story and trying to escape with as many – or as few – survivors as possible.
It is obvious that Man of Medan's gameplay inherits from Until Dawn, but the online multiplayer mode is impressive and interesting. Beside that, it is a underwhelming game with a bad story-telling pace.
Review in Chinese | Read full review
A so-so debut for a promising series.
The first game of The Dark Pictures Anthology is a step backward for the genre. The game needs a re-work especially in the structure of QTE and choices, but at this price and with multiplayer modes the overall value is good.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Overall I really enjoyed Man of Medan though and I’m looking forward to replaying it—and to whatever comes next for the series, as it’s pitched as an anthology.
I feel like I've ripped on Man of Medan a lot which is odd considering I actually enjoyed it. Sadly, you can't help but compare it to Until Dawn which quite frankly did everything better. Man of Medan is over far too quickly and doesn't have the same impact of Supermassive's previous entry. It is, however, a short but sweet enjoyable romp which is way better when played with friends.
The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan offers up fun frights and a solid choice-based horror experience - especially when played with others on the same couch.
Although it doesn't quite hit the heights set by its inspirator Until Dawn, Man of Medan is a positive debut for the Dark Pictures Anthology thanks to an excellent narrative
While it feels like a not insignificant step down from the breakout hit Until Dawn, Supermassive Games' latest attempt at interactive horror still serves up some compelling thrills and chills. The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan definitely gets better the deeper you get into its story, but traveling that path is fraught with technical issues and questionable narrative direction more often than it should be.
A fun and deeply scary game - and the multiplayer needs to be experienced.
Supermassive Games proves that lightning can strike twice with Man of Medan, which (mostly) successfully carries the torch handed down by Until Dawn while adding a clever co-op twist.
The horror genre is a tough nut to crack, but Man of Medan proves, once again, that Supermassive Games is truly the master of video game horror. I’m more excited than ever to see what the rest of the Dark Pictures Anthology will hold.
It’s not until you start playing around with the possibilities of the online co-op mode, and going over and over the different choices, that it offers pleasures in the complex calculations of its Butterfly Effect system. The fun lies more in the thought experiment of reflections on its myriad mechanics, and not in the murky depths of its spooky seafaring setting.
Man of Medan is a solid horror experience that relies on the strengths of the developers' past success. It's admittedly trashier than its campy predecessor, but the prospect of playing through it with friends feels like the ultimate evening of entertainment. A great mix of creepiness, suspense, and just the right amount of genre silliness.
While it lacks the scare factor, the concept of a horror anthology series with co-op multiplayer is pretty unique and executed in a great way. The writing is rather weak for this first entry but the gameplay with its branching narrative offers sufficient replay value.
Man of Medan offers an interesting horror story with a unique way of cooperative gameplay, but it should offer more interactivity and more replayability.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Man of Medan is a thrilling introduction to this new anthology and while the buildup is somewhat slow and the ending was an anticlimax, everything in between was a treat and proves yet again that Supermassive has a good grip on the horror genre.
There are some issues in Man of Medan than could be fixed via updates, but this doesn't change the fact that the characters don't have any charisma. However, the story can get the players involved and make them scared to death.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review