The Stone of Madness: Religious Horror Meets Real-Time Stealth

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In terms of immersive real-time tactical stealth games, I’ve found myself utterly captivated by “The Stone of Madness.” This game stands alone, a one-of-a-kind masterpiece, with a distinctive art style that never fails to deliver, yet remains true to the mechanics familiar to genre enthusiasts like me. The setting is a chilling 18th-century Spanish Jesuit Monastery nestled in the Pyrenees, serving as both a sanctuary for the faithful and a madhouse for the mentally ill. However, things are not always as they appear. As I navigate through this eerie maze, searching for an exit, the dark secrets behind the enigmatic structure and its questionable inhabitants gradually unravel.

Exploring the intricate mix of riddles and mechanisms from old-school horror games, combined with an aesthetic reminiscent of 18th-century Spanish art masters blended with contemporary cartoonists, tracking down “The Stone of Madness” is no walk in the park. The game’s religious backdrop and environment stick in your mind, as do its character designs and the unique sanity meter. However, some elements of its gameplay and narrative left me yearning for more depth and resolution.

At The Game Kitchen, the developers are renowned for crafting grim games brimming with religious imagery. Their 2019 Metroidvania title, “Blasphemous,” and its 2023 sequel, “Blasphemous 2,” have garnered praise for their striking visuals and combat. In these games, players assume the role of a character known as The Penitent One. In contrast, “The Stone of Madness” introduces players as Alfredo, a devoted priest who finds himself incarcerated by a corrupt Inquisitor, seeking to uncover the secrets hidden within his mysterious prison.

The Stone of Madness Boasts an Incredibly Unique Art Style

Approximately 15,000 video games were projected to be launched in the year 2024. As more developers join the scene annually, making a game that catches attention becomes crucial. It’s hard to dispute that The Stone of Madness doesn’t manage to do just that. The visual scenes are cinematic and sleek, the monastery backdrop is richly detailed with a hint of realism, and its characters deviate significantly from typical stereotypes.

In contrast to the vibrant heroes commonly found in contemporary storylines, our protagonists are far from typical. Agnes is a bent-over elderly woman, heavy with the weight of her experiences, while Eduardo, a middle-aged man, has been silenced by his torment within the asylum. As players advance, they will gather a group of five determined escapees, each with unique talents, developing skills, and personal fears that add depth to the team. Fear, in this game, is not just a powerful emotion but a dangerous force, potentially more crippling than any jailer could imagine. Unfortunately, most character interactions in the game lack voice acting, which might have heightened dramatic impact in certain scenes.

In this game titled “The Stone of Madness,” each character has unique fears that make their progress challenging: Leonora can harm guards directly but dreads fire, Amelia shies away from gargoyles, Alfredo is petrified by dead bodies, and Eduardo fears the dark. Navigating around these phobias while evading guards, unraveling complex puzzles, and staying safe is quite a juggling act. At times in the game, I found myself feeling as if I too was losing my sanity.

The Stone of Madness Can Be Anxiety-Inducing

Playing “The Stone of Madness” evokes memories of the turn-based roguelike “Darkest Dungeon” and the 2002 GameCube game “Eternal Darkness“, as they both prominently feature themes of fear and sanity in their gameplay. As the unsettling truths about the monastery unfold, being caught by the guards feels less like an annoyance and more like a life-threatening event, intensifying the persistent unease that accompanies a game session of “The Stone of Madness“. Despite its relatively short playtime, I found myself needing to pause frequently to regain my composure.

In simple terms, it took me approximately 15 hours to finish the primary narrative of “The Stone of Madness,” however, for those who prefer a more comprehensive experience, they might spend up to 30 hours playing the game.

Following the successful assembly of all five characters in your game’s team, players have the option to retreat to their base each evening. Here, they can enhance each character’s skills, strategize, and manage collected resources. The game also enables you to pick which party members you prefer for the next day’s expedition. While it’s tempting to consistently choose Leonora, known for her aggression, and Eduardo, renowned for his strength, these may not always be the optimal choices, particularly in a game that emphasizes stealth.

In certain situations, the enigmatic artifact named “The Stone of Madness” presents images instead of words, occasionally making it challenging to decipher the intended meaning. Additionally, some actions take longer than others, but this isn’t always immediately clear, and a guard might notice your actions before you complete them or escape. This could be seen as an intentional feature rather than a bug, enhancing the game’s difficulty, although it can be frustrating for those playing on the easiest setting.

While “The Stone of Madness” might not be suitable for every gamer, it’s hard to resist urging even the most critical player to give it a spin. The game’s unique and unsettling visual aesthetic remains one of its strongest assets, and players unfamiliar with real-time tactical strategy games may find themselves captivated by the game’s narrative and setting, sticking with it until the very end. Although the controls can be finicky at times, it’s evident that the development team has poured their heart and soul into this game, every frame brimming with an incredible level of detail and care. “The Stone of Madness” has a knack for turning player frustration into desperation, as each step toward the truth provides a surge of adrenaline and a drive not to quit. The monastery harbors a truly horrifying secret, making it worth venturing into the latest creation from The Game Kitchen.

On January 28, 2025, “The Stone of Madness” will be available on PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Series X. For this review, we received a PC access code from Game Rant.

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2025-01-28 17:04