The best horror games can make you shiver, but few elicit chills as well as Cryostasis: The Sleep of Reason. This is partially due to the tense atmosphere that slowly thickens as you play, inspiring a general unease that eventually escalates into full-blown panic. But it's also due to its icy Arctic setting, where the freezing air can choke your lungs and heat is the most valuable of commodities. The unforgiving blizzards of the North Pole inspire Cryostasis on multiple levels, from a heavy, deliberate pace akin to wading through drifts of snow, to multiple gameplay mechanics that keep you forever at odds with the cold. This innovative first-person adventure is not for everyone; its slow tempo will numb players seeking instant gratification, and occasional performance and stability issues may frustrate. But Cryostasis has a way of keeping you in its thrall, pushing you forward to see what frosty secrets lie ahead.
The game doesn't give you much in the way of exposition, ushering you into the frozen tundra by way of a seemingly unrelated voice-over about a tribe of forest dwellers seeking refuge within the wildwood. This tale evolves during the game through a series of scattered parchments, though its meanings and metaphors are slow to unfold--much like the main narrative. It's not immediately clear as you start your initial explorations where you are and why you're there, though the raging blizzard and lifeless bodies strewn around indicate that you aren't apt to encounter many friendly faces. Eventually the framework becomes more apparent: You are on a nuclear-powered icebreaker whose crew has befallen an unusual tragedy, though the glacial crash that seems the most likely cause is only one piece in an increasingly complex puzzle. It's a great mystery, and the gradual flow of information will keep you guessing--and keep you tethered to your screen.
Minimum:
OS: Windows XP SP3
Processor: 2 GHz Intel Dual Core Processor
Memory: 2 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 8800/ATI Radeon HD 2600 (256MB minimum)
DirectX «: 9.0c
Hard Drive: 10 GB HD space
Sound: DirectX 9.0c compatible
Recommended:
OS: Windows XP SP3/Vista/Windows 7
Processor: 2.3 GHz Intel Quad Core Processor
Memory: 3 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX460/ATI Radeon HD 5850 (512MB minimum)
DirectX «: 9.0c
Hard Drive: 10 GB HD space
Sound: DirectX 9.0c compatible
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