The Medium, designed to be a terrifying experience focused on puzzle-solving and a strong narrative, has made headlines as one of the only true exclusives for the Xbox Series X|S. With its release poised for Thursday morning, early gameplay reviews are beginning to drop on the psychological horror title.
In the game, players take control of Marianne, a medium who receives a phone call about the possibility of discovering the secret behind her abilities. To learn more about her past, she ventures to the abandoned Niwa Resort, the site of a mysterious massacre, to uncover the secrets buried beneath its surface.
The game's central mechanic allows Marianne to see into the spirit realm and real world at the same time. But is the thrill of allowing players to control two characters in two parallel worlds simultaneously enough to carry Bloober Team's 10-hour tale? Here's what a few prominent critics have to say. At the time of publication, the Metacritic score for The Medium is hovering around 75/100.
The Gamer - 5/5 Stars
In this case, reviewer Bella Blondeau loved just about everything The Medium had to offer and only put forth some minor complaints about the game's heavy subject matter and stereotypical horror puzzle solving. For those who look beyond those faults, she says, The Medium is an experience that will stay with you long after its story concludes.
"The Medium itself never hits a flat note. I beat the game in two long sittings, and there was never a point during either that I felt like the game dragged, or could've used a little more polish, or left too many loose ends hanging. It's a lean, compelling experience that says what it has to say, then leaves you to grapple with the specifics afterwards. There are images, lines, and ideas from The Medium that I'll likely take to my grave thanks to this approach, as it puts the onus on the player to piece everything together. You have to wrap your brain around the spirit world's twisted logic so much that it becomes a part of you, as you live through Marianne's pain with her and help to navigate her trauma.
"Much like Marianne's past, don't expect The Medium to leave your head any time soon."
Read the full review at The Gamer here.
GameSpot - 9/10
GameSpot's Jordan Ramée also enjoyed their time with The Medium, only having slight issues with a few of the game's narrative elements. From Ramée's perspective, Marianne has a bad habit of over-explaining critical plot elements that ultimately build to an ending that leaves a lot to be desired. The game's camera also has a habit of getting in the way.
"The Medium's conclusion sticks with you; it's one last horrifying reminder that trauma may not define a person, but it can have consequences we can't even begin to foresee if it's not adequately dealt with and simply left to fester over time. I can't say I enjoyed the ending to The Medium, but I am deeply satisfied with how it sets up the inescapable nature of its horrifying conclusion."
Read the full GameSpot review here.
IGN - 8/10
IGN's Tristan Ogilvie also enjoyed the story The Medium had to offer and was particularly enraptured by the performance of its central foe, The Maw. Ogilvie did concede, however, that camera issues and bog-standard puzzle design occasionally hamper the experience.
"It's a hair-raising ride regardless, but the most disoriented I ever felt during the eight hours it took to complete the story was anytime the camera suddenly switched angles and I had to course-correct with an awkward stutter-step like someone who'd just narrowly avoided walking into the wrong bathroom by accident."
Read the full IGN review here.
Eurogamer - Recommended
In the unscored Eurogamer review, contributor Vikki Blake marvels at the beauty of the environments but is once again let down by The Medium's fixed camera and tank controls. She also felt the story a bit bland with its uneven voice performances, simple puzzles and occasionally lacking scare factor. All that aside, however, this reviewer enjoyed the package nonetheless.
"It's perhaps no surprise, then, that given its so heavily constrained by the careful camera angles and tourniquet-tight storytelling, the gameplay is so rigid it might as well be on rails. Sadly, this results in an astonishing lack of organic exploration. Maybe it's greedy to want more, but I do wish I could've spent more time scurrying around that topsy-turvy place, peeking into every creepy cranny and unmasking every secret."
Read the full Eurogamer review here.
Game Informer - 6.75/10
Game Informer reviewer Ben Reeves' opinion fell far closer to the negative end of the spectrum, citing flaws in The Medium's standard gameplay mechanics, drab storyline and environments that are perhaps a bit too gross for their own good. While Reeves found the realm traversal to be a neat idea, it brought him to places he didn't necessarily want to visit.
"It's unfortunate that The Medium's narrative doesn't shine, because a solid story may have pulled me through its uninspired gameplay. As Marianne communes with the dead, she is occasionally tasked with solving simple puzzles, such as rerouting the power to a car lift or finding the missing pieces to a broken mirror. Sadly, only a small handful of these puzzles ask the player to look for clever solutions."
Read the full Game Informer review here.
The Medium is available on January 28 on Xbox Series X|S and PC.
What do you think of The Medium's review scores so far? Were you expecting more from this hallmark Xbox exclusive? Tell us in the comments section.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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