YMMV / Madison (2022)

• Awesome Art: Everyone tends to gush about the game’s graphics especially when it comes to the house. It’s lived in feeling while also making it a character in its own right.
• Awesome Video Game Levels: The first third of the game is absolutely haunting in both its sound design and layout. You get a genuine sense that something isn’t right and the noises that fill the air is upsetting due to the fact you cannot find the source half the time.
• Big-Lipped Alligator Moment: In the very beginning there is a small snippet from a newspaper that in 1951 a man was killed by his wife. That is all the lead up to Hans Goring and his unrelenting effort to kill you. In no way does the game convey up to this point he will pursue you. While in the confessional next to you his wife will write a note that he will kill you due to you knowing his secret, this comes totally out of left field when the first third has been building to both Madison and Blue Knees being your antagonist.
• Catharsis Factor: Oh boy, upon leaving the church you are teleported back to a long hallway that leads back to the house Hans tries to trap you there to murder you. Eventually over powering Madison until the last second were you awake back at home. Knowing that he was ultimately stopped, even if it was by Madison, gives you immense comfort knowing he probably is locked out that timeline forever.
• It's the Same, Now It Sucks!: Many horror fans were getting tired of the endless PT clones and this one was no different. While some were willing to give it a chance to stand on its own merits others were more than happy to avoid it.
• Narm: While Luca himself has a rather odd tendency to state the obvious the English voice actor had a tendency to deliver it in a whiny nasally voice. Many players have noted it broke their immersion and made them laugh.
• Nightmare Retardant: While both Madison and Blue Knees are malevolent beings with interesting designs, Hans where’s a gas mask and Hazmat suit. Unsurprisingly most players tend to not necessarily be afraid but are more confused about his appearance.
• Shocking Moments: Woo boy, let's rattle ‘em off.
  • Madison possessed you and killed you mother and sister causing Luca to have some level of amnesia.
  • Blue Eyes killed your Grandmother and also made your Grandfather obsessed with getting in contact with her to the point of offering his locket to her in the afterlife.
  • When you eventually make it to the well you are in knee high water where you are trapped and stalked by Madison. In the well you learn how she died and what was in their and then right before the walkie-talkie cuts out the room is filled the severed body parts she needs to complete the ritual.
  • Hey, you remember that weird book you’ve been hearing about? Well, your Grandfather kept it and I tried to seal it away. Hey, do you think reading it while you’ve been told to never do that is a good idea? Once you close it and take a photo of the room you leave said room to see a face looking from beyond a door. Cue the jumpscare chord.
• Signature Scene: Luca discovering the camera and subsequently using it for the first time. The scare cord, violent shaking of the screen, and genuine fear in both your and Luca’s voice cemented the scene for all who experienced it.
• Spiritual Successor: To PT, well in a way. While not as overt as Visage it does expand the living space and core mechanics. It’s rather obvious that it’s not a rip off but a labor of love.
• That One Level: The Church is regarded as the worst part of the game. Not necessarily the puzzle but the fact you must time travel and avoid an enemy that will pursue you. Plus he won’t be harmed by your camera so you can only avoid at best. Plus the fact that you can and most likely get confused by the mazes isn’t fun either.
• Unintentionally Unsympathetic: Albert Maxwell legit makes some really dumb decisions and doesn’t seem to understand the importance of what he did to his family. While isn’t revealed early on Elizabeth threatened to run away with Johnny while he begged her to stay. Despite both she and Johnny claiming that a supernatural being is stalking them. Then spending his entire twilight years devoted to talking to his dead wife while spending a lot of money and buying a camera that was owned by a serial killer. Then leaving his son a note saying “oops sorry” made a lot of players genuinely angry at him.

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