In Sound Mind

The description of the game on the Steam page reads "...imaginative psychological horror with frenetic puzzles, unique boss fights, and original music...". Yes, yes, and yes. It won't offer you unique insight into the combat system or very smart enemies combined with elaborate stealth, but it's not trying. I'd say In Sound Mind is based on a few core elements that intertwine so closely it's impossible to determine which one was the cornerstone during development. The plot extends into atmosphere which branches into visual and sound design. Oh, and the gameplay is literally based on the story. Every little thing in this game just works - and works well in combination with each other, which is rare even in the biggest AAA releases.

Plot - 9/10

The basic idea of a plot is not something that blows your mind here, at the very least at the beginning. You wake up in the cellar of a creepy building in a creepy desolate town - and some creepy fellow keeps calling the old phones when you're near them and bothering you. And also trying to kill you. Sometimes, just for fun - like it is with old friends.
So why such a high score? Because the details define everything here. You are playing as a psychiatrist and to find out what's going on, to try to get out of the situation before another joke of your old neme-friend kills you - you have to go down the memory lane and try to find out what went wrong. In other words, listen to the tape recordings of your last patients, each offering a unique, well-written, and heart-wrenching story.

So, a little bit about the patients. The first patient - the first tape - is about a girl whose face was disfigured by broken glass when she was little. She's afraid of people, of what they think of her - and of her own reflection. Hence, the first part of the story will play out in a mart with a lot of mirrors - which will force her, as well as the main character, to look into them and see their own reflections.

The second patient is a guy that has a very difficult relationship with the darkness - all his life he feared it, he had nightmares about it and the creatures lurking in it. Because of his constant problems, he couldn't live like all people - so he became a lightkeeper, isolated himself from society and in addition was diagnosed with schizophrenia. The second part of the story takes place in a harbor near a lighthouse - dark and creepy like the previous part, but much larger and offering more space to stretch your legs.

The third tape changes tone completely - it's still a horror, but it's more bright... and western. You can even ride the bull if you'd like. Our patient in this case was a simple, hardworking man who loved his family but everything went haywire after he lost his job because of company takeover and the man's struggles with controlling his anger. This level keeps you on edge not because of enemies you can miss in the dark - but because of the enemy you can see and hear dozens of yards away.

Your final journey will feel like Vietnam - and for a good reason. The fourth patient is an army veteran, haunted by his memories of the war... and of something else that happened to him during that time. Something that made people call him crazy. Something that made him doubt himself. Unfortunately, that something is all too real... And yeah, there will be flashbacks to his time in the war too in this level, but that only deepens the immersion into the overall atmosphere.

So, the plot offers a bit of mystery (which only intensifies as the story goes on), drama and personal problems of individual patients (but they're all connected, nothing excessive), and even comedy (oh, that moment with the mannequin in the first tape... but I won't tell. You have to play and see. It's story-related and worth it).

The only problem I have with the story is its ending - it's not that it breaks its tempo or throws sudden deus ex machina mid-sentence or anything like that. On the contrary, it's true to itself to the end. It just feels like you've finished only the first big act in the battle against a real villain... and you have to win the war. But I'm not sure it's possible. You see, if the devs would create the second part of the game and continue the story - that would be a completely different game gameplay-, and mechanic-, and atmospere-wise. But if a sequel were to follow all those - then it would fail story-wise. That's a real predicament, but maybe they'll sometimes think of something.

Gameplay - 8/10

The biggest merit of gameplay is its diversity and different mechanics that continue appearing throughout the game. Simplified, In Sound Mind can be roughly divided into six parts: the building with a few floors which you can explore, four tapes containing patients' stories, and one tape with the final boss battle. The game is mostly about shooting enemies and solving unique puzzles. And while shooting enemies is as boring as it sounds (especially considering the straightforward AI) that applies only to basic bots. Bosses are really interesting and are often puzzles in themselves - and the puzzles in the levels only keep multiplying as you keep getting more tools. Plus, the game encourages exploring for which you get additional things you otherwise wouldn't get - such as a gas mask. A really useful thing which makes your existence a lot easier. But it's not necessary for completing the story.

About difficulty - I played on normal and it was pretty easy, so no problems with that. But if you're looking for a challenge, you may be disappointed.

Visual Design - 10/10

I'll be honest with you. If I include graphics in my review, I'll be obliged to give the game a lower score. No, don't get me wrong, the graphics are very good - for 2021 year and a not-top-of-the-line game. So instead I'll tell you a few words about visual design. It works perfectly to recreate the needed atmosphere - which is glorious, by the way. Every level is different, but we have clouds of rainbow mist in the main building, a haunted mall in the first tape, a practically palpable darkness in the second tape, heat in the third tape, rainy forest in the fourth...

The design of even basic enemies works well too. You see, they're living inkblots - just like in the Rorschach test. A simple and elegant decision. And the notes written by our enemy, Agent Rainbow, glow in rainbow colors. Small joys, as it were.

Soundtrack - 9/10

The music and overall sounds in the game are pretty decent and atmospheric - but, to be fair, the best part of the soundtrack is vinyl songs connected with each of your patients. They can be found after completing the according tapes in their apartments. These vinyls... I suppose they hit differently after playing the story but you can still go and try to listen to them, they're freely available on the net with permission of the authors.

Atmosphere - 10/10

It's hard for me to add anything else here, to be honest. The story, music, visuals - everything works to create a unique atmosphere you won't find anywhere else. Believe me, I've tried. The whole game feels like an adventure down a rabbit hole of your own trippy mind, constantly shifting and revealing new sides of itself after every spin.

Also, I probably have to mention somewhere about this being a horror game. Well, if jumpscares (mostly comical In Sound Mind) work on you - then yes, it's a horror. Otherwise, this game and horror are like distant cousins, they meetup occasionally for lunch but can go months without calling each other. I'm not too comfortable with horror games and played it without as much as a chill.

Verdict - 9/10

If you're looking for a unique innovative game, a game with a good plot or good (unfortunately, too easy) puzzles, with captivating story and atmosphere, a little bit of psychology, a little bit of comedy, a little bit of horror... Sounds too much, right? How can it hold together? But it does. Even if you're just tired from uniform game releases by big studios - this is a breath of fresh air. Only... why are there rainbows around?