Gary Numan Makes a Baffling Cameo in Sleep Awake, a Lackluster Horror Game
Sleep Awake is an unimpressive psychological horror game that fails to deliver any truly memorable moments, despite its visually stunning setting and striking concept. The game follows Katja, a young woman navigating the desolate streets of what appears to be the last city on Earth, struggling with the consequences of sleep deprivation in a world ravaged by a mysterious disease known as the Hush.
While the setting itself is a masterclass in atmospheric design, evoking the works of Italian artist Piranesi and drawing inspiration from the eerie landscapes of Gary Numan's synth-rock soundscapes, the gameplay is woefully underwhelming. Players are subjected to rote patrol paths for enemies, generous field of vision, and uninspired puzzles that involve rolling carts into breakers or finding hidden keycards.
The game's visuals, however, are a different story altogether. Interwoven with FMV sequences showcasing psychedelic visions and hallucinatory landscapes, the surrealism is both captivating and unsettling. Even the death screen – a rare moment of interactive storytelling in an otherwise straightforward narrative – manages to evoke a sense of dreamlike confusion.
But what truly holds Sleep Awake back from becoming something more is its inability to engage with its themes and ideas beyond the surface level. The lack of tension, the predictable gameplay mechanics, and the unchallenging puzzles all contribute to a game that feels too easy, too straightforward, and not nearly sinister enough to warrant the eerie atmosphere it so desperately tries to create.
In short, Sleep Awake is a visually stunning but narratively underwhelming horror game that fails to deliver on its promise of an immersive, unsettling experience. Even Gary Numan's cameos can't elevate this lackluster effort into something truly memorable – you may want to sleep on this one if you're looking for a compelling horror experience.
Sleep Awake is an unimpressive psychological horror game that fails to deliver any truly memorable moments, despite its visually stunning setting and striking concept. The game follows Katja, a young woman navigating the desolate streets of what appears to be the last city on Earth, struggling with the consequences of sleep deprivation in a world ravaged by a mysterious disease known as the Hush.
While the setting itself is a masterclass in atmospheric design, evoking the works of Italian artist Piranesi and drawing inspiration from the eerie landscapes of Gary Numan's synth-rock soundscapes, the gameplay is woefully underwhelming. Players are subjected to rote patrol paths for enemies, generous field of vision, and uninspired puzzles that involve rolling carts into breakers or finding hidden keycards.
The game's visuals, however, are a different story altogether. Interwoven with FMV sequences showcasing psychedelic visions and hallucinatory landscapes, the surrealism is both captivating and unsettling. Even the death screen – a rare moment of interactive storytelling in an otherwise straightforward narrative – manages to evoke a sense of dreamlike confusion.
But what truly holds Sleep Awake back from becoming something more is its inability to engage with its themes and ideas beyond the surface level. The lack of tension, the predictable gameplay mechanics, and the unchallenging puzzles all contribute to a game that feels too easy, too straightforward, and not nearly sinister enough to warrant the eerie atmosphere it so desperately tries to create.
In short, Sleep Awake is a visually stunning but narratively underwhelming horror game that fails to deliver on its promise of an immersive, unsettling experience. Even Gary Numan's cameos can't elevate this lackluster effort into something truly memorable – you may want to sleep on this one if you're looking for a compelling horror experience.
just played Sleep Awake and I'm so disappointed 
it looks like they took all the creepy stuff from Gary Numan's music vids but forgot how to make a scary game 
I mean, what's up with the gameplay? It's like patrolling around in circles forever 
and don't even get me started on the puzzles, soooo easy 
and yeah, I was expecting way more tension from the atmosphere they created... it just felt like a tease 
1 star from me 
but the gameplay is just...meh. It's like they took all the creepy vibes from Gary Numan's music and didn't even integrate it into the actual game properly 
. And don't even get me started on the puzzles - rolling carts into breakers? 
. I mean, if you're gonna have a creepy setting and then just give us rote patrol paths and generic puzzles, it's not exactly terrifying 
. And where's the tension? The suspense? It feels like they were too scared to make anything actually hard or unsettling.
. But if you're looking for a good horror game, I'd say keep sleeping on this one 
. There are plenty of other great games out there that can deliver the scares and chills without feeling like you've seen it all before 
. And don't even get me started on the puzzles – rolling carts into breakers? More like rolling my eyes at how boring that is 
. And Gary Numan showing up is kinda cool 
, but I guess even his awesomeness can't save this game from being kinda boring 
. It felt like I was walking through a surreal world where nothing made sense 
. And don't even get me started on the puzzles – rolling carts into breakers? 
and I'm so underwhelmed 
I mean, I love Gary Numan's music, but even he can't save this game from being a total snooze fest 
. And don't even get me started on the story, it's like they barely scratched the surface of what could be a really interesting concept. 
️ the setting is super creepy and gary numan's music is all over it but its gameplay is super meh idk man 
but overall its just too easy 
It doesn't really feel like it adds to the gameplay or story. Maybe they were just trying to throw in a cool Easter egg for fans or something? 
I mean, who doesn't love a good synth-rock soundtrack like Gary Numan's though? 
Like, I've seen more thrilling experiences at a bingo night 
