Captivating stealth and tactical brilliance
By Paul Hunter
Prepare to be immersed in a thrilling 18th century tale of intrigue and the supernatural as you take control of five troubled individuals trapped within the confines of a monastery-turned-prison. Developed by the talented team at The Game Kitchen, the creators of the acclaimed Blasphemous series, The Stone of Madness offers an engrossing narrative that blends elements of horror and cosmic dread.
As you guide this eclectic cast of characters—including a cunning priest, an agile child, and a hulking brute—through the claustrophobic corridors, you must utilise their unique abilities to uncover the monastery's dark secrets and orchestrate a strategic escape. The Game Kitchen's pedigree for crafting atmospheric, symbolism-rich worlds has been successfully replicated in this new stealth-focused adventure.
With a striking visual style inspired by the paintings of Francisco De Goya and a tense, catchy soundtrack, The Stone of Madness delivers an absorbing experience that will test your wits and nerves as you navigate the perils of this haunting 18th century setting. Get ready to lose yourself in a world where sanity hangs by a thread and the only way out may cost your tenuous team to lose their gripe on reality.
The Stone of Madness is a real-time tactics game similar in style to Desperados or the long-running Commandos series. You assume control of a diverse group of characters—including a daring priest, a stealthy child, a mute strongman, a rutheless violinist, and a supernaturally-gifted elder—and must tactically and stealthily uses their special abilities to escape from this nightmarish Spanish monstery.
Two full stories are on offer here: you can choose to pursue the narrative focused on the monastery's tyrannical inquisitor or the one centred around a desperate tale of forbidden love, with each presenting a compelling and multi-layered story that delves into the cruelty of the religious institutions of the era. As you explore the monastery's history, you'll uncover a web of sinister experiments, conspiratorial plots, and supernatural occurrences that add weight to the urgency of your escape.
Underpinning the narrative is a tactical stealth-driven gameplay loop that demands careful planning and strategic use of each character's abilities.
The isometric perspective offers an excellent vantage point, allowing you to survey the environment and plan your movements with precision. Each character brings a distinct set of skills to the table, demanding that you consider their individual strengths and weaknesses when tackling the monastery's many obstacles. For example, the agile child Amelia can squeeze through narrow passages, while the powerful Eduardo can move heavy planks to bridge gaps and open new areas to explore.
Careful positioning and coordination between your party members is essential, as the game's white-knuckled stealth mechanics require you to remain undetected by the watchful guards. The visual representation of their line of sight, denoted by green coloured cones, helps you anticipate their movements and plan your approach accordingly. Sneaking past these adversaries or using the environment's shadows to your advantage is often the key to success, though the game also offers the option to eliminate guards—at the cost of losing health—should you choose to take a more aggressive approach.
Each character comes with basic skills that are essential to advancing the story, like the priest Alfredo's ability to light his lantern and reveal hidden clues, to Leonora's skill in silently picking locks. Complementing these skill are the unique "Revelations"—special ability enhancements that each character can learn to overcome even more challenges. Be warned though, some skills are prohibited and will alert the guards if used in their presence.
The game's day-night cycle further enhances the strategic depth, as the monastery's atmosphere and the behaviour of its inhabitants change dramatically between the three periods (day, evening, night). During the day, you can explore more freely, while the evening and night brings increased security and the emergence of supernatural threats, forcing you to push your characters' skills to the limit, or choose to retreat back to your cell and sleep.
Balancing the management of your party's mental states is another major aspect of The Stone of Madness. Each character has their own fears and phobias that can negatively impact their performance if they are exposed to their triggers. For example, Alfredo can't stand the sight of dead or incapacitated bodies, while Leonara trembles in fear around any fire. Carefully positioning your team is crucial to success and making use of the night-time respite in your cell to restore their sanity becomes an integral part of your strategic planning. If your character winds up going mad it'll add another phobia to their list, such as Alfredo getting scared of loud noises, which can make progression through the monastery even more challenging.
While the game's multi-character command system is occasionally cumbersome, the overall stealth and tactical gameplay remains a fun and rewarding experience.
The visual style of The Stone of Madness is nothing short of breathtaking, drawing direct inspiration from renowned Spanish artists from the 18th century. This artistic approach translates into visuals that are painted with a meticulous attention to detail, evoking a sense of unease and melancholy that perfectly complements the oppressive atmosphere of the Spanish monastery setting.
Each moment of The Stone of Madness feels like a living, breathing work of art, with the isometric perspective allowing the developers to fill the environment with a wealth of intricate details that reward closer inspection. From the ornate religious iconography adorning the monastery's walls to the subtle, unsettling movements of the characters, the game's visual style transports you in a world that is both beautiful and deeply unsettling.
Complementing the alluring visuals is a fantastic soundtrack that draws primarily from classical music influences. The predominantly instrumental score, with its religious undertones, further reinforces the game's atmosphere, creating a sense of tension and foreboding that heightens the sense of dread as you navigate the monastery's perilous corridors. The use of string instruments, in particular, adds a haunting quality to the music, evoking the melancholy and isolation that permeates the experience.
Overall, the presentation of The Stone of Madness is a true triumph, seamlessly blending the game's visual artistry, immersive soundscape, and compelling effects to create a cohesive and engrossing experience. The attention to detail and the clear passion of the Blasphemous development team shine through in every aspect of the game.
All in all, The Stone of Madness stands as a remarkable achievement, offering a thrilling and atmospheric adventure that fans of The Game Kitchen need to experience.
Final Score: 8.5/10 - Great
Developer: The Game Kitchen
Publisher: Tripwire Presents
Genre: Stealth, Real-Time Strategy, Tactics
Modes: Single-player
ESRB Rating: M (Mature)
A key was provided by the publisher.
By Paul Hunter
Prepare to be immersed in a thrilling 18th century tale of intrigue and the supernatural as you take control of five troubled individuals trapped within the confines of a monastery-turned-prison. Developed by the talented team at The Game Kitchen, the creators of the acclaimed Blasphemous series, The Stone of Madness offers an engrossing narrative that blends elements of horror and cosmic dread.
As you guide this eclectic cast of characters—including a cunning priest, an agile child, and a hulking brute—through the claustrophobic corridors, you must utilise their unique abilities to uncover the monastery's dark secrets and orchestrate a strategic escape. The Game Kitchen's pedigree for crafting atmospheric, symbolism-rich worlds has been successfully replicated in this new stealth-focused adventure.
With a striking visual style inspired by the paintings of Francisco De Goya and a tense, catchy soundtrack, The Stone of Madness delivers an absorbing experience that will test your wits and nerves as you navigate the perils of this haunting 18th century setting. Get ready to lose yourself in a world where sanity hangs by a thread and the only way out may cost your tenuous team to lose their gripe on reality.
The Stone of Madness is a real-time tactics game similar in style to Desperados or the long-running Commandos series. You assume control of a diverse group of characters—including a daring priest, a stealthy child, a mute strongman, a rutheless violinist, and a supernaturally-gifted elder—and must tactically and stealthily uses their special abilities to escape from this nightmarish Spanish monstery.
Two full stories are on offer here: you can choose to pursue the narrative focused on the monastery's tyrannical inquisitor or the one centred around a desperate tale of forbidden love, with each presenting a compelling and multi-layered story that delves into the cruelty of the religious institutions of the era. As you explore the monastery's history, you'll uncover a web of sinister experiments, conspiratorial plots, and supernatural occurrences that add weight to the urgency of your escape.
Underpinning the narrative is a tactical stealth-driven gameplay loop that demands careful planning and strategic use of each character's abilities.
The isometric perspective offers an excellent vantage point, allowing you to survey the environment and plan your movements with precision. Each character brings a distinct set of skills to the table, demanding that you consider their individual strengths and weaknesses when tackling the monastery's many obstacles. For example, the agile child Amelia can squeeze through narrow passages, while the powerful Eduardo can move heavy planks to bridge gaps and open new areas to explore.
Careful positioning and coordination between your party members is essential, as the game's white-knuckled stealth mechanics require you to remain undetected by the watchful guards. The visual representation of their line of sight, denoted by green coloured cones, helps you anticipate their movements and plan your approach accordingly. Sneaking past these adversaries or using the environment's shadows to your advantage is often the key to success, though the game also offers the option to eliminate guards—at the cost of losing health—should you choose to take a more aggressive approach.
Each character comes with basic skills that are essential to advancing the story, like the priest Alfredo's ability to light his lantern and reveal hidden clues, to Leonora's skill in silently picking locks. Complementing these skill are the unique "Revelations"—special ability enhancements that each character can learn to overcome even more challenges. Be warned though, some skills are prohibited and will alert the guards if used in their presence.
The game's day-night cycle further enhances the strategic depth, as the monastery's atmosphere and the behaviour of its inhabitants change dramatically between the three periods (day, evening, night). During the day, you can explore more freely, while the evening and night brings increased security and the emergence of supernatural threats, forcing you to push your characters' skills to the limit, or choose to retreat back to your cell and sleep.
Balancing the management of your party's mental states is another major aspect of The Stone of Madness. Each character has their own fears and phobias that can negatively impact their performance if they are exposed to their triggers. For example, Alfredo can't stand the sight of dead or incapacitated bodies, while Leonara trembles in fear around any fire. Carefully positioning your team is crucial to success and making use of the night-time respite in your cell to restore their sanity becomes an integral part of your strategic planning. If your character winds up going mad it'll add another phobia to their list, such as Alfredo getting scared of loud noises, which can make progression through the monastery even more challenging.
While the game's multi-character command system is occasionally cumbersome, the overall stealth and tactical gameplay remains a fun and rewarding experience.
The visual style of The Stone of Madness is nothing short of breathtaking, drawing direct inspiration from renowned Spanish artists from the 18th century. This artistic approach translates into visuals that are painted with a meticulous attention to detail, evoking a sense of unease and melancholy that perfectly complements the oppressive atmosphere of the Spanish monastery setting.
Each moment of The Stone of Madness feels like a living, breathing work of art, with the isometric perspective allowing the developers to fill the environment with a wealth of intricate details that reward closer inspection. From the ornate religious iconography adorning the monastery's walls to the subtle, unsettling movements of the characters, the game's visual style transports you in a world that is both beautiful and deeply unsettling.
Complementing the alluring visuals is a fantastic soundtrack that draws primarily from classical music influences. The predominantly instrumental score, with its religious undertones, further reinforces the game's atmosphere, creating a sense of tension and foreboding that heightens the sense of dread as you navigate the monastery's perilous corridors. The use of string instruments, in particular, adds a haunting quality to the music, evoking the melancholy and isolation that permeates the experience.
Overall, the presentation of The Stone of Madness is a true triumph, seamlessly blending the game's visual artistry, immersive soundscape, and compelling effects to create a cohesive and engrossing experience. The attention to detail and the clear passion of the Blasphemous development team shine through in every aspect of the game.
The Verdict
As you reach the end of your pulse-pounding journey through the oppressive 18th century monastery, The Stone of Madness leaves a lasting impression with its captivating blend of narrative depth, tactical stealth gameplay, and striking visual artistry. The game's narrative is a particular highlight, weaving an engrossing tale of intrigue and the supernatural that delves into the cruelty of the religious institutions of the era. Yet it's the diverse cast of troubled protagonists, each with their own unique abilities and personal demons, that adds a layer of emotional investment as you guide them through the monastery's many perils.All in all, The Stone of Madness stands as a remarkable achievement, offering a thrilling and atmospheric adventure that fans of The Game Kitchen need to experience.
Final Score: 8.5/10 - Great
The Stone of Madness details
Platform: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PCDeveloper: The Game Kitchen
Publisher: Tripwire Presents
Genre: Stealth, Real-Time Strategy, Tactics
Modes: Single-player
ESRB Rating: M (Mature)
A key was provided by the publisher.