a horror game narrative that can go toe to toe with rule of rose or the best of the silent hill series, in terms of thematic potency. i would kinda compare it to obra dinn in how its plot is told through vignettes of each individual crew member's final moments, out of chronological order, but done with far greater dramatic effect (the folklore-parallel with the captain and his officers) and with greater humanity communicated through its gameplay goals (reliving the final moments of others and taking various actions, both mundane and intensified, to save them from a cruel fate). a tale of loyalty, of warmth against the cold of despair, of regrets and a genuine wish to make things right; all this leading up to a final sequence that would sound incredibly ridiculous on paper, but is instead heartwrenching in its earnestness. "what else can i dp to save these people?"

absolutely blindsided by what i expected to be not much more than a competently atmospheric and clunky--not in a bad way necessarily--horror fps. cryostasis deserves far more appreciation than its been given and its a fucking travesty that it was pulled from digital storefronts. if you find some way of playing it and can run it well enough (it was very poorly optimized so even decent machines these days may not cut it), id say its very worth it.