the presentation is some of the greatest from a genre title across the past decade plus but the funkier gameplay bits are keeping me from giving this the higher score that i wanted to.

i don't know what it was that made things feel so off but the finicky behavior with interactive spots (items, doors, puzzle spots, etc.) did such a number on my enjoyment by the end of the game. i got my shit wrecked by mobs of enemies because a door didn't open again and again. it feels like such a small thing to have as a sticking point in the grand scheme of shit but when like 80% of the game is navigating through the locations to puzzle solve, inventory manage, fight or flighting with enemies, and the like it really hurts things.

thankfully i don't have a ton of complaints otherwise. the puzzles in this game are among the absolute best in the genre, at least my favorites since the hard/extreme puzzle difficulties in SH2 and 3. the game does a nice job job of keeping thematic and aesthetic cohesion within its universe during them which is a nice bonus.

visuals and music are wonderful as well but they're kinda something that one needs to experience for themself.

for better and worse, Signalis as a game embodies Survival Horror to me more than any game since possibly the PS2 era. i can't recall the last time i found myself feeling so stressed due to ammo/healing reserves, enemy mobs, finding my way forward and the like while almost universally enjoying my time all the same.

it won't be long until i come back for the other endings. maybe upon replays on the lower difficulty setting i'll find myself bumping the score.