Although video games inspired by films have not had a very good reputation for several years, The Road Aheada title taking place in the same universe as the franchise A Quiet Placerestores its letters of nobility to this type of adaptation.
Although it offers its own story, rather than repeating the storyline of one of the three films in the series, the survival horror game A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead takes place in the same universe as the film franchise. The action begins 105 days after the start of the invasion of Earth by bellicose extraterrestrials with overdeveloped hearing, but fortunately blind. Since humans and their weapons are no match for these monsters as terrifying as they are dangerous and it is preferable to avoid confrontation if we wish to remain alive, the experience relies on the stealth approach more than the action.
We rarely pay attention to sound in video games, but it is front and center in A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead. The slightest noise attracts these creatures and signals our death sentence. As a result, the world became completely silent. Walking through puddles, glass, or metal plates causes a commotion and attracts the attention of nearby aliens. When it is impossible to avoid these surfaces, you should move as slowly as possible to minimize noise. You should also avoid hanging up cans and other debris that sometimes litter the ground. A very interesting mechanism allows us to empty the contents of sandbags on the ground in order to muffle our footsteps.
The result is a truly stressful experience, where the constant tension is palpable, even when it’s daylight. To complicate the situation even more, Alex, the young woman we play in the game, is asthmatic. Physical exertion, such as climbing or lifting heavy objects, too much dust in the air and even simple mental stress, can trigger an asthma attack in young women. A lung icon in the upper left corner of the screen informs us of the impending attack. You must then use the inhalers you have or pills to stop it, and avoid ending up with a coughing fit or wheezing that would disturb the silence.
Louder surrounding sounds, including rain showers, a nearby waterfall, or the operation of certain machines, can muffle the din we cause and thus allow us to move more boldly. Quite quickly in A Quiet Place: The Road Aheadwe obtain a phonometer, a small device that compares the level of noise we make in relation to the ambient tone. As in most games of the genre, you can throw different objects (stones, bottles, bricks, etc.) in order to create a diversion and attract the aliens in another direction while you sneak around, neither seen nor known , out of their reach.
Despite the many dangers this entails and the potential unexpected encounters with the invader, it is vital to search environments from top to bottom in search of batteries used to power our flashlight, asthma pills or Ventolin inhalers. We also find letters, personal diaries, photos or drawings giving a glimpse of the tragic fate of humans who did not survive the invasion, but care must be taken to open drawers and doors slowly with help. of the analog stick to avoid squeaks that could cause us to be spotted.
Although it is primarily focused on sound, the graphics of A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead are very beautiful, and perfectly convey the desolation and the end of the world atmosphere reigning around us. True to those in the film, the alien creatures are absolutely terrifying. The game has three difficulty levels (easy, normal and hard) to offer a challenge suited to each player, and there is even an option, which you can choose to activate or not, which transmits sounds inside our own home through the headset or controller microphone, adding additional complexity to the experience.
Whether you are a fan of the film franchise A Quiet Placeor you just enjoy horror and survival games, The Road Ahead offers a quality experience, which will make the most zen of players break out in a cold sweat.
7/10
A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead
Developer: Stormind Games
Editor: Saber Interactive
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series S/X (tested on PS5)
Game available in French (on-screen text only)
