A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead Review

A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead is a new horror video game set in the world of The Quiet Place films. I'm a little biased toward liking the movie, being a fan of John Krasinski's role in The Office. I don't think the movies are bad in a vacuum, though—I think the critical acclaim and overall perception of the films reflect that.

This is despite the skepticism that comes with a movie whose director hasn't worked in the genre before. A Quiet Place is a modern horror film from the last decade that deserves more attention.

When A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead was revealed, I was quite excited. A scary video game seems like the best next step for this franchise. If there's one thing I appreciate more than horror films, it's horror games, which actually make me experience the fear.

Honestly, half of my mind was skeptical about this release because A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead's marketing described it as a stealth-driven horror experience with no combat, which makes sense. Anything else for this franchise seems weird.

While I appreciate horror games, I'm not a fan of ones that lack fighting and rely heavily on stealth features. It's just not my thing, and no matter how hard I try to love games in that genre, I always give up within the first few hours.

However, there are several exceptions to the norm. Still Wakes the Deep was released earlier this year, and I thoroughly appreciated it. I found this game to be quite entertaining.

Even though I'm not a major fan of the horror subgenre, I figured if any game could entice me despite my prejudices, it would be A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead. I'm already a fan of the world, and the stealth gameplay mechanics fit perfectly within it.

As I sat down to play A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead, it occurred to me that, despite being a Quiet Place and horror game—both of which I enjoy—it is still only a $30 movie tie-in. With how great this year has been for horror games, with titles like Silent Hill 2, Still Wakes The Deep and Until Dawn making the rounds, does this game really stand out?

So, what exactly is A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead? It's pretty much what I expected based on the trailers—a stealth-driven horror game in which you must travel from point A to point B while remaining as silent as possible in order to avoid being viciously mauled by aliens. It contains some light exploration, some incredibly light environmental puzzles, and some intense moments, and it is also very story-driven and character-based.

So, how can A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead incorporate all of that calm anxiety into a computer game? Well, it's a mixed bag, but let us begin with the idea. You play as Alex Taylor, a young woman attempting to live in a post-apocalyptic world that has gone silent.

You're not alone, though; your lover Martin joins you, but there's no time for chitchat, as is customary in the film series. The world has been overtaken by aliens with very sensitive hearing, and one wrong step (or loud cough) could result in your death. Oh, and Alex has asthma, in case the "stay silent or die" situation wasn't stressful enough.

But what's cool about this game is that it's not only about exterior threats; there's also a lot of emotional baggage involved. Alex's connections with Martin and her family are interwoven throughout the plot, making it more than just a monster-hunting survival game.

It's just as important to retain your cool psychologically as it is to keep your body silent. It's a genuinely emotional story, at least more so than your typical horror game experience.

There are two main plotlines: present-day and history, with the latter culminating in two brief flashback sequences. Unfortunately, they don't do enough to flesh out the cast, although they do teach you about hook ladders and firearms, both of which prove useful later on. These are merely the tip of the iceberg in terms of game mechanics. It is a first-person adventure game with a focus on traversal, puzzle solving, and noise reduction.

The latter is effectively a replacement for stealth, as you must be as quiet as possible while moving through most locations. This includes gently opening doors, inching over surfaces, and avoiding the numerous cans and containers strewn about.

The game introduces a phonometer, which quantifies the amount of noise you make. At first glance, this appears to be a useful addition, but as the game goes on, it becomes more of a babysitter than a tool. Rather than relying on your senses to determine how loud you are, the game continually informs you.

It's as if it doesn't trust you to figure things out on your own. And in a game based on tension and atmosphere, this is a bit of a letdown. You want to feel the weight of each step, not have a meter tell you that you are being too loud.

However, this is not to argue that A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead lacks suspense. When you're crawling through an abandoned barn, the floorboards creaking beneath, knowing that one false step could summon an extraterrestrial murder machine, the suspense is palpable. I couldn't help but hold my breath along with Alex, hoping the sound didn't travel too far.

And when it happens—when you unintentionally knock things over or tread on metal—the panic is enough to make me drop the controller and 'nope' out of the room. These are the moments when the game truly shines when it trusts you to remain quiet and alive.

Visually, A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead perfectly captures the creepy, abandoned world vibe. The environments are haunting, with just enough degradation to make you feel as if this world has been gone for a long time. Shadows play an important role, and the lighting is carefully designed to make you question every dark area.

Are the graphics groundbreaking? No. But they are effective, which is what matters in a game like this. You'll feel the weight of every vacant room and broken-down house as you carefully negotiate your way across the world.

However, the sound design is what truly shines. In a game like this, sound is everything, and The Road Ahead makes you acutely aware of every noise. The way different surfaces react—gravel, metal, wood—creates an underlying tension that never fully releases.

Walking on sand is pleasantly silent, but tread on a piece of glass, and your pants will be ruined. The sound design is deep and detailed, making the world feel alive even when it's really quiet.

However, A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead occasionally fumbles over what should be its finest feature. In a world where sound may be harmful, some of the sound effects appear excessive. There are times when the loudness of certain activities, such as pushing a lever or opening a door, does not appear to match the risk they are intended to cause.

You expect the aliens to rush through the door the moment you make a loud noise, but sometimes they just don't. It's abrupt and somewhat detracts from the immersion, especially because the rest of the game is so precision-focused.

The story, however, is where A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead distinguishes itself from other horror games. Alex's fight isn't just about the aliens; it's about surviving herself, including her asthma, relationships, and the shame she feels for all she's lost.

Survival horror games rarely delve into the protagonist's emotional psychology, yet here it works. Her asthma also plays a role in the gameplay; if you run too fast or panic too much, you'll have to stop and use an inhaler, which can get stressful at the moment. The story is about more than jumpscares and stealth; it's about dealing with your darkest emotions while avoiding monsters.

Unfortunately, not all emotional threads strike as hard as they can. There are times when the game sets up what should be a gut-punching sequence, yet it feels somewhat subdued.

There is emotional potential here, which is not always fully realized. You'll want to learn more about Alex's relationships and the past, but the game occasionally leaves you hanging. It's still richer than other survival horror games, but it's not as iconic as the cinematic Sony exclusives that have taken over the market.

For a horror video game that is based on a movie, A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead is surprisingly good. The phonogram mechanic makes perfect sense with the premise of the movie, the visuals are great, and the game is scary when the time is right.

Sure, the fact that you can use inhalers only once is a little silly, and the story fumbles some segments, but for a horror game that is only $30 on release, this is excellent, and it is worth a pick-up if you like this series or enjoy horror games in general.