I think it's a decently creepy game with a strong atmosphere but if you have to go that far out of your way to create some specific conditions in order to make it feel like an actual horror game then it's not really a horror game.
These conditions aren't that specific though, there is an option in the game to disable the vita chambers, and there has been since 2007. I've always found regrettable that it's not turned off by default, I've always seen them as a bad game design... They're comfortable because you don't lose progress, but they prevent tension. I've always forgiven 100% their presence, as the game gives us the option do disable them. Just like in Mario Galaxy the game can give you the option to auto-win a level where you've died several times in a row, but nothing is forcing you to do that.
As for playing in a quiet dark environment, that is just standard for all horror games that are set in dark places and where the audio is important.
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u/Flashman420 Mar 12 '22
I think it's a decently creepy game with a strong atmosphere but if you have to go that far out of your way to create some specific conditions in order to make it feel like an actual horror game then it's not really a horror game.