guy reviewing between commercial breaks wrote:

Thanks to our senses already being challenged due to constant darkness, id's calculated knowledge of human nature targets our ears.

I personally became twitchy, cautious of every dark corner, and incredibly tense. At one point while I was playing with headphones on, my wife walked into the room. Offscreen, I saw a single movement and a shard of light, and I instantly turned around, scared out of my wits.

The audio journals are brilliant little gems all on their own, besides being utilitarian sources for three-digit codes to open lockers. They are well acted, each delivering a distinct personality through voice, diction, and pacing, and they're necessary for attaining more ammo.

Using the mechanic of forcing gamers to choose between a flashlight and a weapon, id is able to create a constant tension that reverberates as much in its visual nature as the gameplay.