The Medium

The overall sentiment regarding the story of The Medium is mixed, with a range of opinions from the critics. Some critics praise the narrative and storytelling, highlighting its compelling and dark aspects. Critics such as GamingBolt, The Digital Fix, and Comicbook.com appreciate the engaging and cleverly interwoven story, exploring themes of trauma, grief, and duality. They commend the game for tackling hard subjects with sensitivity and taking unexpected turns. The narrative is described as haunting, emotional, and poignant, with uncomfortable subjects like suicide and child abuse playing prominent roles. The Medium's ability to straddle two worlds and its unique reality-shifting mechanic are also praised for adding depth and urgency to the investigations. The game's setting in Poland is seen as fresh and provides an unexpected teaching tool, incorporating the country's history into the story (Worth Playing, The Digital Fix). On the other hand, several critics express dissatisfaction with the story of The Medium. They criticize the messy and confusing narrative, with multiple storylines that fail to come together cohesively (GAMINGbible). The storytelling is described as lacking subtlety, emotional stakes, and character development (CGMagazine). The plot is criticized for becoming disjointed and filled with unresolved plot threads that lead nowhere (Adventure Gamers). Some critics mention that the game tries to tackle too many themes and ideas, resulting in a lack of focus and a failure to fully develop them (GameCrate, DualShockers). The ending is also criticized for being weak and sequel baiting (PlayStation Country). Overall, the consensus among the critics is that The Medium's story has both strengths and weaknesses. The game's ability to explore dark and mature themes, its unique mechanics, and its atmospheric setting are praised by some critics. However, the narrative is often described as messy, confusing, and lacking in emotional depth and character development. The story's potential is acknowledged, but it is seen as falling short of fully realizing its ambitions. While some critics find the story engaging and cleverly interwoven, others feel that it fails to deliver on its promises. Ultimately, the mixed opinions suggest that the story of The Medium may resonate differently with each player, depending on their preferences for narrative coherence and emotional depth.

The opinions of the critics regarding the gameplay of The Medium are diverse, with both positive and negative aspects highlighted. Several critics praised the unique dual-reality gameplay mechanic, which allows players to navigate and interact with both the physical and spiritual worlds simultaneously. This mechanic, according to critics like GamingBolt and The Digital Fix, adds depth and uniqueness to the gameplay experience. The ability to switch between realities and manipulate both worlds through puzzles and environmental interactions was also commended for keeping the gameplay fresh and engaging. The puzzles themselves, while not overly challenging or elaborate, were generally seen as logical and well-designed, with GameByte mentioning that they are woven into the gameplay naturally. The inclusion of chase scenes and action-oriented sequences, albeit brief, provided moments of tension and excitement, as noted by Hey Poor Player and Gamers Heroes. On the other hand, there were several criticisms regarding the gameplay of The Medium. Critics such as Everyeye.it and Slant Magazine expressed disappointment in the linear and bland nature of the gameplay, with limited character animations detracting from the overall experience. The concept of the dual worlds was seen as interesting but poorly executed, with limited exploration and lack of freedom, as mentioned by GamesRadar+ and Hobby Consolas. The puzzles and stealth sections were criticized for lacking depth, excitement, and challenge, with Softpedia mentioning that the level of difficulty varied, sometimes being banal and requiring trial and error. Some critics, like Digital Chumps and Windows Central, highlighted control issues and unintuitive movement, which affected the overall gameplay experience. Overall, the consensus among the critics leans towards a mixed opinion of the gameplay in The Medium. While the unique dual-reality mechanic and well-designed puzzles were praised, there were concerns about the linearity, lack of freedom, and limited exploration. The gameplay was seen as familiar and formulaic by TheSixthAxis, IGN Italia, and Cubed3, with missed opportunities for more creative problem-solving, as stated by Finger Guns. The lack of combat and the focus on story rather than action were divisive aspects, as mentioned by Windows Central. However, the positive aspects, such as the engaging dual-reality gameplay and the inclusion of tense chase scenes, were seen as redeeming qualities by critics like GamingTrend and Twinfinite. Ultimately, the gameplay of The Medium presents a mixture of innovative ideas and missed opportunities, resulting in a gameplay experience that may appeal to some players while leaving others wanting more.

The majority of the critics praised the graphics and visual design of The Medium, highlighting various positive aspects of the game's visuals. AusGamers commends the game for its detailed locations, moody lighting, impressive HDR, and real-time ray-tracing, which contribute to a grounded and creepy atmosphere. IGN Spain also acknowledges the high level of visual quality, with well-designed spirits and environments inspired by Zdzisław Beksiński's paintings. Eurogamer Italy appreciates the well-crafted environments and atmosphere, while Game Revolution mentions the excellent combination of Soviet brutalism and haunting pastels in the game's aesthetics. However, there were some negative opinions regarding the graphics and visual design of The Medium. Games.cz criticizes the game for falling short of next-gen standards and experiencing technical issues such as frame rate drops, texture pop-in, and slow loading times. BaziCenter mentions that the game does not meet the standards of the new console generation in terms of environmental structure, texture quality, lighting, shadows, animations, and facial expressions. App Trigger and TrueAchievements also express disappointment in the character animations and facial movements, stating that they are lacking or leave something to be desired. Despite these negative opinions, the overall consensus of the critics is that the graphics and visual design of The Medium are very good. Critics such as Vandal, Shacknews, and Cultured Vultures appreciate the visually impressive environments and the unique dual-camera mechanic. IGN highlights the exceptionally well-realized real-world and spirit world environments, with the spirit world being particularly eerie and nightmarish. The Indie Game Website praises the game's aesthetics, describing them as second to none with lurid color schemes and mouldering constructions that effectively convey a sense of festering horrors. In conclusion, while there were some criticisms regarding technical issues and character animations, the majority of the critics praised the graphics and visual design of The Medium. The game's detailed environments, atmospheric lighting, and unique artistic inspirations, such as Zdzisław Beksiński's paintings and Soviet brutalism, were widely appreciated. The overall consensus suggests that The Medium successfully delivers visually stunning and immersive experiences, creating a haunting and eerie atmosphere that enhances the gameplay.

The Sound Design and Music of The Medium received predominantly positive reviews from the critics. Many critics praised the game's soundtrack, composed by Akira Yamaoka and Arkadiusz Reikowski, for its ability to enhance the horror experience and create a chilling atmosphere. The music was described as moody, thrilling, and haunting, with a mix of signature sounds that suited the locales and situations perfectly. The ambient soundtrack and eerie background music were also highlighted as well-implemented, amplifying the tension and adding to the overall immersion (GameByte, Finger Guns, Atomix). The collaboration with renowned composer Akira Yamaoka, known for his work on the Silent Hill series, was particularly praised, with critics mentioning that the soundtrack effectively complemented the visuals and contributed to the game's atmospheric experience (PlayStation Universe, Jeuxvideo.com, Eurogamer Italy). However, there were some criticisms regarding the Sound Design and Music of The Medium. Some critics felt that while the soundtrack was atmospheric, it lacked standout moments or memorable tracks (GamesRadar+, Vandal). The voice acting also received mixed reviews, with some critics mentioning that it lacked authenticity due to American actors voicing characters in a Polish setting (GAMINGbible). Additionally, there were occasional abrupt cuts in the sound mixing that broke immersion (App Trigger). Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the Sound Design and Music of The Medium were very good. The majority of the critics praised the haunting soundtrack, effective sound design, and immersive audio experience (GamePro Germany, TrueAchievements, Meristation). The collaboration with Akira Yamaoka was seen as a strong point, with his contributions adding to the game's atmosphere and enhancing the horror elements (GameByte, PlayStation Universe, PCGamesN). While there were some minor criticisms regarding the lack of standout moments in the soundtrack and occasional issues with sound mixing, the overall sentiment is that the Sound Design and Music of The Medium successfully contributed to the immersive and chilling experience of the game.

The voice acting in The Medium has received mostly positive reviews from critics. Many reviewers praised the performances of the voice actors, particularly Troy Baker, who voiced the main antagonist, The Maw. Critics such as App Trigger, BaziCenter, Hey Poor Player, and Softpedia specifically mentioned Troy Baker's exceptional performance, describing it as terrifying, phenomenal, unforgettable, and fitting. Kelly Burke, who voiced the protagonist Marianne, was also recognized for her standout performance by critics like Hey Poor Player, PlaySense, and XboxAddict. Mary Elizabeth McGlynn's performance was highlighted by COGconnected and VG247. Overall, the voice acting was commended for being effective, well-done, commendable, and adding to the immersive and unsettling atmosphere of the game. Despite the overall positive reception, there were some criticisms regarding the voice acting in The Medium. DualShockers and The Indie Game Website mentioned that the voice acting felt behind the times and lacked clear indication of threat or danger. Eurogamer Italy and Hardcore Gamer pointed out that the choice to use American actors in a Polish setting was questionable and broke immersion. Adventure Gamers expressed disappointment in Marianne's voice performance, stating that it remained consistently even-keeled, which detracted from the emotional impact of the game. Additionally, The Indie Game Website criticized the rage of certain characters, which became ripe for ridicule, and the main antagonist's threats, which started to lose meaning fairly quickly. Overall, the consensus among critics is that the voice acting in The Medium is a positive aspect of the game. The performances of Troy Baker, Kelly Burke, and Mary Elizabeth McGlynn were widely praised for their exceptional delivery and contribution to the immersive atmosphere. The voice acting was described as gripping, fantastic, solid, and top-notch by various critics. However, there were some criticisms regarding the choice of American actors in a Polish setting and certain aspects of character portrayal. Despite these criticisms, the majority of reviewers found the voice acting to be a strong element of The Medium, adding depth and authenticity to the characters and enhancing the overall experience of the game.

In terms of technical performance on Xbox Series X, the critics had mixed opinions. Games.cz mentioned frame rate drops, texture pop-in, and slow loading times as technical issues. Trusted Reviews also noted performance issues, stating that the dual realities sometimes proved too much for the hardware. However, Windows Central mentioned that while the game runs at around 35-40FPS, the slower pacing and fixed camera angles make the lower frame rate less noticeable. Twinfinite praised the exceptional presentation values with rare instances of camera stutter and graphical glitches. Overall, the Xbox Series X version of The Medium received positive feedback for its dynamic resolutions, consistent frame rate, and attention to detail (TierraGamer). On the other hand, the PlayStation 5 version of The Medium faced more criticism regarding technical performance. BaziCenter highlighted the split-screen mechanic showcasing two dimensions but leading to a decrease in image clarity. They also mentioned slow loading of textures and frame rate drops, indicating poor optimization for PS5 hardware. Digital Chumps mentioned relatively long loading screens, while LaPS4 noted that the loading times were not as optimized as the Xbox version. However, PlayStation Country praised the utilization of DualSense features, and GamingTrend described the game as an impressive technical product with no major glitches or technical issues. For PC, the critics reported various technical issues. CGMagazine mentioned graphical glitches, crashes, and the need to restart the game multiple times. DarkStation reported dialogue not playing and interactive hotspots becoming inactive, with a temporary solution being pausing and unpausing the game. PC Invasion noted instances of stuttering and slowdowns when checking notes and clues, as well as clunky controls and occasional audio issues. Jeuxvideo.com mentioned high-end hardware requirements for fully enjoying technical advantages such as ray-tracing and DLSS, but also highlighted the lack of technical execution. Cubed3 mentioned performance issues on older PC hardware, while Malditos Nerds praised the game's smooth performance and optimization on PC. Overall, the consensus among critics is that The Medium has technical flaws across all platforms. Issues such as frame rate drops, texture pop-in, slow loading times, and occasional glitches were commonly mentioned. However, there were also positive aspects highlighted, such as the game's impressive presentation values, attention to detail, and seamless transitions between scenes and realities. While the Xbox Series X version received more positive feedback for its dynamic resolutions and consistent frame rate, the PlayStation 5 version faced criticism for its lack of optimization. The PC version had mixed reviews, with some praising its smooth performance on recommended hardware, while others reported performance issues and the need for high-end hardware to fully enjoy certain features.

The opinions of the critics regarding the replay value of The Medium are quite varied. Some critics, such as Eurogamer Italy and PlayStation LifeStyle, mention the presence of collectibles and additional background information on characters, which can provide some incentive for players to replay the game. Eurogamer Italy also highlights the easy-to-obtain platinum trophy, appealing to trophy hunters. On the other hand, several critics, including COGconnected, Softpedia, and Game Revolution, express the view that The Medium lacks replay value. They mention factors such as limited gameplay, unsatisfactory ending, and repetitive gameplay as reasons why players may not feel compelled to replay the game. Digital Chumps also notes that the difficult subject matter may discourage replayability for some players. Overall, the consensus among the critics leans towards The Medium having limited replay value. Critics like Atomix, Comicbook.com, and GAMINGbible explicitly state that the game lacks replay value. Game Rant highlights the short duration of the game and the absence of a chapter select feature, which means players would have to replay the entire game to unlock all achievements and fully complete it. However, it is worth noting that there are some positive aspects mentioned by critics that may still attract players to replay The Medium. Critics like Critical Hit and Windows Central mention the potent atmosphere, compelling story, and mix of gameplay elements as factors that contribute to the game's replay value. The Escapist even mentions a reviewer who immediately restarted the campaign to experience all the narrative breadcrumbs with the newfound clarity of the ending in mind. In conclusion, while there are some positive aspects that may entice players to replay The Medium, such as its atmosphere and story, the majority of critics agree that the game lacks significant replay value. Factors such as limited gameplay, repetitive puzzles, and the absence of alternative paths or meaningful choices contribute to this sentiment. Players looking for a game with strong replayability may find The Medium to be lacking in that aspect.