My hope for the survival horror genre has been exponentially revived. This is without a doubt, one of the most inspired games I've played, and I don't praise often.

One rule of thumb I like to test is have my 1st playthrough on the hardest difficulty, because it exposes how solid the mechanics are when they're pushed to the limit; and to this fact- I truly believe Survival is the intended difficulty to experience the game. The puzzles are engaging and can be completed without guides. One of the few times I actually had to grab my scratch-pad and start cataloging information I deemed important; the payoff I got from being able to pick up on signals the game was giving and being able to solve puzzles brought me back to my youth, making maps for metroid, resident evil, and silent hill on graph paper.

To not belabor the point- This game is engaging and the most fun I've had in years after hanging on every horror-related release, only to be met with disappointment time and time again. This is the survival horror game you were waiting for.