Of course, as in all survival/horror games, the player will find things along the way to help them. Often a character will start without any weapon whatsoever. Finding one is a high priority. Other items will help the player distract shibito, open gates and doors, and just generally make progressing in the game easier.

Graphics and sound combine wonderfully to make Siren a deeply atmospheric game. There is a lot of fog and shadows, and everything has a kind of grainy feel like you’re watching a homemade video of the proceedings. The character models are well detailed and animated and their dialogue is not delivered in a too overly dramatic style. The creep-out factor is high as shibito go through their incomprehensible movements, mutterings and heavy breathing.

Control over the characters’ actions are well handled by the standard controller and become very intuitive after only a mission or two. While action does stop rather abruptly as the player opens menus to take actions, it seems to be a necessary evil when you’re dealing with an inventory of items.

Siren is a game that can be frustrating at times due to its unforgiving missions, but the things that done well – sightjacking, the non-linear story, and a really nice presentation – save this title from mediocrity. It is definitely a “must-try” for any survival/horror fan.