A scaredy cat's guide to getting through SOMA

Are you an absolute scaredy cat, can't get through horror movies without covering your eyes, but want to try and get through SOMA? Welcome to this guide that'll make the process as nice as possible.

Background info

Here's some quick info about me to better understand why I am even bothering to make this guide.

• In my entire life I have never finished one (1) horror movie start to finish watching the entire thing; I've always either not watched the film or left at certain parts because they were too scary for me.
  
• I have a favourite horror game which is Amnesia the Dark Descent closely followed by Outlast.
  
• I have finished neither of my favourite horror games because I get too scared.
  
• I am, in all senses of the word, a scaredy cat.
  
• SOMA may be the first horror game I'll finish!

So I'm making this guide to help people who also, like me, may be scaredy cats because some of the greatest stories come from horror games and franchises and I'd hate for you to miss out like I've been missing out.

Things to try

I'd like to start off by making something clear:

Being scared is ok! It's your bodies natural response and is nothing to be ashamed of!

Everyone handles their fear different in the same way that people have different things they are scared of. The fact that some people, including myself, try to push through that fear is admirable so congratulations if you're one of those people!

Now, here is what you can do if you're a scaredy cat like me and don't think you can handle the pressure of a horror game.

Breathing

Deep breaths are very important. Give yourself a chance to calm down, lower your heart rate and recoup. Remember: if you stop breathing you die and that's not good.

Pause the Game

Has something downright scared the life out of you and you want to quit? Don't! Instead pause the game, alt tab for a moment and give yourself a chance to recover. No one said you had to do the entire game in one sitting or that you couldn't pause it. Take the game at your own pace and pause as many times as you need.

Let yourself die [ingame]

Now this option is arguably the easiest and worst thing you could do to yourself. The act of dying, in the game I must clarify, is what usually scares you the most outside of jumpscares. You're scared of not knowing what will happen, and therefore the only way to solve that mystery is to die.

A terrifying thought obviously, and possibly not even an option early on or on certain difficulties, but as the full saying goes:

Curiosity killed the cat but closure brought it back

Play music

Now this is one I actually wouldn't recommend but if you feel the need then go for it.

A large part of what makes horror games, especially psychological horror games like SOMA, scary is their use of audio effects and sounds.

Take for example this sound:

Without the soundtrack going on, or the sound effects to go with it, the game is a lot less scary. So, if you must, turn off the music OR put on your own playlist louder than the in-game audio.

I'd highly recommend something that relaxes you not doof doof but to each their own.

Closing Notes

Good luck my fellow scaredy cats; I believe in you!

[mai]

hell yeah

[dsyelxic]

hell yeah

[rat]

hell yeah

[Swag Messiah]

hell yeah

[rat]

Glad you found it helpful! I’m a fan of expressions and phrases so “scaredy cat” is definitely a go-to of mine (in writing)

[DaisyComment]

Hey this is my first time seeing the expression Scaredy Cat (not a English native speaker myself), but I guess I'm one of them too! I dislike sceepy movies and games but SOMA has a great story that lured me there XD. And yes your advice are quite helpful. It's really okay to just stare at the floor and let urself be killed by the monsters.

[rat]

Horror movies are definitely a huge help! Getting used to the tense associated with horror and terror really allows you to develop a thicker skin, so to speak, and adapt to anything

[cadmon404]

I highly recommend that you do watch horror movies. That nerve will eventually burn out of you. I used to be scared of them too, I'm now through 300 horror movies and I literally cannot be scared anymore.

[rat]

Let it turn into spite as blind anger will cloud your judgement and prevent you from making clear rational decisions crucial to the completion of the game

[Rice]

Replace fear with anger and you're good