I really thought that the years where I had to check my closet multiple times before rocketing into bed out of fear were behind me. I never imagined I would feel an overwhelming need to cuddle in between my parents in the middle of the night as a senior in high school. But I suppose “P.T.” has brought out the child in me.

And before you ask, no, it’s not a form of paranoid schizophrenia. And no, it’s not an illegal hallucinogen I’m experimenting with. “P.T.” is the most terrifying video game I have played to date, and that’s what makes it so amazing.

 “P.T.” stands for “Playable Trailer,” but you wouldn’t really know that without doing some research first. The game doesn’t have a description in the PlayStation Store, and because its download is only available to those who own a PS4, you have to play to the conclusion or search online to find what it actually is: A sneak-peek for the new survival horror game in the “Silent Hill”  series, “Silent Hills,”  which has yet to begin its main development and is still seeking investors. Kojima Productions will take the lead in development, with expert gaming director Hideo Kojima at the helm.

 This interactive teaser may as well be a game all in itself, providing players with over three hours of gameplay that intrigues, chills, and makes your hair stand on end. It should be noted that this game is not for the faint of heart. If players dislike the horror genre, or have general problems with jump scares or anxiety, I recommend they not play this game. I am an avid fan of horror media and consider myself fairly desensitized to the normal psychological effects of the genre; this game gave me some sleeping problems for a good two weeks.

 Starting off, the game seems pretty straightforward. You walk through one door, through a hallway, turn, then go through another door. Once you’re through, the process repeats. Over and over again. Simple, right?

 Of course not. It’s never that simple.

 Each time you pass through, something changes. There’s something you have to pick out or notice. Subtle variations or slight oddities you must pick up on in order to progress normally. For those of you goal-oriented people, this game can be extremely frustrating. And of course, there’s a good amount of classic jump scares, shadows, and dark lighting. In order to make it through to the end of the game, you have to maintain high perception skills to notice subtle hints or clues while trying your hardest not cry out of fear. Needless to say, if you are a goal-oriented person, or enjoy simple directions, this process could take a while. But the core mechanics of the game are not what make it so terrifying.

 What ends up bringing you over the edge is the fact that “P.T.” is crafted in a way that makes each one of your senses experience something that is extremely terrifying. Sometimes one at a time, and sometimes all at once, but the underlying variations are what give you the “cover your head with the covers” feeling.

 The visuals are gorgeous. But not in the typical sense of the word. The too-realistic  changing lighting and flawless shadow rendering give an eerie sense of reality while you press forward, which only builds the intensity as you turn a corner or check behind you. And the imagery that was chosen is even more scary because of this. Basically, the game becomes a whole new level of scary because of just how realistic everything you see looks.

 The audio quality is also extremely well developed, and adds another layer of depth to the game. It’s not only the sounds of scuttling cockroaches or infants wailing that put you on edge; the music (if it can truly be called music) that plays in the background, which consists of off-key, quiet, screeching violin chords, is enough to make any intense situation so much more terrifying. Above all else, it’s just unsettling, and you never feel safe while it’s playing. It was obviously the goal of Kojima to make you feel like you’re in the middle of something supernatural, and the combination of the music with other audio elements expertly achieves the desired reaction.

 Yes, “P.T.” is a terrifying game. And that’s exactly what makes it such a masterpiece for the horror genre. If you enjoy being scared out of your mind, and don’t mind having a renewed fear of what lurks under your bed for a while, this is a gaming experience you cannot afford miss out on. Just don’t complain when you have to start sleeping with the lights on.

by CARSEN VAN DER LINDEN