First-person horror game SOMA has finally received the ‘Safe Mode’ patch for PS4.
The patch originally released on Xbox One and PC last year, and elimnates the threat of the game’s monsters.
Developer Frictional Games explains how it works:
SOMA Safe Mode Update Lands on PS4
It is a version of the game where you cannot die – you are safe from harm. The game's various creatures are still there, they just won't attack you. If you've heard of the SOMA Steam mod “Wuss Mode”, by steam user The Dreamer, then you should know the basic idea. The important thing to point out is that we don't simply turn off the creature's ability to attack and harm you. Instead, we've redesigned their behavior. Our goal has been for Safe Mode to not feel like a cheat, but for it to be a genuine way of experiencing the game. So we've considered what each creature should be doing, given their appearance, sound, and voice.
The game is still a horror game. However, since you can explore without a constant fear of failure, you will no longer have that type of tension. For people who aren't great at handling that aspect of horror gameplay, their journey through SOMA will be a lot easier in Safe Mode. But if it is the overall atmosphere that gets to you in a horror game – and, above all, the central themes – then game will still have plenty to be scared of.
All of the puzzles, events, and so forth are still there. The big difference is that you'll no longer have to sneak past enemies. You don't need stealth in order to complete the game. Monsters might sound and act more threatening if they spot you. So there is still an incentive to being careful, but it's no longer mandatory to keep hidden. This will also allow you to explore some of environments more carefully.
The game is set in an undersea installation, and deals in existential horrors.
SOMA’s monsters were a bone of contention for many, hence the existence of the original mod to remove them. The game has plenty of horror without the threat/annoyance of the creatures. So it’s a genuinely fantastic addition to SOMA, one that might get people to try it again.
We liked it anyway, with reviewer Garri Bagdasarov calling it ‘A tension-filled ride through madness’.