Among Us! review

If you've been immersed in the gaming world in recent years, chances are you've heard about the addictive multiplayer game Among Us. With simple graphics and an innovative premise, Among Us has managed to take the online gaming world by storm, captivating millions of players globally. Developed and published by American game studio InnerSloth, Among Us was first launched in 2018 but saw a sudden rise in popularity in 2020. The heart of its attraction lies in its addictive gameplay, a blend of mystery, strategy, and competition. The game presents an intriguing backdrop of a spaceship and engrosses players in a thrilling game of deceit that tests their communication, deduction, and persuasive skills.

Unraveling the Gameplay

Among Us is essentially a game of survival and deception that can be played with 4-10 players. The players take on the role of Crewmates or Impostors aboard a spaceship heading towards an unknown destination. The objective varies according to the roles assumed.

Diving deeper into the gameplay of Among Us, the game begins with players finding themselves aboard a spaceship, a headquarters, or a planet base. Each player is randomly assigned a role as a Crewmate or an Impostor. The division of roles is anonymous, and it forms the essence of the gameplay.

Crewmates are given a variety of tasks to complete around the map. These tasks vary from electrical fixes, fuel refilling, data upload, and calibrating systems to flipping switches. Completing these tasks fills up a progress bar and ultimately ensures crewmates' victory when filled entirely. Crewmates also possess tools to gather information. They can monitor security footage, check admin tables for the location of other players, or trace life signs with the medical scanner. The inherent risk in these tasks is that they can make the Crewmate vulnerable to an attack from the Impostor.

Alternatively, Impostors start with a distinct advantage of knowing who the other Impostors, if any, are. They have a slightly different visual perspective, being capable of seeing further in the dark and noticing hidden vents that they can use to swiftly traverse the map. Impostors have the primary job of blending in with the Crewmates while covertly removing them. This involves mimicking tasks - as they can't complete any - and finding opportunities to eliminate Crewmates without being detected. As an additional tool, Impostors can sabotage certain aspects of the map, causing malfunctions that Crewmates must quickly resolve or face defeat.

When a dead body is reported, or the emergency meeting button is pressed, the game transitions to the Discussion phase. During this time, players share their findings, discuss suspicions, and strategize the next moves. Each player can then vote for someone they suspect to be an Impostor or opt to skip if there's not enough evidence. The player with the most votes is ejected from the spaceship, and their role is revealed. After the verdict, the remaining players proceed to the next round with the same objectives until the Crewmates complete all tasks, eject all Impostors, or the Impostors outnumber the remaining crew. This cyclical gameplay structure provokes a sense of excitement, suspense, betrayal, and mind-gaming strategy throughout the play.

Despite its enormous popularity, Among Us does fall short in certain areas. The game relies heavily on communication among players, making the gameplay significantly less engaging when played with random strangers online rather than friends. Furthermore, the repetitive nature of tasks can sometimes make the gameplay monotonous over an extended period.

Navigating the Stars of User Impressions

Among Us has left a major footprint in the gaming community, with users appreciating the simple yet deep gameplay that keeps them coming back for more. The suspense and thrill of not knowing who to trust, coupled with the exhilaration of revealing the true Impostor, found resonance among global players.

Critiques exist centering around monotonous tasks and weaker gameplay with strangers, but the overall consensus remains largely positive. Many users have touted Among Us as a perfect party game, strengthening its reputation as a top-tier social deduction game.

Pros

• Fun and interactive gameplay promoting communication and teamwork;
• The suspenseful element of deception adds to the thrill;
• Vibrant, cartoonish visuals appealing to a wide range of players;
• The game is regularly updated;

Cons

• The gameplay may become repetitive over time;
• Playing with strangers online may reduce the interactive experience;
• Limited map variety and task design.