We could debate the merits of Frictional Games’ Amnesia: The Dark Descent a decade after its launch. What’s more interesting at the moment is what the game could have been, as the developer has shared “lesser known facts” about the game on Twitter, from its monsters to the decision to exclude weapons from the game itself.

For starters, the monster known as The Grunt, with its sagging skin and melted face, wasn’t the original idea for the game. Rather, the original monster designs consisted of plant-human hybrids with names like Puking Baby-Plant and Flower-man. Not quite as attractive as the fungus-human hybrids of The Last of Us.

Initially, monsters in Amnesia: TDD were meant to be disgusting plant-human hybrids.

Some idea were:
– Fish-face
– Headless brute
– Puking baby-plant
– Flower-man#Amnesia10Years pic.twitter.com/LAEX1mERq4

— frictionalgames (@frictionalgames) September 8, 2020

During the game, the protagonist meets up with Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa, who is based on the real 15th century occultist. Agrippa wasn’t the only historical figure Frictional planned to adapt into the game, as there were a few historical figures it considered putting in the story. Alchemists like Nicolas Flamel, Geber and the Count of St. Germain were also considered, and even Jesus himself? That would have been “interesting”, to say the least.

Historical figures that were considered for Amnesia: TDD:s story:

– Nicolas Flamel
– Geber
– Count of St. Germain
– Jesus#Amnesia10Years

— frictionalgames (@frictionalgames) September 8, 2020

Then there comes the weapons. Admittedly, the use of weapons would have drastically changed Amnesia for the worse, since fear is a big factor in the game. But it turns out that a flintlock pistol was among the list of planned features. Ammo scarcity would have been one thing, but the fear wouldn’t be the same if you had something as a last resort to use against the monsters. There are other things that Frictional dropped on Twitter, including the idea of using potions to restore sanity, inventory potion mixing, bags of coins, bombs to remove walls, and even trampolines.

Frictional also cut some environments, including a greenhouse (which would’ve made sense if they stuck with the plant-human monsters) and a dissection lab.

If, for whatever reason, you haven’t experienced Amnesia, you can grab it on Steam, PlayStation 4, Xbox One or Nintendo Switch.

Two environments for Amnesia: TDD that never made it into the game:
* Greenhouse
* Dissection Lab pic.twitter.com/KlonlFCZhn

— frictionalgames (@frictionalgames) September 8, 2020