I was really impressed with the completely HUDless interface. Some have doubted that the Headfirst guys could produce a game that communicated all the relevant information without the need for overlays and meters and such. To an extent, the doubters are right. But Headfirst maintains, quite appropriately in this case, that concrete knowledge of things like health and sanity levels go against the effect they're trying to achieve.

The sanity effects are the best example of this. When you see a disturbing scene, you'll hear a few loud hearbeats as the screen blurs and starts to swim around. If it's not a particularly nasty sight, you'll quickly recover and be no worse for the wear. The range of effects is impressive and specifically tied to the type of encounter you're having. Stand on a high precipice and you'll get vertigo. Again, like with the horrific sights, you'll see the screen swim around a bit. The developers are adding even nastier effects as well. AUdio and visual hallucinations will begin to haunt you, keeping you on edge. Paranoia manifests as whispers all around you. The panic effect will increase the sensitivity of all your contorls until you calm down. Though your sanity can replenish at these save points, it will never quite reach the level you were at before you lost some of your sanity.