Weapons or no weapons in horror games?

[Cranky Old Man]

That would be a real challenge to those players who just want to go EVERYWHERE. Exploring the entire map would be impossible without dying several times. Not saying it's a bad idea, but the game would have to be a different sub-genre from what SOMA is, and the player needs to be aware of this. Putting small parts of the story around with notes wouldn't really work that way.

But of course I'd be very interested in seeing it done well, but with careful planning of the layout. If the hints are too obscure, they might just end up being annoying, if the player feels the game is too "trial and error"-y.

Yes, the hints need to be sensible. As it is now, the gameplay is set up in the OPPOSITE way: All the hints of death typically indicate where you're SUPPOSED to go.
...and yes, while I love to explore, horror is pretty much the opposite of exploration. You explore because you want to feel safe with your surroundings. You want to find cosy little corners in comfort zones to flee to, and routes to escape monsters from.

ANOTHER tactic that can prevent comfort zones, is if you're being CHASED by something. I had this idea for a gameplay style where the lights started going out behind you (and the darkness spelled death to something unknown) and you had no choice but to make your way into unknown LIT areas, at some kind of pace.