Over the last week I’ve been enjoying the highly atmospheric and amazing sci-fi survival horror game Dead Space. I’ve only just started Chapter 5, and although I realise that by only getting this short distance into the game after several days of play constitutes a rather lacklustre game pace, in my defence I’d like to state that this is by far the most frightening game to ever grace my Xbox 360.
You see, I tend to shy away from any game that ever decides to call itself “survival horror” - the only exceptions to that rule being the Resident Evil series which I’ve managed to become acclimatised to over the years and now seems to have become more about survival rather than horror. Looking back on those early Resident Evil games on the PlayStation I’m amazed they ever managed to induce so much fear and tension. I wonder if in years to come when I look back on Dead Space will I view it in the same light when playing the latest and greatest horror game on the Xbox 1080 or PlayStation 5. Probably not, but apart from the obvious future improvements that will be made to the graphics it’s hard to imagine bettering the atmosphere.
Dead Space really does impress, and through the clever use of sound, vision, and story creates a frightening experience. The sound design is simply second to none - bangs and creaks made by a spaceship under duress overload your senses, blood curdling and disconcerting noises from freakish enemies induce fear, and intentionally uncomfortable music scores aim to heighten the tension. Lighting is also used to great effect with flickering lights and shadows of unknown creatures cast onto walls. And of course the game then delivers the coup-de-grace with the truly horrendous Necromorphs - abominations created and mutated from dead human flesh and bone.
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Posted in Diary, Xbox 360
Small alarm bells start ringing in my head when demo’s are released onto Xbox Live Marketplace after a game has already been released. The cynic in me wonders what the publishers are trying to hide and if it’s just an exercise in damage limitation so the game is at least guaranteed some sales before word gets out that it isn’t as good as the developer diaries and the previews showcased. However after playing through the available chapters in the Alone on the Dark demo the game wasn’t as bad as I was expecting.
The demo starts off impressively as the player partakes in an interactive cut scene whilst the character of Edward Carnby lies half unconscious on a bed unable to move but able to see and hear, and occasionally having to blink to stop his vision from becoming blurred. Eventually you’re led off to be taken “care of” by one of your unknown captors giving rise to your release from captivity once your escort falls foul of some unseen assailant and leaves you to free explore your surroundings.
Alone in the Dark has some good production values and the cut scenes shown throughout the demo have a very cinematic feel about them. Graphically it looks decent enough, the main character model is fine, if a little woodenly animated, but the environments all look great and the fire effects as the flames flicker and dance across flammable surfaces are excellent. Speaking of which, fire seems to be an integral game mechanic. Used not only as a hazard to impede your progress but it can also be turned to your advantage; Furniture can be used to create torches lighting darkened rooms, locked doors can be burnt down, but most importantly fire is the Achilles heel of the inhuman denizens of the game.
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Posted in Demos, Impressions, Xbox 360
