BUMP!
I recently, what's the term? came into possession? that'll have to do.
I recently came into possession of this, the PS2 version.
I guess that makes it...
Review time.
I don't think I've ever posted a review in the zone before, so feel free to criticize & tell me not to write another one ever again.
When the game boots up you see which divisions of Rockstar made this game, the majority of them being UK based.
The ban has gotta be a pretty big blow to the guys who coded & designed it.
Two levels of difficulty are on offer SANE and INSANE, i chose sane.
The opening cut scene sets the game up, they really wanted to call this "HORROR MOVIE: THE GAME".
Shakey-cam is in full effect, CCTV makes a few awkward appearances & it can be difficult at times to see what the hell is going on.
The first goal is to escape from the asylum the lead character was sent to.
Cue prison breakout-like scene you've seen 100 times before. But its a game, so you control it, so it lasts a lot longer than it should.
Death by syringe is what's on the menu for most of the asylum inhabitants you encounter. A pen is also on offer, should you lack the syringe.
You have to run around & press circle to activate a bunch of switches that open doors & start the elevator, it's not tough, but you have to stay in the shadows to avoid being spotted by staff & patients or they will try to kill you.
The fighting system appears to be recycled from GTA: SAN ANDREAS, you lock on & press the attack buttons to punch/stab. The character you are fighting will have a kinda hud like thing around them like they do in the GTA games, changing color from green to red depending on their health.
The first few save points are close together, but you'll need to use them often because your health disappears pretty quickly & the health pickups seem to be placed as far away from you as possible.
What the fuck am i doing? I'm supposed to be writing a review this, not a walkthru.
Alright, the characters are pretty one dimensional.
The locations - horror movie standards.
Now here's where all that media shit-storm comes in, the kills.
Killing lacks the cunning & precision of games like HITMANor the fun of the MORTAL KOMBAT series.
In short, it becomes boring very fast.
Environmental attacks are on offer, a nice concept, something games like SMACKDOWN VS RAW 2006/2007 and the more recent MORTAL KOMBAT games have tried out. You can also jump from heights onto a character you've locked onto.
The plot lacks the feeling of suspense or fear found in games like RESIDENT EVIL, NIGHTMARE CREATURES & SILENT HILL. As i said above, its the same tired shit that's played out in hundreds of horror movies in the past.
The graphics make the game look like it came out 4 years ago. The extra graininess they must have threw in to cover up the fact that PS2 launch titles were visually equal to this. They add nothing to the already tired feel of the game.
Sound is where this game picks up, there's a lot going on in the background, i suggest hooking the PS2 up to a 5.1 system to enjoy it. It's one of the best parts of the game. The sound tries so hard to draw you into the game & make you feel like this shit is happening to you. But as the sound draws you in, the visuals pull you back out.
If you're into this kind of game, it's fun in short bursts. Playing for hours & hours at a time kills the enjoyment.
6/10