A (not so)New Nightmare on Gameboy Color

It’s not often that the Gameboy color got a decent survival horror game on it. I’ve only played a couple of them and most of them were just too clunky for me. I always remember how fun it was playing Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare on my Gameboy though and this last week, I decided to dig it out and give it another shot. I knew it wouldn’t hold up quite as well as I hoped, but I was still looking for another enjoyable romp into the world of Edward Carnby, the paranormal private investigator.

Alone in the Dark: New Nightmare Is clearly a port of the game available on the PC and PS2. It features the same plot, the same locations and many of the same weapons and items. The game is very much the same but of course, there are some substantial changes to how it is played because the Gameboy color is not capable of very much. New Nightmare does manage to push the envelope for the small, portable console. The pre-rendered backgrounds are all very detailed and nice to look at. They provide a great amount of atmosphere to a game that relies on it. There are all sorts of blood stains on the walls, fog drifting over haunting mountainsides and pale, worn interiors that look as if they are inhabited by ghouls. It’s very nice to look at and while the character models don’t look nearly as nice, they serve their purpose. Faces are very non-descript and some of the monsters are pretty cheaply modeled but that’s just the price you’ll have to pay for playing it on the Gameboy color.

Luckily, when you are in a combat scenario it becomes significantly easier to make out everything because you get a top down view. It’s dark and still fairly atmospheric but the graphics are obviously changed to be more functional and less atmospheric. This way combat isn’t a total bear. Of course, combat is still a bit wonky. It is a bit difficult to aim at times but once you get used to walking to a position that allows you to fire in a straight line, it really isn’t so bad. The fights are fun, the weapons are varied and enjoyable. Sadly, there isn’t much of a variety of monsters for you to fight but that’s also not really the focus of the game. If you are looking for a great top down shooter, then don’t look at the New Nightmare.

Moving around the side of the mountains, the dark grounds of the mansion you explore and the other locations the game spits at you isn’t very difficult. You can clearly see your character in relation to the scene you are in. Unfortunately, it can be easy to get lost at times. The screen will wipe from one scene to another, much like other early survival horror games, only on the Gameboy color it can get disorienting. It can be bewildering when you exit one scene and are faced with another and a new camera angle. Once you get used to the layout of the primary locales it isn’t so bad though. I did find myself a bit frustrated when I found a key and couldn’t find my way back to the door I believed it went to, but I never was frustrated to the point of quitting either.

The puzzles are actually pretty solid. Some of them are fairly difficult however most of them you’ll have solved fairly quickly. I can only recall a couple times when I was sitting on a puzzle for more than 15-20 minutes. It’s not a very challenging game but there are quite a few puzzles.

Sound definitely isn’t a high point for the game, but I think that’s mostly due to the Gameboy’s hardware. I don’t recall many Gameboy games that had music that blew my mind. Most of the sounds you’ll hear are just ambient or in the background. Most of them are easily identifiable and indicate doors being opened or closed, footsteps, or howls. They serve their purpose but aren’t great by any means. The music is fun in a cheesy b-movie sort of way.

I really enjoyed playing through this game. I think, if you have the heart to truck through an older Gameboy game, you’ll enjoy it too. I’ll probably play Resident Evil on the Gameboy color next as I don’t think I ever did touch that one.

Below is a link to an emulator for GBC and the rom for Alone in the Dark: New Nightmare. I’ve heard it’s a bit harder to play it on a rom but if you don’t already own a Gameboy color it’s here for you to try.

Advance Boy Emulator

Alone in the Dark: New Nightmare GBC Rom

Deadly Premonition: Director's Cut

Deadly Premonition came out a few years back as a budget title on the Xbox 360. If you liked survival horror, hopefully you didn’t miss it. It’s one of the strangest games out there and this has caused a large amount of controversy around the game. Some people hated its controls, which could at times be clunky, some people hated the graphics, and some people thought it was just too weird but others found all these things to be charming. The game has strange minigames, awkward dialogue, a crazy plot and a lot of atmosphere. Its most often compared to Twin Peaks, which is a great description because that show also had people lying on either side of the coin. If you want a unique and different survival horror experience though, you’ll be hard pressed to find something better than Deadly Premonition. Now it’s available in an updated format on the PlayStation 3.

The new graphics in the Director’s Cut edition are nice. Some people have complained that they are too vibrant and not as muddy and atmospheric as the old ones. I still prefer the update just because everything feels clearer. The controls have also been adjusted and now gameplay is much less clunky. The combat has been balanced and now the game is faster paced overall. It’s basically gotten a large patch but other than that, the director’s cut doesn’t offer much.

           

Deadly Premonition is not a game for everyone. This new version offers little more than a large patch though, so if you already own the original and don’t feel like paying 40 dollars for what’s listed above you might want to wait for a sequel, god willing. Frame rate issues have been reported as well. So far, I am lucky enough not to have had an issue in many areas.

Deadly Premonition is still the same strange game that it always was and that’s why it’s worth owning. There’s no game that has been so funny, scary, surreal and dreamlike while still being functional and completely playable. Deadly Premonition is an odd chapter in the survival horror genre. Its Silent Hill meets Twin Peaks and it’s a boat load of fun.

Below is a link to Deadly Premonition: Director’s cut on Amazon, as well as the main website. It’s only available on PS3 at the moment. You can still purchase the original on the Xbox 360.

Deadly Premonition: Director's cut on PS3

Deadly Premonition Main Website

Don't Starve

This game is not much of a horror game, but it can be scary and it is all about survival. Don’t Starve puts you alone on a small plot of land where you have one goal, survive! You’ll be tossed out into the randomly generated environment and then will have to start searching for materials to build better equipment and then use that equipment to build better things and get access to more materials. As time goes on you’ll have to battle various strange monsters, the elements and a slew of crazy events that can change the way your world functions.  This is made even more thrilling by the fact that Don’t Starve has perma-death.

Playing Don’t Starve is very easy. The game can be completely played with a mouse or you can use keyboard shortcuts to move around as well. It plays like many top down action RPG’s only this one is a bit slower paced. You click to whack at enemies or trees. You click to run. You click to do just about everything but the game itself is quite difficult. Definitely one of those “easy to pick up, difficult to master” situations, Don’t Starve will have you learning something every time you play for quite a while.

Don’t Starve is a game about discovery and survival. You’ll benefit from not looking up all the answers because this game can be very rewarding as you learn to play it. At first you’ll get wood and be able to make some basic tools. Then you’ll probably end up dying! Next time you’ll know how to make a trap. Next time you’ll have suits of armor. Eventually you might even make it through the harsh winters and the strange monsters that come along with them!  It’s a very difficult game but it’s a lot of fun to play through.

The art style in Don’t Starve is one of the biggest eye catchers in the game. It reminds me of the paper cutout graphics in Paper Mario mixed with a Tim Burton film. It also looks quite aged and has the look of an old timey film reel. It’s very charming and many of the figures, friendly and not, manage to be charming and also a bit unsettling at the same time. Everything is easy to identify though and there’s something fun and cheeky about the way the environments and the monsters inhabiting them come across.

Don’t Starve is a very good game. It is very unique and manages to be one of the only true “survival” games to come out in recent years. It’s like that famous “first night” in Minecraft only this time it’s going to be seasons long. The only issue I would say I have with the game is that after you master part of it, it can become a bit of a chore. Dying, starting over and making the same equipment again and again can get monotonous. The randomly generated levels do help but it is also not enough of a change most the time. Stick it out though, because Don’t Starve has many more surprises up its sleeves for you. Just don’t Google them and ruin them for yourself!

Below is a link to the Don't Starve website, Steam Page and GoG Page. It is available on PC, Mac and Linux.

Don't Starve Homepage

Don't Starve - Steam Page

Don't Starve - GoG Page

Ascii a zombie! Cataclysm - Roguelike Survival Horror

Not everyone will enjoy this game. While roguelikes have become more approachable in recent years due to modern graphics and simpler user interfaces, Cataclysm remains a bit of a struggle to get used to. The graphics are very simple and while there are some tiles available for it, they are very basic. The controls aren't very intuitive to anyone who hasn't played roguelikes before. The game is a struggle and you will die frequently. It is a bit hard to get into if you haven't dipped into this genre before. 

If you can get by the roguelike learning curve though, you'll find that Cataclysm has many features that survival horror fans have longed for in the past. The setting is a zombie apocalypse and the game is completely built around surviving it.

Cataclysm starts up in a small window that can't be made any larger.

This image alone should tell you this game is not made for the bulk of us out there. You start off creating a character or choosing from a preset. You can adjust your strength, dexterity, intelligence and perception. These skills will affect your health, your vision and your relation to objects and other NPCs in the game. 

After picking your stats you'll be asked to select traits. There are both good and bad traits. Good ones range from being a fast learner, a pack mule, a fast reader or a light eater to being fast, optimistic or stronger when you are drunk. The negative traits range from having a weak jaw or poor hearing to being an insomniac and having a bad back. Picking negative traits get you points to buy positive ones and slowly you'll develop your own favorite sets of traits to use.

Now you’re placed into a building. There’ll be a basement for you to check for items. There’ll be a person you can talk to and accept a quest from if you have the right skills to do so. Other than that you are on your own. You’ll have a procedurally generated city to explore. You can smash windows and break into buildings but watch out, there’ll be security droids and zombies after you. You’ll find shops offering weapons, food, clothing and more. You’ll find houses to explore spanning different floors and sizes. You’ll find mansions, laboratories, deserts, monsters, caves and more. The world is huge and a blast to explore. You better start exploring fast though because as the days pass there is less for you to loot. You’ll have to scavenge and start finding a way to survive if you are going to last more than a week.

The late game in Cataclysm can be extremely difficult if you aren’t prepared but remember, you’ll never win. There is no winning in Cataclysm. Just try to live longer than the previous game you played. Play the game smart and you’ll be able to last longer and see even more of the things it has to offer. 

The game is a lot of fun for fans of roguelikes and survival horror. The only issue with it is that it is very much a roguelike. Some of the mechanics are juts brutal. You’ll be bleeding, you’ll be hurting, creatures will often move faster than you. You’ll have to get used to press a series of keys in order to do certain things. Pressing one button to open a menu to three other buttons that then branch out to various commands is extremely common. It’s not a big deal since the game is turn based but it can be very overwhelming. You’ll also be moving with the numpad which can take some getting used to. The vehicles in the game are also extremely clunky, which is a shame because they can be difficult to get working. If you are willing to deal with the small screen and these quirks then a great survival horror roguelike awaits you!

Here is an example of the tilesets available for Cataclysm.

Below is a link to the Cataclysm site, Deons mod page for the tile-set, and the Cataclysm thread on the Bay12 forums

http://whalesdev.com/

http://deonmod.webs.com/

http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=87501.0

Survival Horror Story: Catequesis

Love it or hate it, 8 bit graphics have made a huge comeback and some of the games utilizing this style are going to be damn good. The latest one to catch my eye is Survival Horror Story: Catequesis. The developers say they chose the title because "Catquesis is the Spanish word for 'catechesis,' which in the Catholic religion is education in the faith and doctrine. So imagine how interesting the catechesis can be in a different, horrible, and hideous new religion." So, they are off to a great start!

The graphics of the game are very retro but the artwork is fantastic and very reminiscent of the original Clock Tower game. It is a mix of classic horror stropes, cute 8 bit characters, bloody disfigured monsters and both Eastern and Western horror films. The creators have drawn inspiration from surreal body, "body horror" filmmakers such as David Cronenberg and David Lynch, as well as Japanese films such as Ju-On and Ringu. This is match made in heaven in my opinion and it is just looking great so far!

I guess this brings me to my only worry so far. There just isn't that much to go on. The gameplay is described and briefly seen but not enough to really get a feel for it. It is described as a mix between Legend of Zelda and Silent Hill, which sounds very playable and fun. I'd still like to see more gameplay before getting to hyped. Despite that, I can't help but get a bit excited.

The game is currently in the works for Ouya, Android, Linux and a Steam greenlight page is supposed to be coming soon! Below are links to the game's home page and an interview the developers did with Joystiq! Enjoy!

Catequesis Website
Joystiq Interview

Realms of the Haunting - Classic FPS Horror Adventure

After recently beating System Shock 2 again, I decided to give the original a shot. I’m still playing it and enjoying it but it is very difficult to approach. The techno style lettering, the confusing layouts, the difficult to read map and everything else in the game is showing its age. The gameplay though is still extremely fun and it caused me to remember another game from when I was growing up, Realms of the Haunting. This game combined the adventurous spirit of a point and click game with a first person shooter. It plays a lot like System Shock 1 only the maps make more sense to me, the storyline is more of a horror tale and the game holds up a bit better. It’s a great experience that can be owned for just a few dollars on GoG, so please; let me tell you why you should break out the debit card.

If that image alone doesn’t win you over then … well don’t worry there’s more.

Realms of the Haunting has you playing Adam Randall, the son of a village priest. He receives a note from his late father and returns home to investigate the strange occurrence that lead to his death. As he starts to journey through the house, he starts to face off against various monsters and meets a strange psychic woman who wants to help him solve the mystery and escape the house. Soon they travel through portals to different universes.

As the story goes on you find out you’re the chosen one and have to face off against all sorts of forces, both good and evil, in order to save the world. The plot is actually quite good! It can become a tad convoluted at times but for the most part you always know where you are and why you are doing what you’re doing. It’s better than most games out there and there are tons of full-motion videos that push the narrative along.

While the game itself doesn’t play like a traditional survival horror and more like a mix between Deus Ex, Quake and classic point and click games, it does offer a lot of horror elements into the game and you are legitimately afraid of many of the enemies. It is not just a monster grind, these are legitimate foes that you are facing off against.

The point and click nature of the game also allows you to tackle some decent puzzles. While many of them are “find the key to this door” missions, there are quite a few that push the boundaries and make you stop and think. I enjoyed solving them quite a bit and while some seemed far more difficult than others I was able to beat them all without getting frustrated and going online.

The atmosphere in this game is incredible. Gothic torches lighting dark pathways in one world while another is full of lava, flames and floating demons. The house itself is sprawling, haunting and fun to explore. The game looks nice and gives you a wide range of creepy locations to trudge through. It’s also very long! There’s absolutely no reason not to give it a shot.

Below are links to the trailer for the game and the GoG page. Enjoy!

The Trailer

The GoG Page

Pathologic! It's now on GoG!

It’s been a while since I struggled through this game but I’ve had to pounce back on top of it lately. The release on GoG has made Pathologic more approachable than ever before. While the translation fan patch was sadly put on hiatus, the game itself is still very approachable. In fact, if you value true horror in a video game, and I imagine you do, then the awkward language might even make the game more atmospheric. It conveys the feeling of being trapped in a foreign land and it is not a nice feeling to deal with when surviving such horrific circumstances.

            

Pathologic is a first person survival horror game that forces you into a desolate, dustbowl-esque land filled with people who will probably hate you. You’ll have try to find a cure for a horrible disease that is wiping out the members of this town while completing quests and struggling to find food, ammo, medical supplies and more. It is extremely difficult and just surviving is always one of the main goals. The town itself feels like it is dying and the residents certainly don’t help its case much.

The game won many awards but sadly, it was never given a proper release in North America. The translations are poor and widescreen resolutions weren’t very well supported. Luckily, with its recent release on GoG, there is more of a chance for you to play it now than ever before. There’s also a fan patch that makes the game run great on larger, wide screen resolutions. Below is a link to both of these things so please, check it out. Survival horror fans will not be disappointed.

Pathologic on GoG - $9.99

Widescreen Patch for Pathologic