What the words "survival horror" are all about. A visceral take on the genre, and the most interactive combat
STORY: I'll spare you the details of the main character Ethan Thomas but basically he's a cop who looks chunkier than most and has a tendency to have visions. This is not fully explained but it won't be bugging your mind too much. You're on the case of the Matchmaker who leaves mannequins with scars on them. After that, the bad guy takes your gun away and uses it to shoot two officers you were working with. You're now implicated of murder, so are on the run but do get help from a female colleague (chubby herself) and a weird guy who knows things about you and your psych profile. The story is very strong and feels like a murder mystery movie and borrows heavily from Se7en to give one of the biggest scares in gaming history. Things get crazier and the end is a huge cliffhanger. You'll be scratching your head and then end up with the realisation that it was going to happen since day one, so might as well not scratch below the surface.
The story is great, and is very engaging. You want to find out what's up with the Matchmaker and who's that crazy chain-jaw ninja nunchuk guy that pops in randomly. There are some big twists towards the end which you wouldn't expect in a game. It makes the game feel more like a film, and so for a horror game, that's a great achievement.
Combat: This is the one aspect everyone should play this right now. The enemies are some of the finest, most unpredictable people you'll face off with. Their animations are just superb, there are many instances where you think you're not fighting a piece of 3D code but an actual enemy that is intelligent and human himself. Since the game is all about survival horror in its truest form, and you never have a gun (you do, but they won't do jack with 2 bullets), so you're left with a handy taser gun and a flashlight. This is the most original take on the first-person genre in which you pick up weapons from the environment. You literally grab a pipe from a wall, or a conduit, or even a locker door! The first time you fight with a crazy hobo thug with a pipe, it's invigorating. The combat feels organic, and the animations are impeccable. The best thing about combat is you have to time your blocks. This leads to real skill and it's very satisfying to get that perfect block, have the hobo swagger back from the impact, then whack him over the head in one brutal go. There is the taser gun which you can use to make an enemy stay far away from you, or if you're smart use it before going for a one-hit kill with a sledgehammer. It lasts for a short time, enough for you to There are no words to describe how awesome the fighting feels. Especially when you get hit in the face and you get that red shiner across the screen as you die, in slow-motion. It's like a bad hangover.
AI: The most logical aspect to go over after combat is AI. The enemy AI is very diverse, and will give you a lot of surprises for the 1st few hours. As soon as you notice that enemies are hiding and only come out when you're very near, you'll be taken back and try to adjust your mindset around this game. Once you've mastered timing your blocks, and using the right weapons, it feels very satisfying after defeating a thug. There are different thugs throughout the levels, about 8 or less. Each has their own characteristics: thin, crawling emo-esque guys walk up a wall, jump off and attack you quickly; the hobo is almost pathetic, relying on trying to get the best weapon in the area and are easy to subdue; big dudes with angry faces really go all out for you and know how to fake hits disturbingly well, mutated women are ugly and easy enough for you to show off your chauvinist views, and guys with pickaxes are to be avoided. The bosses are few and far between, and with people like the butcher who gives such a very scary first impression, you want more. The battles are more rinse-and-repeat but damn if it doesn't feel satisfying to maim a 20-stone, fat as hell school lunchlady. After you beat the pulp of a baddie enough, you can get right up and close to their gruesome and highly detailed faces by going for a fatality. These opportunities are not to be missed and there are enough options for you to salvage over. If there's a guy who gave you a bad time, twist his neck for an excruciating and awesome sound effect. Shove a guy if you want them over in a second, and your character huffing obscenities. This fatality mechanic is first awesome if you want to see the detail on the face of the scar-ridden baddie, and second to really give everything you got in your gaming anger. If you're ever sad/bored after a day of work, play this game and let out our anger!
Sometimes enemies have fights with other enemies, and these are entertaining to watch but then you're left fighting the toughest guy by yourself! Don't get too close and see the brilliant AI at work. WEAPONS: For a game with no guns, you'd be surprised with the variety of melee weapons. There are pipes, conduits, sledgehammers, locker doors, 2x4 pieces of wood with nails, and a 2x4 ON FIRE! Each weapon has their advantages and disadvantages. Understanding each one's property is crucial at certain parts where if you're fighting a big guy, you want a faster weapon. The all-around weapon to acquire is the conduit and the most powerful is the sledgehammer. The slowest weapon is the locker door and this obstructs 3/4th of your screen, so use wisely. SOUND: It's immersive and atmospheric. The main reason why this game is so scary is the sounds. If a baddie is hiding behind a pillar, waiting for you, and when he pops out screaming to hammer you over the head with a pipe, there's no measure to how greatly this moment is heightened with sound. Guns sound awesome, and they're a luxury in this game. Bones crunch, you can hear enemies screaming in the distance, pickaxe a door to break it down, lights go out. The game is very atmospheric, it gives another level of depth alongside the immersive combat. There are some scenes that are only scary with the sound and so the game excels in this area. Everything sounds clear and so you know if a guy has gotten a shotgun and is trying to blast you from the back.
LEVEL DESIGN: Where F.E.A.R., another game made from the same compnay, was heavily criticised for, this game does a way better job. Each place is real and explorable to a certain extent if you don't want to get beaten to a pulp around every corner. Some levels like the house near the end of the game make you feel very claustrophobic, as you run up stairs and see enemies in the garden smashing through windows to get to you. The school is very eerie and as you see an arm hanging from a basketball net, which is crucial to the story of one guy, you know you're in for something. Each level is unique and even the very dark sewers have their own charm which are the trains. Moments like hanging onto a train while hobos jump near you makes for an adrenaline-packed chase, or when you get into a garbage bin ride and you try to knock off other joyriders. Level design, in other words, is excellent.
The graphics are worth mentioning but they're only icing. Enemies are highly detailed but give a strange rectangle appearance, environments are gritty, lighting is goddamn stunning, and there's a smooth framerate. This all adds to the experience. The game is seriously an experience in a controllable film with an actual plot that is not deep but definitely engrossing. However, this does mean the game is slightly short. You can complete it within 10 hours, took me 8 hours and that's after collecting some dead birds. The collecting is more a tacked-on novelty and doesn't become anything unless if you have this on a 360 for achievement points. But it's nice to know that with all the pollution, there are birds dying and decaying. To conclude, let me recommend this game highly if you want a superb rental. Once you finish the game, there is no incentive to go back. But if you get this game really cheap, keep it to show off to others how scary a game can be. There are no words to describe the highly original and organic combat experience or the atmosphere which is only matched by the Silent Hill games. Buy this now, you won't regret it but definitely a rental if this is still retail price.