(US Version Review) Dementium mixes all the best aspects from Doom 3 and Silent Hill into a Survival Horror game that...
Game Title: Dementium: The Ward
Platform: Nintendo DS
Developer: Renegade Kid
Publisher: NA Gamecock Media Group, JP Interchannel-Holon, EU SouthPeak Interactive
Genre: Survival Horror
Age Rating: CERO: D, ESRB: M, PEGI: 18+, OFLC: MA15+, BBFC: 15+
Release Date: NA October 31st 2007, JP June 26th 2008, EU April 17th 2009
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Game Score: 7.5/10
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Summery:
(US Version Review) Dementium mixes all the best aspects from Doom 3 and Silent Hill into a Survival Horror game that gives 4 hours of scares on the go.
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When you look at the Survival Horror Genre on the handheld it's rare to see something like a Horror Game existing on a Handheld System compared how many Horror Games you'd see released on Game Consoles. Renegade Kid changes all that with their admittance with Dementium The Ward, a Handheld Survival Horror game that delivers the best aspects of Doom 3 and Silent Hill into a Nightmare package for the DS. Unfortunately the game's European release was released at a very late date but thankfully I happen to find a North American copy which I'm going to talk about but I heard the European and Japanese releases where better.
Awakening inside a Hospital that appears to be frozen in time, you'll find out that the Hospital's infested with Monsters that lurk around the Dark Hallways. Along the way you'll guide your character through the Hospital to find out about his identity during many of the cut-scenes. Mysteries involve a Murder of a Women with clues such as Newspaper articles, a creepy photograph and a News Report all link to you as the Murderer.
When you first boot up the game you'll notice that there's only 2 files for the Main Game and there's no other modes to play or any Multiplayer or Online Support which makes you restricted to only the Single Player Gameplay. The main game consists of 16 Chapters in which you'll fight against Creepy Monsters, solve a Puzzle and then a Boss to fight at the end. Some Chapters you'll play can either last up to either 5 minutes or up to 30 minutes each depending on length or doors you walk in. When you wonder the Dark Corridors you'll find a Flashlight which becomes easier to navigate through cause it's extremely dark, just like in Doom 3 you'll find yourself having to relay on it to see where your going. Along the way you'll find 2 different Melee Weapons and 5 different Guns such as the Police Baton, Pistol, Shotgun, a Revolver, the Doom inspired Buzzsaw and so on. Each stage has a series of different Rooms for you to explore and in each room you're bound to find a couple of Monsters to be scared off such as Zombies that has a tongue sticking out from it's stomach, Bloodworms that sucks your blood out, Flying heads which scream and moving Bodies with no Legs which shoot Acid at you. Each safe room has about a set of Ammo and Health that you'll need in order to survive but you can't carry much ammo so you'll need to make accurate shots to the Enemies weakness to make the job easier. At the end of a few Chapters there will be a Big Boss to fight, menacing ones like the Chain-Gun Monster in a Wheelchair or the Cleaver wielding Monster. Within about 4 or Hours you'd completed the game but however there's no replay value to be found here which at the very least the length it would be worthwhile as a rent. Another problem is the Save System. While the game saves every-time you enter the Next room the Saved progress you make through the current Chapter gets erased whenever you die which makes the Save System ridiculous, However it should noted that the Japanese and European releases improved the Save system on it.
Dementium's Controls handle the similar ways if you played DS Shooters like Goldeneye Rouge Agent or Metroid Prime Hunters. D-Pad Moves your character around while the Stylus Looks and Aim your Weapon and the L button Fires. In the Settings menu you can Switch between the 2 layouts of Buttons for which hand your using the Stylus. When fighting Enemies you'll always find problems trying to shoot a far away target cause you'll be pulling the Flashlight out just that so you can see where you're aiming cause your character may have the will to hold 2 handed Weapons but lacks the ability to hold a Weapon and a Flashlight in each hand.
In between exploring different Rooms enemies can pop up making you having to react and the same goes for the Bloodworms popping from the vents. A minor annoyance is it whenever you re-enter a room where you killed all the monsters, they come back . Although that adds some Challenge to it but it hampers the Horror aspect. Overall Dementium's Gameplay is enough to satisfy Horror fans but however the poorly implanted Save System can bog the experience down and the fact that game can be accomplished in about 4 to 5 hours to anyone who runs through it the first time.
With all these out of the way it's easy to say that Dementium is one of the finest looking games that you'll find on the DS. Each Environment is nicely rendered with Lighting effects added in for good measure. The monsters themselves look well detailed especially when up-close and are well animated. Impressively for the DS's Hardware capabilities and limits the game's Frame-rate doesn't drop down even when there's plenty of stuff happening on the screen which makes this an Achievement for Nintendo's handheld. One minor note is that when you get spotted by an enemy it can get stuck while parts of it's body can pass through the walls. Another thing is that when playing the last few chapters of the game the layouts don't seem to change which makes some areas repetitive. The soundtrack is also fantastic cause each track sets the mood for the events happening during your exploration and desperate measures against the monsters. The Sound Effects are well done for Gunfire and the Monster Screams besides the Bloodworms which can be annoying. The Voicework for some of the games cutscenes are solid.
Despite the fact that the game only lasts for about 4 to 5 Hours Dementium's visuals and it's horror atmosphere make the game one of finest looking and scariest in the DS's library. If you're looking for some horror to take on the go then this game is worth playing through since Dementium mixes all the best aspects from Doom 3 and Silent Hill into a Survival Horror game that gives 4 hours of scares on the go.
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The Pros:
1. Incredible sound design which fits the games mood
2. Excellent graphic details with no frame-rate drops
3. Cleaver puzzles which use the Touch Screen
The Bads:
1. Save system is ridiculous
2. Game is Short and has no replay value
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Reviewed by: Anthony Hayball (BlaZer91)
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