The survival-horror genre is alive and well, thank you very much.
Those who have picked up a Silent Hill game or have had a long-lasting
crush on the Resident Evil series can attest to that fact and we are
certainly happy that the genre continues to offer us fans new titles on our
favorite consoles and, thankfully, now on our handhelds like the PSP. One of the
latest additions is Obscure: The Aftermath, a game that was originally
released on the PlayStation 2 and has been ported to the PSP with a few
problems.
The first Obscure game, on the PS2, told the frightening tale of a high
school turned into a living nightmare as a group of students fought the faculty
as well as monsters to stay alive. In this sequel, we find some returning
characters as they find themselves in college. We are introduced to new
characters like a skater named Corey, twin sisters, a pizza delivery boy
named Stan and a sexy bombshell named Amy. Like the first game, The Aftermath
has you guiding two characters at a time as the story jumps into different
moments of the eight students’ fight for survival.
You see, it has been two years since the events that unfolded in Leafmore High
and siblings Shannon and Kenny Matthews find them attending the local university
in Fallcreek. All is well until Corey and his girlfriend Mei realize that
students on campus are experimenting with the strange plant life … particularly
flowers that look strangely like the kind that started the whole Leafmore High
nightmare in the first place. On their way to a frat house party, Corey and Mei
find themselves in their friend Sven’s room “experimenting” with said flower
when suddenly the young couple wake up in the middle of the woods in the
darkness.
Flashing forward, this year’s winner of the Wet T-shirt Contest on campus, Amy,
and her friend Kenny are trying to get into the frat party when screams can be
heard inside and the pair enter to find a bloodbath and frightening mutants and
monsters out for blood. The stage is set for a battle for survival as each pair
of students try to stay alive as well as discover the truth behind the madness
that is consuming the university.
The good news is that the game looks and controls just as good as the PS2
version of the game. You will be moving through detailed environments with the
ability to explore your surrounding much like you would in a Silent Hill game.
You’ll also have weapons that make sense in a school setting so you’ll be using
everything from a golf club to a hockey stick to defend yourself against the
enemy. You’ll also get to use handguns and shotguns in the game with very
limited ammo.
Each of the eight characters has his or her own unique abilities and skills they
use throughout the game. While Stan is great at picking locks, it is Mei who is
able to hack into electronically controlled locks. Amy is good at solving
puzzles that would vex other players while Kenny is able to push that heavy
crate. Sven is the brawler while Corey is the more acrobatic one so knowing when
to use each character’s individual skill. You can even switch between characters
easily with the Triangle button if you’re playing solo. You see, the game offers
co-op action via the Ad Hoc connectivity so a friend can take up the role of the
secondary character. Co-op runs smoothly and the best part is that a friend can
drop in and out at any time.
Unfortunately, the game falls prey to many of the problems that plagued the
PlayStation 2 version of the game and is more problematic on the PSP. You will
still have to wrestle with the camera, tilting it manually quite often. Combat
can also be a little frustrating at times and that is thanks to the aiming
feature. It isn’t so horrible that combat is broken but it just isn’t as good as
it should have been even on the handheld format. Still, if you’re willing to
look past these things, Obscure: The Aftermath has a good story and a
great overall presentation.
Visually, the game is quite impressive and the level of detail is displays are
quite spectacular. The environments really do stand out in the game and offer
plenty to look at while you explore and the characters models look great in
action. In fact, they look a lot better than the cut scenes. The visual effects
really stand out as well such as the mist and the way the monsters evaporate
after they die. There’s no shortage of scary images that flash on the screen so
this is a game you will definitely not want to play alone or at night if you’re
the type that scares easily.
The game’s sound also manages to offer some scares thanks to the brilliantly
creepy score by the Boston String Quartet and Paris Opera Children’s Choir.
There are some rock tunes thrown in as well to pump up the action but, overall,
the soundtrack is magnificent. The voice acting is also good, although I must
say that some characters sound way too clichéd. Still, there are a lot of creepy
background noises that do a good job of proving more scares.
While the PSP version of Obscure: The Aftermath has its share of problems
that hinder the gameplay, the game isn’t a bad survival-horror game to share
with a friend. I do wish the load times were better and the camera less
frustrating but the story is good, the characters are interesting and the co-op
is loads of fun. This is definitely a game worth trying but only if you enjoy
the genre.
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Gameplay: 7.0
Once again, a school is the setting for a frightening battle to survive as
another collection of students pair up to solve puzzles and fight off monsters.
Combat is still clunky even on the PSP and the camera is not your friend but
there is still fun to be had if you have a friend willing to lend you a hand in
co-op.
Graphics: 8.5
This game just goes to show you that the PSP is more than capable of displaying
visuals that are exactly like those on the PS2 and that also includes the best
looking PS2 games out there. The character models and environments look crisp
even on the handheld’s small widescreen.
Sound: 8.5
The voice acting is top notch with some characters sounding a lot more
convincing than others. There’s a creepy sense of being followed that makes the
sound effects really work even on the PSP and the soundtrack is simply
mesmerizing.
Difficulty: Medium
The various monsters and supernatural creatures that pop up in the game offer
some challenging moments in the game. With limited ammo and weapons that force
you into combat of the up-close-and-personal approach, you will certainly have
your hands full.
Concept: 6.5
Each of the eight characters has their own unique skills and that are more than
enough weapons at your disposal to put up a fight. There are puzzles aplenty and
unlockable extras but there is very little else that warrants another
play-through.
Multiplayer: 7.5
This game is best played with a friend taking up the role of the secondary
character and the good news is that the Ad Hoc connectivity makes for a smooth
co-op experience. It definitely makes teamwork far more effective than it is
when you’re playing solo.
Overall: 7.0
Hardcore survival-horror fans will get a kick (and a few good scares) out of
Obscure: The Aftermath for the PSP despite the few hardware evils that hold
it back. That said there are a number of good things about the game but only for
those loyal survival-horror game fans that don’t mind the flaws.
