Berserker
Nov 27th, 2003, 04:40 AM
It looks like the horror games genre is taking a flight Here is yet another release. The suffering, check out the trailer (http://www.gametrailers.com/gt_vault/t_suffering_e3_2k3.html)
Here's what IGN.com had to say:
We'd heard that Surreal Software had been working hard to make The Suffering as terrifying as possible, but we never dreamed of what it could ultimately accomplish. Set in an Alcatraz-like prison in the 1950s era, this creepy surrealistic mix of horror and old-fashioned gunplay is among the most twisted and brutal videogames we've ever laid eyes on; and if Midway and Surreal can keep the same standards in the whole of the game as it did in the stage we sampled, console owners may never want to sleep again.
The story begins cinematically as we're introduced to a gaggle of death row inmates talking about the new fish headed for an empty cell. Convicted of murdering his wife and children, the new guy (known as Torque) has a shady past and has earned a reputation all over the state as the baddest S.O.B. in the prison system. Definitely not for passive audiences, the entire introduction is pretty brutal in its own right -- not for abundance of gore or dastardly creations mind you, but because of the harsh language and foul attitudes of the inmates. The Suffering is the only game we can ever remember that begins its story by telling tales of murder, rape, and molestation while throwing out more expletives than all of Quentin Tarantino's movies combined.
The real madness begins once Torque is brought on the scene and put inside his cell though. The moment the bars close, all hell breaks loose and a bizarre slaughter reminiscent of House on Haunted Hill and Thirteen Ghosts fills the air for the next couple of minutes. Person after person is quickly and viciously picked off as guards and prisoners alike are torn to pieces by unseen forces. Cops scream for their lives, prisoners beg for mercy -- the whole presentation is extremely effective, and boasts occasional one-second flashes that give us fleeting glances of the types of creatures that are responsible for the madness. Once the cut scenes are over, control of Torque is handed over and the real adventure begins.
Not that this is a true adventure by any means. While there's still plenty of item collecting and NPC interaction in The Suffering's nine different levels, the main goal is to obliterate whatever you can. And believe us when we say that you'll want to dispose of these enemies as quickly as possible. Designed by the renowned monster creater Stan Winston, each unique baddie rewrites the books on uncanny. Skinny four-legged manimals with blades for arms, fat zombie guys with undead mini-beasts in their stomachs, and twisted thing-things with things hanging out of their things (hey, that's the only way we can describe them) collect from all corners of every stage to put a hurt on the reluctant Torque.
Part of what makes the game so interesting, is that we don't really know if Torque is innocent or guilty of slaying his family. Presented with several situations throughout the experience, players can determine themselves what type of person Torque turns out to be. Pairing him with different computer-controlled personalities in every stage and choosing to help them is what accomplishes this, and will lead gamers towards one of three possible endings. While your definition of "not helping" may range from ignoring these characters requests to blowing their heads off, it's all up to you. (Ex: Should you help the corrections officer in the first stage find the flashlight or leave him to die?). No matter what you do, however, your actions affect the outcome of the story every time a situation presents itself.
No matter your character alignment, mastering the game's weapons is what will get you through 'till dawn. Adding strategy to the mindless action, not every weapon will be effective for every enemy either, as the shank may be great for the close-up battles against the blade feet, but it's not going to do jack squat against the thing-things we talked about. For those, you may need the shotgun -- or perhaps the sub-machine gun. You'll never know until you try. Best of all, The Suffering is aiming to please multiple groups of shooter fans, as it offers completely functional play from both the third-person and first-person perspectives.
Perhaps the most appealing aspect of the whole experience is the included sanity meter. Not unlike Vivendi's approaching Hulk game (or more accurately, Nintendo's Eternal Darkness) Torque will continue to get angrier and angrier as time goes on before finally snapping and going nuts. Once he goes nuts, our anti-hero transforms into a giant beast creature that's a lot more powerful than the enemies around him. In fact, this form can actually learn new abilities from his fallen foes to make him even more formidable and practically invincible. Naturally, the time at which you can maintain this form is limited, and you'll have to use it while you can.
All in all, The Suffering shows a lot of promise. With it's branching conclusions, twisted enemies, and unique combination of game elements, this is one title that we're definitely keeping an eye on. Expect to hear more on Surreal Studios' shocker over the coming months and weeks as we approach its inevitable release later this year.
-- Jeremy Dunham
Another trailer... (http://www.gametrailers.com/gt_vault/t_suffering_2.html)
Here's what IGN.com had to say:
We'd heard that Surreal Software had been working hard to make The Suffering as terrifying as possible, but we never dreamed of what it could ultimately accomplish. Set in an Alcatraz-like prison in the 1950s era, this creepy surrealistic mix of horror and old-fashioned gunplay is among the most twisted and brutal videogames we've ever laid eyes on; and if Midway and Surreal can keep the same standards in the whole of the game as it did in the stage we sampled, console owners may never want to sleep again.
The story begins cinematically as we're introduced to a gaggle of death row inmates talking about the new fish headed for an empty cell. Convicted of murdering his wife and children, the new guy (known as Torque) has a shady past and has earned a reputation all over the state as the baddest S.O.B. in the prison system. Definitely not for passive audiences, the entire introduction is pretty brutal in its own right -- not for abundance of gore or dastardly creations mind you, but because of the harsh language and foul attitudes of the inmates. The Suffering is the only game we can ever remember that begins its story by telling tales of murder, rape, and molestation while throwing out more expletives than all of Quentin Tarantino's movies combined.
The real madness begins once Torque is brought on the scene and put inside his cell though. The moment the bars close, all hell breaks loose and a bizarre slaughter reminiscent of House on Haunted Hill and Thirteen Ghosts fills the air for the next couple of minutes. Person after person is quickly and viciously picked off as guards and prisoners alike are torn to pieces by unseen forces. Cops scream for their lives, prisoners beg for mercy -- the whole presentation is extremely effective, and boasts occasional one-second flashes that give us fleeting glances of the types of creatures that are responsible for the madness. Once the cut scenes are over, control of Torque is handed over and the real adventure begins.
Not that this is a true adventure by any means. While there's still plenty of item collecting and NPC interaction in The Suffering's nine different levels, the main goal is to obliterate whatever you can. And believe us when we say that you'll want to dispose of these enemies as quickly as possible. Designed by the renowned monster creater Stan Winston, each unique baddie rewrites the books on uncanny. Skinny four-legged manimals with blades for arms, fat zombie guys with undead mini-beasts in their stomachs, and twisted thing-things with things hanging out of their things (hey, that's the only way we can describe them) collect from all corners of every stage to put a hurt on the reluctant Torque.
Part of what makes the game so interesting, is that we don't really know if Torque is innocent or guilty of slaying his family. Presented with several situations throughout the experience, players can determine themselves what type of person Torque turns out to be. Pairing him with different computer-controlled personalities in every stage and choosing to help them is what accomplishes this, and will lead gamers towards one of three possible endings. While your definition of "not helping" may range from ignoring these characters requests to blowing their heads off, it's all up to you. (Ex: Should you help the corrections officer in the first stage find the flashlight or leave him to die?). No matter what you do, however, your actions affect the outcome of the story every time a situation presents itself.
No matter your character alignment, mastering the game's weapons is what will get you through 'till dawn. Adding strategy to the mindless action, not every weapon will be effective for every enemy either, as the shank may be great for the close-up battles against the blade feet, but it's not going to do jack squat against the thing-things we talked about. For those, you may need the shotgun -- or perhaps the sub-machine gun. You'll never know until you try. Best of all, The Suffering is aiming to please multiple groups of shooter fans, as it offers completely functional play from both the third-person and first-person perspectives.
Perhaps the most appealing aspect of the whole experience is the included sanity meter. Not unlike Vivendi's approaching Hulk game (or more accurately, Nintendo's Eternal Darkness) Torque will continue to get angrier and angrier as time goes on before finally snapping and going nuts. Once he goes nuts, our anti-hero transforms into a giant beast creature that's a lot more powerful than the enemies around him. In fact, this form can actually learn new abilities from his fallen foes to make him even more formidable and practically invincible. Naturally, the time at which you can maintain this form is limited, and you'll have to use it while you can.
All in all, The Suffering shows a lot of promise. With it's branching conclusions, twisted enemies, and unique combination of game elements, this is one title that we're definitely keeping an eye on. Expect to hear more on Surreal Studios' shocker over the coming months and weeks as we approach its inevitable release later this year.
-- Jeremy Dunham
Another trailer... (http://www.gametrailers.com/gt_vault/t_suffering_2.html)