Extermination

"A very memorable game..."

...for all the wrong reasons.

This review is, well...let's face it, very, VERY late. I grabbed this game in some interest when I discovered it in a local Gamestop's bargain bin. The "bargain" bit is negligible. This was supposed to be a horror game, and it failed on even that basic premise.

Story:
If you've ever heard the phrase "cookie-cutter," then you will know exactly what to expect from this game. A remote Antarctic base has sent out a distress beacon, and upon arrival, you, as Dennis, begin to discover dead and mutilated corpses. Yep, original. As you pick up memos left by what were once scientists and security personnel, you find out that the...wait for it...government is involved. What might they be hiding? Well, I'll let you ponder on it.

Graphics:
After seeing what the PS2 has to offer in this particular department, the graphics come across as atrocious. Granted, they aren't eye-gouging inducing, but certainly not what they could have been. Everything is easily defined as "generic" and "bland." Sure, boxes look like boxes and walls look like walls, but they also look flat and void of details. There also seems to be a lag in relation to the audio, but that appears to be just budget-skimping on part of the creators.

Audio:
This will mostly like have you rolling your eyes, or panting in laughter. Elaboration follows: "Ha ha!" Most people would assume this is a short chuckle, an expression of mirth. However, the voice actors in this game apparently understand them as words, entirely different entities. Instead of, say: "*chuckle* You know it!", you will get: "Ha. Ha. You know it." This is but one example of a game littered with such things. Music is practically non-existent, but when you do get it, the mood of it is in direct contrast of what is happening in the game. So, other than the horrid voice acting and confused music, you will hear Dennis talking to himself about things that might make you end up yelling "Thank you, Captain Conspicuous!!" Of course, there is also the ridiculous bug sounds.

Camera/Aiming:
The camera, just shy of the gameplay, is almost the worst part of this game. Because of the numerously annoying obstacles in the environment, the camera can get hung on practically everything. It is not a "free-roaming" camera either which means that where it starts is where it stays, lest you manually reset it. Then you just begin the same problem again. See, you might assume Resident Evil style fixed camera, but that would be wrong too. It is somewhere between the two. Not quite good, not quite not bad. The aiming is invariably affected by this, but I'll hit more on that in gameplay. Because the camera is stuck in limbo somewhere between free-roaming and Resident Evil, you might find yourself aiming off-screen frequently, and have a very difficult time absorbing your surroundings. The only reset option is directly behind Dennis, which means you will likely have to reset the camera as little (read: little) as four times just to see what all is around you. Imagine doing that in every room all game long.

Gameplay:
The biggest failing of the game. The exploration wouldn't have been so bad if it weren't for the clunky controls. They are fairly responsive and such, but the camera, being the antithesis of this, makes it more difficult that it should be. Factor in the bland surroundings and you have yourself a very taxing experience. The gameplay is basically finding your way through the facility. Since the exploration involved in finding your way through is, in and of itself, fairly original, being that you don't really have to backtrack much, it makes the fact that the gameplay is so unappealing that much more grating. When you break a crate and find that items are hidden in them, you are compelled to break any and all crates you find. But then you are swarmed by as many as twenty bugs. Normally, that wouldn't be so bad, but when the auto-aim doesn't do what it is supposed to and the bugs move too quickly for manual aim, you end up running more than fighting. The infection bit of the game is interesting, but since fighting is out, healing beds aren't very common, and there are even fewer items to temporarily stave off the festering infection, it just begins to try your patience. Not what many would call fun.

Replayability:
Since it will be difficult enough to drag yourself through it the first time, you will most likely have little to no desire to replay it.

Conclusion:
If you are just beginning to dabble in the survival/horror genre, I'd suggest picking up (most) any of the far superior Silent Hill, or (most) any of Resident Evil. If you have already played the aforementioned, play them again.

Reviewer's Score: 4/10, Originally Posted: 08/19/07