Obscure

"Budget survival horror that isn’t half-bad. How they did it is the only obscure thing about this title"

Ah… The joys of budget titles. Sometimes the group can bring real gems like Shinigami no Shiro 2 (Castle Shinigami). Or if shooters aren't your thing, perhaps a quirky little cult classic Katamari Damacy would better suit your taste. But the survival horror genre? Now you're with the big-budget classics such as Resident Evil 4 or Silent Hill 2. The good graphics, creepy design, and suspenseful music that can only come from big sacks of money are needed in the survival horror genre. Right?

Not entirely. I was surprised myself.

Obscure is a survival horror game developed by Hydravision (who?) and published by MC2 (buh?). The inspiration for Obscure is the simple teen horror movie. The halls of Leafmore High are haunted by some unnatural force. Students are missing. Screams can faintly be heard. The lunch room serves roadkill. Well, maybe that last part may not be that surprising, but once a friend goes missing, four students stay after hours to find out what haunts the halls at Leafmore High.

Now if you're thinking of running far, far away from the game right now, don't. Obscure isn't as bad as you may think it is. The gameplay is quite fluid and fun. The big thing that sets Obscure apart from other survival horror games is the addition of a second character. You controller him or her, give them weapons and health, and work alongside them throughout the entire game. If they die, you must replace them with another character. Only one is needed to complete the game.

Unfortunately, there was never a moment in the game where I didn't want to punch these clichéd, bland, annoying characters in the face. You have your dumb jock. Your pseudo-gangsta/skater punk (Word, dog!). Your blonde tease. The annoying wannabe reporter. And the martial arts chick (which is easily the most bearable of the bunch). Sure, the creators wanted to appeal to the standard student, but if people like these kids turn out to run the future, I will sulk in a corner and cry. At least there aren't any bash-head-against-wall lines like James Sunderland's “Eddie! Are you nuts?!” infamous speech. Gah.

For a budget title, the graphics hold up really well. The character models are nice and fluid. The environments are pretty well detailed. The flashlight effects are particularly impressive. And then you're fighting enemies, its damn well near a work of art. Imagine this. A giant monster crashes through a wall, charging your party down. The floor around his feet becomes a pool of black, a void of nothingness. You shine the flashlight. The monster steps back in a flinch. The pool slowly fades as the monster loses power. It looks and feels very impressive for such a small budget.

The story is easily forgettable. Something about that damn evil principal sacrificing students and the need to stay in the light. If taken on a lighter tone, the story is maybe something that the Scooby gang would have solved. Akin to the characters, this is easily something that could be worked on. But when you take Scream for inspiration, it's a good bet that it's not going to be some Oscar-worthy.

The music is another point I would like to touch. In one word, impressive. The battles are uppitched and tension-filled with a bit of opera to set an angelic sort of beauty to it. Not exactly as creepy or suspenseful as some of the other examples in the genre, but then again, eh…, the budget… Oh, and Sum 41's “Still Waiting” is played during the opening video. Makes you wonder how much of the budget was spent paying them, eh?

All and all, Obscure comes off as a surprise hit. It's a bit short, has annoying characters, the plot is bland, and it doesn't break any new ground. But if you have a spare twenty bucks lying around to spend on a budget title, get Katamari Damacy. If you already have it, or feel like a survival horror instead, you could go much worse than a surprising little title named Obscure.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 06/27/05