Haulable Horror: Dementium 2 Preview

Typically those who yearn for the immersive eeriness of a first-person survival horror game have to satisfy their desires on a home console. With a restrained amount of screen space as well an abridged control system, attempting to evoke a sense of dread on a portable system can be a tricky task. Fortunately, upcoming DS release Dementium 2 is shaping up to be quite accomplishment. The title  skillfully crafts moments of  pulse-lifting tension and sporadic bits of creepiness, all complemented by a wonderfully polished game engine.

For maximum effect, Dementium 2 shouldn’t be played on daytime rides along crowded buses, but rather during periods of nocturnal solitude. For those that aren’t easily spooked, the title would make a perfect bedtime diversion when used with a set of earphones. For the truly brave, turning out the lights may further amplify the experience.

Dementium 2 mercifully sets up the game’s storyline quickly, allowing eager players to jump right into the action. A short cinematic introduces us to William, the games protagonist, who wakes up to find himself inside a heavily guarded mental heath institution. In seconds, the screen flashes and the brig is transformed into an alternate reality where guards have become animated corpses with giant mouths radiating from their chest cavities. It’s not long before William finds a melee weapon to defend himself against the unnerving onslaught.

Navigating through the perverse penitentiary is expertly handled, with the bottom screen of the DS displaying a Castlevania-like map. As players explore each environment, the map gradually fills in, conveniently indicating what areas invite examination.  New weapons, such as sledgehammers, grant passage to previously inaccessible areas, as gamers are able to break through wooden barricades. Additionally, the game will through the occasional puzzle at players; early dilemmas weren’t especially challenging but offered a nice reprieve from roaming the game’s horrific hallways. There’s even a homage to Pac-Man, where players have to evade ethereal foes in a labyrinthine setting; luckily, it’s subtle enough to not detract from Dementium 2’s grisly ambiance.

Unlike some first-person DS titles that stumble with their control schemes- Dementium 2 felt thoroughly intuitive. Despite complexities that include being able to run, jump, crawl, and (when using a single-handed weapon) use a flashlight to explore dark interiors, navigation was effortless. The only difficulty I encountered was initiating a run, which required an excessively swift double tap of the directional pad. Players will likely enjoy the game’s melee system, where successful strikes against foes compel proficient timing.

A majority contributor to Dementium 2’s accomplishments is the game’s nimble 60 frame per second refresh rate. Not only does the speedy engine allow players to strike targets with light-footed precision, but it also allows the title’s settings to come alive. From restrained patients jerking their heads around wildly to cascades of sinuous insects besieging players, the game feels distressingly vibrant, as most characters move with a fearsome rapidity.

Developer Renegade Kid has accomplished the unlikely by making a convincingly menacing Nintendo DS title. With an instinctive control scheme, an unswervingly ominous feel, and disturbing visuals, all amalgamated by some competent programming, fans of horror and action games should undoubtedly be eager for this game’s April 21st release date.