Obscure

by Dreamcatcher

Product Features

• Use light as a weapon - combine conventional weapons with sunlight strategically to destroy the monsters pursuing you
• Choose from 5 playable characters - 5 lives you can live out in any way, unless one of them dies
• Imminent dangers are visible on screen through Real-time graphic changes, like the hideous Black Aura
• Dynamic camera settings allow characters total freedom of movement

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000809QM0
• Item model number: 26794
• Date first available at Amazon.com: May 5, 2005
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,545 in Software (See Top 100 in Software)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Survival horror hits the high schools--the first action-adventure in the style of American teen slasher movies. Tortured screams echo through Leafmore High's deserted corridors. Faceless creatures lurk in the shadows. Five teenagers set out to bring light into the darkness--and experience a night that will scar their souls forever.

Features:

• Teen horror-movie setting: All characters and environments are inspired by recent movies and television shows such as "Scream," "Buffy," and "The Faculty."
• Five playable characters; five lives: you are free to play as the character of your choice and change at any point throughout the game, unless one of them dies...
• Single or team play: In solo mode, your teammates are controlled by A.I. In cooperative mode, a second player can take control of another student.
• Black aura: imminent dangers are visible on screen through real-time graphic changes (black aura), intensifying the players stress level.
• Total freedom of movement: character movements are achieved through dynamic camera settings making it possible for players to shoot and move at the same time.
• Physical interaction with the environment: elements in the environment react realistically to players’ actions intensifying the feeling of being immersed in a real world environment.
• Light as a weapon: the presence of artificial or natural light sources increase the vulnerability of monsters and intensifies game-play combat levels as players must combine conventional weapons with light for better results.

Product Description

Obscure takes the survival-horror gaming you love and sets it in a teenage horror film. Tortured screams echo through Leafmore High's deserted corridors. Faceless creatures lurk in the shadows. Five teenagers set out to bring light into the darkness - and experience a night that will scar their souls forever.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An "Obscure" Value, May 22, 2005

By 

-- "--" (Gondor, IN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Obscure (CD-ROM)

"Obscure" is a slick, enjoyable survival horror game that compensates for its flaws with budget appeal and a high school setting that, while trite by now in the realm of Hollywood feature films, is virgin territory for a video game. Whether or not the setting and characters suit your tastes as a gamer is entirely another matter. Even so, most fans of the survival horror experience will find something to enjoy in "Obscure."

The storyline is a bit contrived and convoluted, ultimately boiling down to the usual illegal genetic experimentation. Predictably, this work results in horrific mutations and zombies that stalk the living. Oh well, at least the fact that all of this takes place within the confines of a high school sets it apart from all the other games recycling that premise. And like 1998's The Faculty, it's ultimately up to a ragtag band of grade schoolers to step up and save the day. Yes, definitely keep The Faculty in mind and see if you can't spot the similarities - the resemblance of the hoodlum character to said feature's Josh Hartnett being almost criminal. Despite the fact that the game's developers are French, the depiction of American high school students is not as offensive as it could have been save for a few misfires here and there, primarily each and every character's obsession with basketball.

Each of the five different characters represents a sort of high school archetype, such as the aforementioned hoodlum (easily the most likable of the gang), the jock (not as bad as it sounds), and the nerd (so irritating it's hard to convince yourself to take on his mantle). They have their own personal strengths and weaknesses, most of which make sense given the nature of their characters. For instance, the jock is the strongest of the bunch while the hoodlum can pick locks. When it comes down to gunplay, however, each and every one of the five is, perhaps disturbingly, quite adapt with a firearm to the point where it's hard to tell if any one is more qualified than another.

When all five characters are available, you can choose to play as one while a second computer-controlled companion joins you - switching back and forth between them is a snap. Unfortunately the rest of the game's interface is a chore. Switching between weapons in times of desperate need is maddening, as is using that first aid kit before you take a final, killer blow. Compensating for this, however, is a game that's fairly merciful in terms of its difficulty on the normal settings.

The game's environments are quite well done, if not very subtle. You've never seen a high school like this one - it looks more like an insane asylum that's been shut down for years than a place of study. Each room and location still has a functionality to it, though. None of them feel like they were designed by guys making a video game so much as guys trying to create a fairly convincing high school setting that just happens to serve as the backdrop for a video game, complete with horrific overtones. All in all, the ambience is perhaps the game's strongest quality.

The monsters in "Obscure" are the usual sort, for the most part, but a few of them do stand out (particularly the nasties that appear later on, very H.P. Lovecraft in appearance). In any case killing them is more interesting than it might have been thanks to some satisfying weapons and, more importantly, the use of real or artificial light. Light actually harms these creatures, so taping a high-powered torch to your pump action shotgun is a good way to even the odds. Each monster comes complete with its own shadowy field, however, and only the strongest beams can break through it, making said creatures particularly vulnerable to physical attacks for a short period of time. This element gives combat a little extra something.

The puzzles in "Obscure" are boilerplate for the genre - nothing really special or mind-bending is on display here. On top of this, the game is a fairly brief affair, so gamers looking for more to sink their teeth into may want to look elsewhere. However, one of the best features of "Obscure" is its budget price. Though it would have been a decent game at normal cost, the added bonus of paying less here equals getting more, and must be factored in to any review. In other words, "Obscure" doesn't break the mold, but it does what it does pretty well, complete with some impressive production values - and at this price, it's hard to go wrong if you've even a passing interest in the material.

(Note: Five stars on a curve given the budget price tag)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Real Gamers listen to real gamers...........lol, March 11, 2008

By 

C. Lomax "B Mo" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Obscure (CD-ROM)

This game is great in everyway for a game that got it done with a low budget the game is more like resident evil not "Silent Hill" the game goes places resident evil hasnt even tried yet
the +'s
First off its really two players/the second player can just start with you whenever---also the game gives you much better/quicker character switch then Resident evil Zero
you can reload in game without pressing start
you can shoot while you walking/running etc.
the game is good for its price and its a game capcom needs to take notes from.........but if your going to buy any game research it check review and .......you know

4.0 out of 5 stars A cooperative monster game? Finally!, August 23, 2008

By 

Eric Jousma "Abrom" (Bruce Crossing, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Obscure (CD-ROM)

Yeah, it's got a crappy story and acting, but it's got alright controls, nice action, and cooperative play that ISN'T ONLINE! That's right, not everyone has high speed internet. If you know someone who can stand your presence enough to sit beside you and play a horror game, then get this game.