Customer Reviews

Obscure: The Aftermath

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I didn't expect much from Obscure: The Aftermath, mainly because I wasn't too thrilled with the first Obscure game (released what seems like ages ago) and the fact that the game carries a budget price tag. Well, you definitely get your money's worth with Obscure: The Aftermath, which for those who are unfamiliar with the first game, is a co-op survival horror excursion. The story picks up where the first game left off, finding familiar characters now in college, and once again haunted by horiffic forces at work. The Wii version of the game doesn't look bad one bit, considering this is a pretty budget priced release. The character models and lighting effects are well done, and the environments are well detailed. The game's music score is haunting as well, but the real meat and potatoes of the game is the co-op gameplay that really enhances what would otherwise have been a generic survival horror trip. The few flaws that hurt Obscure: The Aftermath mostly lie within the game's combat system, which doesn't always work out well. Not to mention that the game's story isn't much to look at, and the voice acting is beyond atrocious. Also, the game is quite short (you can finish the game in one sitting if you so desired), and your AI controlled partner isn't always the brightest brain in the bunch either. For the Wii version of Obscure, there are some Wii-specific features, but nothing really substancial. Flaws aside though, Obscure: The Aftermath is a surprisingly good survival horror yarn that delivers the goods, and the budget price tag warrants a look at the very least.

First, I'm going to warn you... this game is not Resident Evil 4. Or RE 3 or 2. It sits somewhere between Resident Evil 1 and Silent Hill, in a weird teen movie purgatory where stereotypes are elevated to some kind of saintly status.

It's also really fun.

Basically, think of teen slasher films, toss in a bunch of dialogue and text with witty and humorous college/music/sex/drug/movie references and you've got a good idea of the game's mentality. A bunch of kids that survived a previous mad scientist experiments are brought together for round two. The college they are attending is besieged with a black flower that causes epic hallucinations and then turns its victims into monsters. The characters move throughout the story solving environmental puzzles, a la Resident Evil Zero. Typical survival horror, but with teens.

Pros:
==> Two-player co-op gameplay. A second player can drop into the game at any time. I spend most of my time on this game playing multi-player and find it very enjoyable.
==> Good graphics with a moody art style that communicates the feel of the game very appropriately. There are better looking games on the Wii, but there are far more games that look a lot worse than Obscure: The Aftermath.
==> Six playable characters, each with their own unique skills important to solving puzzles. One character can climb around, another is strong, another is a hacker, one picks locks, etc.
==> Enjoyable and accessible puzzles. Some are challenging, some are obscure, but you usually won't get stuck for very long.
==> Linear gameplay and story. I think this is a good thing, because the action keeps chugging along and you rarely spend much time wandering aimlessly trying to figure out what to do.
==> Motion controls: There are some really well thought out motion controls in this game. Lock picking is especially cool and is a refreshing break in the action. It's a small detail but you can tell someone really cared about the lock picking. Other game developers are going to steal this idea from Obscure and I can't blame them.
==> Lots of voice acting and cinematic cut scenes
==> Did I mention that the lock picking mini-game puzzles were pretty decent?
==> Some truly funny dialog and hidden comments throughout the game. My friend Shiropan and I have had many laugh-out-loud moments and we're about half way through.
==> 8 hours length, give or take. The game isn't drawn out unnecessarily long with repetitive tasks and grinding.
==> Price: $30.00 at launch... not bad at all.

Cons:
==> 8 hours length, give or take. It gets right to the point.
==> No online co-op gameplay. That could have helped with the camera sharing issues.
==> I have minor complaints about the menu system. It isn't bad, but it isn't great either and many things could have been done easier.
==> Wii-waggle. Get ready to waggle that wii-mote like it ain't no thang. Some motion controls just don't make much sense and basically consist of shaking the controller a lot.
==> Wonky camera. The game designers couldn't decide if they wanted to use fixed camera angles or free-look camera controls, so the game switches back and forth regularly. It's not a problem in single player, but can be an issue in multi-player at times.
==> Script and voice acting is sometimes very forced.

Early in the game, ammo and firearms are low in supply. Fewer guns, more melee emphasis. It's not bad, but I prefer the safety of shooting zombi... err... mutated monsters from a safe distance. Maybe I'm crazy that way. A fun strategy is to use the Taser on a creature while the other player goes to town with a baseball bat or golf club. It's all good fun.

Overall, I recommend this title to mature audiences if you don't mind a game that gets a little campy and doesn't take itself too seriously. The short length of the game may make it more appropriate as a rental for some players. Single player is ok, but like campy, cheesy, dorky teen horror/slasher flicks, this game is best enjoyed with company. Oh, and if you haven't guessed, this title is for mature audiences. Seriously, don't buy this game for younger kids and young teenagers as some family-fun entertainment. If you do play survival horror games with your kids as a family bonding activity, I recommend taking the $30 and using it to buy 15 minutes of therapy for your family instead. There are way too many adult references and there is a lot of sexual innuendo in this game in addition to the violent imagery.

This is a TWO player survival horror game. This sort of genre usually has awkward game-play for single player, so I wasn't expecting much from a two player rendition. I was pleasantly surprised! This game has one of the best implementations of a 3rd person camera angle view of any video game. The camera centers on one player at a time with that player controlling the pan and tilt. Camera control can be taken or given at any time. A power struggle didn't develop over the camera because this game has you working together as a team. This game isn't multiplayer so two people can happen to play at the same time, it's co-operative and you play the multiplayer because it's more enjoyable that way; it's social.

The Graphics are superb. Environments are highly detailed with terrific use of light. Flashlights actually illuminate rather than creating an opaque glow. The background doesn't turn into sudden jet black outside the flashlight beam. The game is very linear. Background ambiance such as people talking in other rooms and shadows of people cast on windows helps you forget that a little. There are many cut scenes, though the rag doll movements of characters are a blemish. The story is fast paced, unfortunately it's very short (10 hours of gameplay).

Some of the puzzles were good, some were lame, none were bad. There was some pointless Wiimote shaking, but it wasn't excessive.

Combat is challenging and not too frustrating. There was surprising depth despite the simplicity. In the woods, one of us fought while the other held the flashlight and roles quickly reversed when a monster snuck up from behind. Swinging left and right builds up a combo, but in tight areas, swinging up and down ensures that we aren't whacking each other in the back of the head. When a monster threw one of us off screen, we'd quickly switch camera controls to get back into the fight.

If you like horror games, Obscure is decent. If you also have a friend who likes horror games and will play it with you, then Obscure is a no-brainer, worthwhile buy.

I'm no video game connoisseur, but I had a lot of fun with this game. It was challenging enough that I couldn't speed right through it, but I also didn't get stuck anywhere. I enojyed the graphics and don't have any complaints on the controls. I'm a big Resident Evil fan and while it's not as good, it definitely had enough similarities that I really enjoyed it.

The plot is kinda murky. I expect a decent plot out of games in this genre. Maybe I'm too used to Resident Evil and Silent Hill. However , the puzzles are fun to get through. I feel the battle system is weak however. So it cancels out. The atmosphere is good nut then the character acting is pretty miserable.

Basically, this game should be better than it is.

If you like survival horror games such as Resident Evil and Silent Hill you will probably find Obscure at least mildly enjoyable. There's a fun cast of characters, all college student stereo types that you can play as. You can change characters mid game play to solve various puzzles, and each student has a different set of skills that allow them to complete certain types of puzzles like mini games.

Unfortunately the game gets bogged down by a control scheme that is absolutely horrid and voice acting that will make you cringe.

It's nearly impossible to keep the camera behind your character while exploring or fighting baddies. You have to direct the character with the Wii Nun-chuck while controlling the camera angle by pointing the Wii remote. Add to that the fact that you have to constantly shake the Wii Remote to swing your weapon and you have a camera that is spinning wildly out of control and a massive headache.

I get the feeling that the game is supposed to be campy B Horror themed, and maybe as such the voice acting shouldn't bother me but it is just so unbelievably bad. The Dialog is amusing at times but the acting is just so terrible it's impossible for me to get past it.

The good side of the game is that the puzzles are fun to solve and it's actually two player which is rare for survival horror. It's too bad, this really could have been a half decent game if I could control the camera even a tiny bit.

Graphics: I thought the graphics were good. I firmly align myself as a retro gamer, but the graphics in horror games are one place where I can easily concede a point or two. I thought that the backgrounds were pretty slick; creepy too.

Music: I don't put a lot of stock in my game music (which I feel bad about because someone's hard work goes into it, but it's not one of my big focuses). I vaguely remember thinking that the music was genre appropriate though.

Story (& voice): I feel voice work in games tends to be lacking. My only problem with it was that the script was a passable Sci-fi/horror flick but the voicing was 1 or 2 grades below. Let's face it, they don't get a lot of the super voice talents for video games (you rarely find Roger Bumpass or Venus Terzo stepping in).

Replay: The puzzles won't give you much trouble on successive runs, but I'll probably go through it again just because I really like all of the other aspects of the game.

Fun: Amazing if you like Sci-fi/horror. If you don't, you may not take a shine to the zombies and blood & creep smeared decor (so why are you looking at getting it anyway?)

I think I may have paid the FULL retail price, roughly to the tune of $30-40, but I adore this game and consider it money well spent.

now some say this game isnt that good others love it let me just say its better then most wii games. given its a ps2 port with wii controls it a pretty good game the 2-player co op is good the story is broken/I have the first one some of the stuff they say in the Aftermath is incorrect but I overlooked that because the game is fun

pros
2-player co-op
move and shoot(can walk and shoot at the same time)
good cutsence design
easy for new gamers
good price

cons
even with the 480p c. cables it only displays at 480i
broken storyline
the graphic where not upgrade for the wii

Obscure the after math is a really good game and fun to play. The controls of the game are good. The music and sound effect are great and the graphics are really good. buy this game its worth the thirty dollars.

The game was fun to play not very scary at all, the Wii controls make it a chalenge ! TIP for picking locks move your control TOWARD the screen! no real replay val at all.