Customer Reviews

SAW

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I'm a huge fan of the Saw movies, so when I heard they were releasing a game I was ecstatic. But then I thought, what if this is just another miserable attempt to capitalize on a movie franchise in the form of a video game? Especially since the Saw movies aren't usually rated very highly by critics. Still, I made the leap and I'm glad that I did.

You play Detective Tapp from the first Saw movie (Yes, apparently you survived, and no, unfortunately Danny Glover isn't in this game). The story takes place after the first movie but before the second. Probably a good decision on the designers' parts since those tend to be the more popular movies. You start off in a bathroom very similar to the one used in the first movie, but not exactly the same one, thankfully. The very first trap you are faced with is the reverse bear trap (You know, the one Amanda was in during the first movie?), and you have to get out of it immediately. This started off being really frustrating because I didn't notice the buttons that showed up when you needed to push them, but after awhile I caught on and the real game began. That pretty much sets the tone for the game; a bunch of puzzles and traps that might seem ridiculously impossible, but once you become aware of what's around you they aren't so bad.

Other than that the game is pretty much trap after trap, victim after victim, and fight after fight. This might sound repetitive, and in a way it is, but I think fans of the movie will be intrigued by what is to come. I know I was. Playing this game in the dark with the almost complete lack of music really kept me on my toes constantly. You never know when you might accidentally run into a trip wire, open a door rigged with a shotgun, or step on some broken glass (your character plays barefoot, by the way). And as far as the combat goes, fans of Silent Hill will recognize the combat system as being very similar. Pretty much you find a random object and knock the other guy in the head a few times.

Overall I think this game will please both survival/horror fans and fans of the movies as well. What I've talked about in my review is just the bare bones of what to expect while playing this game, but there are many, many more things to discover both in terms of the games put forth before you and the storyline itself. I probably wouldn't fully recommend this game 100% until the price tag lowers to about $40, but then I don't think there's any reason not to pick up this game. Even if you've never seen the movies, I'm sure you'll be fascinated by the world that Jigsaw has created here for his subjects.

Essentially (and not surprisingly), this is Silent Hill: Homecoming. Controls are the same, graphics are the same, combat is the same. It's the same game, except for a Saw-twist on things. The puzzles seem to be a little easier. My advice is to download the demo of Silent Hill: Homecoming (if there is one) and see if you like it. If you do, you'll like Saw: The Video Game. It's not a game you'll show off to your friends, but it's one you can take turns with friends and play through in one night because it's engaging, like the Saw movies are. In fact, it's really hard to put down. I kept telling myself I'd quit after one more puzzle, but I kept playing it until it was over. Short, but a fun game. Ideally, a good, fun rental. If fun's the whole purpose of a game, then this is a winner.

Tellurye, here with another review brought to you by Fedora Technologies. Got 3D? This time we look at SAW: The Video game

STORY: You play as Detective Tapp from the first SAW movie. Actually, a few characters from the SAW world are here, though no likeness or voice-work from any of the original cast EXCEPT Tobin (more on sound). You basically are caught by Jigsaw and you have to escape as he puts treacherous traps and puzzles in your way. You soon learn that you are not alone in the Asylum, and while you are trying to get out, everyone is more focused on killing you for some reason. You have to play the game to find out why.

GRAPHICS: Great use of the unreal engine here. I never get sick of looking at it. The levels are very detailed, with little touches like worn wallpaper, faded paint, furniture. Great lighting effects too, even on the PS3 which sometimes tends to be washed out. Lots of dark places, so you are using a lighter most of the game to find extra weapons and such, but it doesn't take away from the atmosphere. That may be annoying for some aesthetically, but it does not limit your movement.

SOUND: Fortunately, TOBIN BELL does lend his voice and it is AWESOME! Really sets the mood. Voice work is done well from the rest of the folks also, but Tobin's really sticks out. The laughing, creaking, and music really set the tone. Fun to play in the dark

GAMEPLAY: Uh, here's where it suffers a bit, and why I think the critics were harsh on it. The fighting is really sluggish and super slow to respond, regardless whether you are doing light or heavy attacks. And the animation plays out so long after you swing, or recover from an attack, that the thug is already attacking you again before you can react. I quickly learned how to counter this by moving and attacking at same time (unlike RE5, thank goodness). So when a baddie comes upon you (fortunately, his attacks are slow as well, and practically telegraphs them so you can anticipate them) you can dodge out of his reach and immediately walk towards him, executing your swing. So it's a little bit repetitive, (and you almost have to wait for them to strike first) wait, dodge, approach, attack, repeat. It only takes 2 or 3 hits to take down a baddie, so its not boring. Another cool thing is that if you knock them down but they aren't dead yet, you can get an optional QTE where it displays the button while a meter is displayed. If you hit that button when the moving meter is in its sweet spot, you get a killer, gory animation. It's not too hard to get either.

Exploration, the puzzles, and traps are fun - really a homage to the Saw series. You even get a chance to set your own traps! And they are pretty ingenious just like the movie. However, the combat is where it is the weakest, and will lose most of the audience.

OVERALL: This game is really a lot of fun and Saw fans will be jacked to play this in the middle of the night. However, it is a short campaign (about 8 hours or so) no multiplayer (obviously), and the stiff, slow controls may ruin it for those that are used to Manhunt's environment. Not worth $60, but do try to rent this bad boy if you like the Saw universe. Just don't be surprised if you jump when one of your friends say `I'd like to play a game...'

I wasn't sure how well a Saw video game would work, but it's surprisingly effective in making you sweat and wince, and sometimes jump in fright. You play as Detective David Tapp (Danny Glover in the first movie) who, after being rescued by Jigsaw from the catacombs outside the infamous bathroom is thrown into a gauntlet of his own in an abandoned asylum where he has to rescue a handful of people from gruesome deaths.

It reminded me a lot of Condemned 2: Bloodshot but was nowhere near as terrifying, but it gets points for trying, as you stumble around in dark, decrepit buildings unsure of what is around the corner. It's a fairly easy game, with an easy-going learning curve. Common sense and memory tricks will see you through every trap safely, and it's good to see some closure on the story of Detective Tapp (apparently the game IS canon), but the twist at the end is lame and there's no 'Final Zepp'. Instead the game just offers generic muzak that's hardly as effective.

It's an easy Platinum, with many bronze and silvers given away like they were free. You won't be playing it for more than a week, but still worth it.

Graphics C+
Sound B-
Gameplay B
Lasting Appeal C+

Length:: 9:58 Mins

Pros +

+ Feels just like a SAW movie - Tobin Bell does the voice of Jigsaw
+ Simple control scheme
+ Unique traps created for the game

Cons -

- Puzzles and traps get repetitious
- Flawed combat system
- Does not take long to complete / low replay value
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The T-Shirt I'm wearing pays tribute to a fantastic reviewer.
Spoony rules!

The title implies that it is going to be a gory button-masher, but nothing could be further from the truth. The majority of the game is spent completing challenges and puzzles, and they are hard. Fighting enemies is very hard. This is Jigsaw at his best, and it will keep you at the edge of your seat.

I played it for 5 hours the first day I got it...and didn't pick it up again. I played other games I had just bought for hours in order to finish them. After that first rush, I didn't get that feeling with this one. For some reason, I just didn't want to play it anymore. I put it up for sale a couple of days later.

Is it a good challenging game with good graphics - Yes. Do I want to play it again - No...and I don't know why.

Set between "Saw" and "Saw 2" before part 3, Detective Tapp has been kidnapped by the one and only Jigsaw killer (Voiced by Tobin Bell), killed Detective Sing and thrown Tapp into a large abanoned asylum. The place is booby trapped with various traps, torture devices and even helpless victims you have to save as you are trying to find out the truth behind Jigsaw including trying to escape.

A fun and challenging third-person point of view survival horror thriller game based on the popular horror thriller franchise. Twisted Pictures with Lionsgate interactive and Konami have teamed up to make a game based on their franchise to the small screen in a nice successful way. The graphics here on PS3 are quite nice even during cinematic cut-scenes but i heard the xbox360 has bad graphics compared to this version. You can use any various item as a weapon and use a lighter or flash-light to see in the dark even in the creepiest of places. The only voice actor that was from the movies happens to be Tobin Bell of the Saw film fame, sure the controls aren't too bad but you gotta remember of them.

The Puzzles are a bit challening for some players but this is a game that requires brain power then you will succeed if by following patterns or using your mind. In this game you get to also try to help victims out of Jigsaw's torture traps and even get keys out of syringe ridden toliets to acid barrels, there are even enemies in this game that are out to kill you but you have to be prepared with a weapon of any kind. This game also has concept art galleries, E3 Demo footage and a trailer to Saw 6 which i think was preety neat.

Easily the most enjoyable horror movie based game this side of "Friday The 13th" and "A Nightmare on Elm Street" for NES.

If you love the SAW films, this game will be enjoyable. I played it six straight hours and could not put it down. I am not sure how far into the game I am because the manual is a little thin, but it has been enjoyable thus far. Some puzzles are require a little thought, while others are obvious.

The graphics have the SAW look and feel, but the game is seriously missing the SAW theme music. The music is quiet and brooding, but it needs the theme song. It does have Tobin Bell's voice, but not Danny Glover's.

I appreciate the auto-saves and the ability to die an unlimited number of times. Sometimes you just happen to stumble into a trap the instantly kills you. The case files you can read along the way seem useless and deal with a hospital. They seem out-of-place.

It is easier to fight hand-to-hand than it is with a weapon. Drop all your weapons in favor of your fists!

Overall, I am pleased with this game and look forward to finishing it.

When it comes to making a horror videogame, atmosphere comes as a much higher priority than gameplay mechanics. This may be the reason you might've seen a few game critics being tough on SAW. Game reviewers are often looking for revolutionary game mechanics, new gameplay ideas, and a truckload of hyperbole from magazines and websites to score their games highly. But just like every SAW film, it's videogame cousin stands for much more than meets the eye, and doesn't need to defy conventions to be true to the source material.

In fact, SAW does not fight against any conventions at all. Mostly every aspect of the game is familar to horror game veterans: Dark, moody graphics, low lighting, first-person controls, third-person view, grimy and rusted environments, dark musical score, particularly gruesome etc. Combat controls are fairly basic and often sluggish, but get the job done nonetheless.

There are tons of exploring possibilities, and true to the films, these environments look fairly similar to one another. Puzzle solving is key in SAW: Levels consist of lots of puzzles; some basic, some more complicated, and a few are very clever. There are several puzzles in each level, so exploration and puzzle solving are more prominent than action-heavy combat. You may encounter only a few enemies in each level; all of them playing their own "game" to stay alive.

Each level ends in your character trying to free another from one of Jigsaw's many death devices; SAW's version of a boss fight. These puzzles are usually more perplexing, and may take a few tries to complete, but none of these puzzles are impossible.

What SAW gets particulary right is its atmosphere. The ambience from the films are nailed in this game version, and will immediately immerse you in the SAW universe. Several characters from the films make an appearance in an all-new storyline, and one voice in particular will be instantly familiar. Little things like this add up to a lot when making a licensed game.

If you like horror games and the SAW films, you'll be very pleased with the finished product. It doesn't have the production values or extra polish of what are considered to be top-tier games, and certainly doesn't introduce anything incredibly new. But the atmosphere alone is worth the price of admission, especially if you are more interested in using your brain than your trigger finger. Be aware that you'll likely need to be a fan of the SAW films to completely enjoy this title, but if you are, it's fan service at its finest.

I didn't have major negatives against this, but it wasn't exactly stunning either. The game is very simple and you walk from objective to objective searching for items and solving puzzles, occasionally killing a person or two who come after you. It has a somewhat creepy atmosphere but it's not really scary either. Things like reading files or listening to audio tapes are really pointless which is a shame that the story is lacking so much. Worth trying if you want a horror game but only if you can get it for cheap. Doesn't have much replay value.