WARNING: This review contains spoilers - do not read if you don't want some of the game elements given away

I recently picked up a game when seeing a review saying that it was like Resident Evil. That game is Obscure, a survival horror game based on the teen horror genre of films. After playing over half way through the game, I can say I am much more impressed now then I was when I first picked it up. And firstly, I'd like to say that besides a few game mechanics, Obscure is definitely not like Resident Evil. There maybe some elements of Silent Hill in there but it hardly rips off those two games and rather comfortably creates its own flare. Maybe not quite as brilliant as those aforementioned games but I don't think people should turn their nose up at it. Right, I want to get into the real meat of my review, just so you can get a good idea of what the game is like (and maybe I'll even inspire you to pick up a copy yourselves)

STORY/SYNOPSIS

Obscure is set at Leafmore High School, where students have been disappearing behind the scenes. The story opens with one of the main protagonists, Kenny, a sports star, being lured into a basement by an unknown figure and coming across some of the horrors that have been hiding beneath the school. As he tries to escape, his route is cut off and he is captured... Of course, his sister, Shannon and Kenny's Girlfriend, Ashley, are instantly concerned the next day after he didn't return home and they and fellow student Josh decide to stay behind and find out what happened to him. Big mistake. Before they know it, they're fighting mutant monsters while trapped inside the school premises. Joined by Kenny's best friend Stan who also stayed behind (mainly to alter his records to improve his grade score), the group have to fight their way to the truth.

Well, okay, I won't give away too much, as well as the fact that I myself have found some of the story elements not to hold much water, but basically, a group of students are trapped in a nightmare where fellow students who've been previously kidnapped have been turned into mutant creatures, violent and unpredictable. As you progress further and further into the game, notes and files, along side the cutscenes will unlock more and more secrets and will make the story more clear. Its a pretty simple premise with a few technical ideas thrown in - nothing all that special but it works.

GAMEPLAY/CONTROLS

Right! The mechanics! As mentioned, there are some Resident Evil like elements. The fighting system uses the aim and fire of old RE, plus some of the puzzles requires picking up key items that will open up places you come across. The tag team partnership is much like Resident Evil Zero, though the AI in Obscure isn't quite so hesitant and if you're in a pickle, your partner is their in an instant, covering your back. You can issue 3 main commands plus a command to change the current weapon their weilding (though that could be easily done by switching characters and changing their weapons that way). The main commands are [HELP], used during a fight situation so your partner character will turn their attention to the enemy you're currently facing and assist in the attack. [FOLLOW] so your character will go where ever you go and attack if you do so or not if the situation does require it. And lastly, [STAY], the partner character will stay in the spot you command. It's very RE Outbreak like, just to mention. Single character controls have your general [USE] button that opens doors/picks up objects/comments on things. You have an aim button when a weapon is equiped, plus a boost button for your flashlight, which is a key weapon in fighting the monsters as they are weakened by light. There is also a button for an aptitude, a special skill, but I'll add them into the character section - they help (or don't really) in progressing further into the game. An interesting feature is the 2 Player Co-op, where a friend can plug in a controller and join the action. Quite handy I think. Changing characters comes with the warping system that can get you to the gathering point to pick the character you want (though not during a battle situation). All in all, it takes between 15 mins to half an hour to get used to the control system depending on good you are at playing. My gripe is that their seems to be an action to every control button and you have to remember which is which, even at points when you have to think fast. As well as the problem with aiming sometimes - with the ability to break some objects and doors with glass in, sometimes the aim goes to them instead of the enemy and wastes precious seconds which could cost you dearly.

SOUND/MUSIC

The sounds in the game are very fitting. Characters breath hard when running, grunt when pushing objects, cry out when attacked... character specifically, the voice artists pretty much play down the stereotype of each character . Some voices are fine, some are plain annoying. Shannon and Ashley, the ladies of the group are played well, Kenny is on neutral ground, while Stan and Josh have voices that can start getting on your nerves very quickly. Video games are not known for ever having 1st rate voice acting, and here, its decent/mediocre. Could have been worse. Could have been Resident Evil 1 level. Background sounds are creepy and put in at the right times. Horrified cries of tortured students, creeking and monsterous groans that linger even when there are no creatures there. There is definitely an atompshere created and will keep you a little edgy if not much else does. Music goes either ways of being suiting or just being annoying in the worst possible way. The choir of children singing in some areas of the school brings some ambience along with the soft music. There are some pretty creepy tunes that along with the aforementioned sound effects will give you the creeps. Not all the music has its place, sometimes some of the tunes just seem flat or just plain boring and you don't feel any sort of emotion towards it.

DESIGN/GRAPHICS

For 2004, the graphics admittedly, look more 2001. Not to say their absolutely awful, but certainly, for the year they should have been a lot smoother and better rendered. Aside, everything looks how it should be. You do believe it is an aging school in a modern world. It has classrooms, storage closets, bathrooms, a gym, ampitheater, dining hall, a nurse's office, a library... each with its unique design but also very natural. Then you have the basement levels and secret underground passages in all their horrific glory. What makes the game is the contrast of light and shadow. Some areas are obscured by darkness, some having flickering lights and others have general natural lighting, thus helping take away from the graphics not being completely fantastic. The characters look decent enough, some don't look all that memorable.

CHARACTERS

In your horrific high school adventure you have 5 main protagonists that you control. They each have their own unique personalities plus extra traits that might benefit you in specific situations. Lets meet the crew:-

Kenny:-

He's the spots star jock, all tough and full of attitude. His face kinda reminds me of RE's Chris Redfield. He's clad in muscle shirt and sports pants and pretty well built. Pretty much explains what his skill in his - strength. Handles heavier objects better then his fellow characters and can run faster when his aptitude button is pressed, though this only works for limited periods. Is alright design wise, though makes me think of a gym instructor over student. Useful in a fleeing situation when you're in it deep with the monsters.

Shannon:-

Kenny's younger, brainy sister, who tries to rebel image wise to make up for being smart so not to fall into the geek catagory. Gentle and caring natured, she comes off as one of the more likable characters, by attitude and design. Her skills include better healing (don't know if that applies to healing other characters) and being able to help with clues to progress the game. Her aptitude is pretty much useless as a few times playing the game you'll pretty much know how to solve the puzzles and where to go. Her outfit is nice though, a cute designed top and mini skirt.

Josh: -

He is a kinda nerdy, reporter kid. Cheerful, clever and optimistic. He dressed simply - shirt and jeans - nothing special. His skill is to point out useful items which will flash if you're using him. Like Shannon, his skill is useless after playing the game a few times, though unlike her, he doesn't have any other redeeming ski lls, making him one of the lesser characters to play as.

Ashley:-

Beautiful popular girl with a spunky, if not somewhat conceited attitude. She shows no fear and is even a little bit too cocky. Her aptitude is fighting skill - she can rapid fire a gun and multiple strike with a melee weapon, making her the best combat fighter in the game. Definitely someone to have on your team. Design wise, her sweater and pants combo with a peak of thong is quite nice as well as very suiting.

Stan:-

The pot head doing poorly in school. Calls people 'Dawg', which is really annoying mainly because his voice isn't that brilliant. Most notible for his hat and facial hair, his clad in a rather bland t-shirt and short pant combo. His redeeming feature when its needed is his lock picking ability. While all the characters can do so using the wire reel, it can take over ten seconds in some cases with them to open while with Stan, near enough instant, which can save your ass if under attack.

Other Characters:-

You will meet a number of characters during your gameplay. The principal, the nurse, the janitor, the homeroom teacher and some boy called 'Dan' according to some sources, a kid experimented on and who you play for all of seconds as a practice partner character in the opening part of the game before he dies. Most of them have some sort of impact on the game storyline while others are just fodder for the monsters.

SCARE FACTOR

I decided to stick this in its own catagory to talk about how it ranks on the level of 'horror'. There are moments in the game with the clash of music and action that has you jumping out of your seat, but all in all, you mostly only feel on a level of unease, as you get used to most of the enemies as they come. They look pretty horrific, but they're much scarier monsters in other games then these. I have to mention that in one room, going up to a breakable window has a poor mutant smashing through (making you jump), but they die from being exposed to the light, squealing like a piggy. After the initial shock, you find yourself laughing because of how stupid it was. Most settings aren't really that creepy, its mainly the background sounds and music that make it a little more spooky. Though, the dark area where you rely on torch light can be said to be pretty un-nerving. Its not quite got the creep factor of Resident Evil or mind screw of Silent Hill, but its very much its own level of spooky. You won't wet yourself in fear of anything, more like jump and feel exhilerated to fright back. Though, the blobwoman does look extremely horrific, but then again, so would a person whose eaten too many McDonald's burgers...

CONCLUSION

I don't think people should really compare it to Resident Evil or Silent Hill all that much. Besides some mechanics it has its own idea based on teen horror which is good enough to stand alone. Okay, so it will never regarded amongst the best for being a little clunky and dated looking, but certainly its a fun game with enough life in it to be worth buying.

{EDIT}

Completed the game last night - a total of 4 and a bit hours gameplay time, and that was mainly me pausing to look at my walkthrough (Yeah, I use a walkhrough, but there is HAVING a walkthrough and being able to play the game too. You can have as much help as you want but if you suck at it, then that's your own problem.) The game is pretty short all in all. I think with avoiding some rooms, you wouldn't have gameplay more then 2hrs, once you'd mastered everything. A pretty interesting storyline for what is revealed towards the end. I definitely recpmmend it to people who enjoy survival horror and don't mind old school (heh, pun) stuff. It'll keep you entertained.