Game: Saw
Oct. 22, 2009
Published
by: Konami
Developed by: Zombie
Release
Date: October 6, 2009
Available on: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3,
PC
INTRO: Oh boy, here we go.
Doesn't the fact that this game even exists terrify you? Originally
abandoned by a company that sank and went out of business, Konami
snapped this up and sent it to Zombie to rebuild it from the ground up
and now this title has quietly snuck out and found its way to retail
shelves.
GAMEPLAY:
You
assume the role of Detective Tapp (who looks nothing like Danny Glover
and isn't dead yet)v, and you're stuck in a giant abandoned hospital or
something and you have to solve Jigsaw's traps. I won't give up the
plot details, but there are lots of traps and stuff.
You know, this game didn't suck nearly as much as I thought it would,
but that doesn't mean that it's a good game. Here's what I mean- the
Saw game absolutely captures the essence of Saw, and that's something I
didn't think could be accomplished. This game works as the Saw
experience simulator, rather than as a great video game, and here's why
.
1) There are lots of little traps that add to authenticity, like
tripwires and shotgun rigged doors. If you don't disarm them by
pressing a context-sensitive button, you get your head blown off.
Hilariously, if you miss a tripwire (because they're hard to see), your
head will instantly blow up (why?) and you just fall on your face. It
makes for a funny death because you're just running along and your head
pops and that's the end of it.
2) There are lots of BIG traps like in the movies. These are usually
solved by finding a clue in the environment before you go through the
trap. A lot of them are solved via trial and error and you'll likely
blow up in almost every single one as time ticks away and you wonder
what you are supposed to do. Again, it's always funny to die so it's
worth it. The traps are well spaced out, but some of them are
absolutely maddening and unforgiving, like a needle scene early on in
the game.
3) The cast presence is there and it helps a lot. Jigsaw's scenes are
great, and thank god for Tobin Bell and his iconic voice. You might
think it's a given, but lots of games don't have the right people doing
the voice acting. Enjoy that!
4) The whole 'moral decision' thing is present, but I don't know if it
really affects the game. There's a lot of decisions to be made and
people to save, so get to it. You can even set traps for some of your
enemies, and they're idiots so they always walk right through them.
5) There are a lot of little details too, like digging in bodies,
toilets and acid for keys or clues to help you on your quest. This
could have been implemented in a much better way, but it's all done in
a timing minigame and it's always really easy. There's also little
things like different sources of light to illuminate your path and
broken glass and other hazards that cut up your bare feet. Again, this
can be kind of annoying because you don't see it all the time, but it's
still a good little detail.
Here's where I get a bit critical. This game features combat, and the
combat is AWFUL. If you don't hit an enemy first, they will kill you.
You can use your heavy attack or your light attack, but they don't
respond. And on top of that, the people are almost completely
irrelevant and the system should be removed. You can mash the
button as hard and frequently as you want or try to stumble around and
run away, but you're dead and there's nothing you can do. It's lovely
to have so many different weapons, but when the combat is SO broken, it
defeats the purpose. Also, there are times when you can barricade a
door to block an enemy, but you need to go that way so you just end up
moving the barricade and fighting.
If you're a big gamer, you're likely going to think that Saw is an
average outing at best. If you're a huge Saw fan, you'll be impressed
that they really did put a lot of work into giving fans of the
franchise a true taste of the movie experience.
Gameplay: 6/10
GRAPHICS:
The graphics are just okay in this title. The character models are bland and their faces aren't so good with expressions. The environments look pretty good and rely a lot on great mood lighting- this game definitely looks like Saw.
Graphics: 6/10
AUDIO:
Sound is great, as I mentioned before because we get some cast members helping out along the way. This game would not have worked without Tobin Bell, and thankfully he's here. The music is tense and atmospheric, and despite repetitive drivel coming from enemies, the voice acting is solid and easily one of this game's best features.
Audio: 8/10
FINAL VERDICT:
Ultimately, Saw is a game that had so much potential, but most of it feels wasted by a broken combat system and repetitive traps that get boring. You'll likely get really frustrated from time to time, but that doesn't mean this game isn't worth any of your time at all. If you like the Saw series, check this game out- it's nice to see some people who put a lot of effort into a licensed product. The game is definitely a little clunky though, so be prepared to struggle a bit with that.
Final Score: 6.5/10
5:57PM on 10/22/2009