Game: The Grudge
Nov. 5, 2009
Published
by: Xseed Games
Developed by: Feel Plus
Release
Date: October 13, 2009
Available only on: Nintendo Wii
INTRO: How would you like to experience the Grudge for yourself? Well, now’s your chance because this game touts itself as a ‘haunted house simulator’, where you assume the role of Erika Yamada, who brings the curse on her family. If you like creepy girls and that silly looking kid that meows, fire up your Wii and lets just see if we can get any scares out of this half baked idea.
GAMEPLAY:
Forget
the ‘story’ part of this game, as it basically
revolves around taking various characters through scary-boo houses. You
wander through many rooms, looking at long hair coming out of the
walls. Then, you usually see the little cat boy, and eventually you run
into Kayako, the groaning ghoul who tries to terrify you.
Gameplay involves
searching for an item like a key or some other object, and having a lit
up flashlight for which you need to find batteries. If you
don’t find batteries, Kayako will find you and get you. This
game just doesn’t cut the mustard. It’s so short,
you’ll likely breeze through it in about two hours. If
you’ve got the skill to grab the hidden objects and unlock
the Grudge house, it might last an extra half an hour.
Not only is the game
short, but it feels like it’s padded enough as it is because
every character moves SO slowly. They run occasionally, but their usual
pace is maddening and not in your control. Speaking of
control, there isn’t much to write home about. You can point
your remote, open doors and switches with A, and move forward with B.
If you want to move backwards, you use the D-Pad and if you want to
turn around, you flick the remote. Forget about strafing,
because you can’t.
This isn’t to
say that the game is a complete bust. All the noises, sounds and
atmosphere do add up to some creepy moments, especially if
you’re afraid of Kayako. This wouldn’t be so bad if
you could actually control your character during the nastier scares,
but you can’t because you’re put on rails. You do
not take control away in this day and age- that is unacceptable.
It’s annoying do have to do quicktime events in a game that
is crippled enough as it is.
And hey, do you like
dying? Because you’re going to be pissed when you play this
game you’re going to find yourself mashing the right button
and the game not responding. And you’d better not
waste any time, because you’ll lose flashlight power and
you’ll end up dying.
Don’t even get me started on the stupid multiplayer option
that isn’t a multiplayer option. If you want, player 2 can
press buttons on another Wiimote and you can curse while stupid
‘scary’ things happen on screen.
Gameplay: 4/10
GRAPHICS:
This game is pretty disappointing, visually. It looks like shovelware and it really is, more or less. If you like jagged, ugly pixelized characters, this game is for you. Amazingly, even the flashlight’s projection looks terrible. At best, these graphics are functional.
Graphics: 4/10
AUDIO:
The sound is the best part of this game, but that doesn’t say much. The orchestral theme is pretty decent, and it ramps up more and more as you plod along the scary places. The groans and background noises are well done too, although the sound of your footsteps gets maddening after awhile.
Audio: 7/10
FINAL VERDICT:
This is a failed experiment that essentially ruins a half decent idea. Here’s the truth- this is a game that was rushed to stores to hit the shelves before Halloween. It isn’t very fun, it isn’t very interesting, it isn’t overly scary (well, it wasn’t to me), and it looks like crap. This is banished to the black hole with all of the terrible Grudge sequels.
Final Score: 3/10
