ObsCure II (Wii) Review
Obscure II is an above average game which offers a different take on the survival horror genre. By blending the arbitrary creepy atmosphere and scary monsters with co-operative gameplay and a cheesy teen horror movie storyline, Obscure II carves its own niche in the Wiis growing library.
Set two years after the original, Obscure II swaps the high school setting for a university campus and sees the surviving characters from the first game battling a new plant-based threat. Its all pretty standard survival horror stuff, but the university setting does allow for some less generic storytelling by allowing the writers to really indulge in some moments that are straight out of a b-grade horror movie. There is nothing groundbreaking about the narrative, in fact it can be quite silly at times, but it does enough to set it apart from the standard Resident Evil/Silent Hill storyline. Obscure II never takes itself too seriously and that is a nice change for the genre.
One of the other elements that helps set Obscure II apart from rival survival horror games is the emphasis on co-operative gameplay. The player is almost always in control of two characters and many of the games puzzles are based around combining the skills and attributes of those two individuals. A second player can enter or leave the game at any time, and it is amazing how much more fun a game can become when two real-life people are required to communicate to get a task done. The game is certainly playable as a one player game, but it really shines as a two player experience.
The overall presentation is above average with some reasonable graphics and excellent sound really helping to set the right tone and atmosphere. The soundtrack really shines and there is a level of detail throughout that is too often lacking in Wii games. It is quite apparent from the outset that Obscure II is a port of a PS2 game, but that doesnt mean the quality of the experience is low. If more PS2 ports were of this standard, Wii owners would have very little to complain about.
The controls are usually where Wii owners are let down with PS2 ports, but thankfully the controls in Obscure II seem to have survived the transition and are actually quite responsive and well-designed. Waving the Wii-Remote will swing a melee weapon and the IR pointer functionality is well implemented, otherwise the controls are reasonably standard stuff. The camera system is fine, although it will occasionally pick a bad angle making combat more difficult than it should be.
The game should take around 10 hours to complete and is pretty light on extra material. Players with limited time will appreciate the brevity, but those looking for a lengthier experience will be disappointed. The story is engaging enough to keep players at it to the end, but there really isnt any reason to come back to Obscure II once it is over.
Obscure II is a survival horror game with plenty of potential that unfortunately never quite reaches the heights set by the Resident Evils and Silent Hills of the genre. The emphasis on co-operative play and the unique teen horror movie storyline really set Obscure II apart, but the reliance on too many other survival horror clichs brings the experience back to familiar territory. It is never going to be a breakout hit, but should be able to find a niche with those looking for a game to play with a friend.
