By Matthew Scott Hunter
Reaching new heights
Survivor horror will have gamers on edge of their seat
‘Cursed Mountain’ (M)
****
Deep Silver
Wii
“Resident Evil 4” was such a landmark game and reinvention of survival horror, I suppose it was just a matter of time before other games in the genre adopted the same format. So here’s another creepy adventure that you’ll experience looking over your avatar’s right shoulder, occasionally halting in your tracks to input context-sensitive combat commands. It’s a testament to how original everything else is in “Cursed Mountain” that the game still manages to feel unique.
First off, there’s the setting. The game is one long ascent into the snowy peaks of the Himalayas. Fog and snowfall obscure your view just enough to keep you persistently on edge, while still allowing you turn around and marvel at how far you’ve climbed. Then, there’s the story. You’re on a search for your lost brother, and the fraternal back story gradually reveals itself as you learn more and more about the mountain’s connections to Buddhist mysticism. You could watch someone else play this game and still be dying to find out what happens next. On the downside, you do move and fight like a guy who’s just scaled a mountain, which is to say, sluggishly. Walking is slow and stiff, and when you’re swinging your pickaxe at the supernatural, the motion commands don’t always register. But we can attribute that to elevation sickness. While “Resident Evil 5” gave us exactly what we expected after “Resident Evil 4,” “Cursed Mountain” has captured that elusive feeling of being new, and thus, reaches new heights.
‘Guitar Hero 5’ (T)
****
Activision
Xbox 360, Wii
Compared to this week’s release of “The Beatles: Rock Band,” “Guitar Hero 5” seems like, “been there, done that.” At first. Sure, it’s the same onslaught of scrolling button cues we’ve seen time and again, but it’s the little tweaks that make GH5 the best in the series so far. The menus are streamlined, the options are user friendly, and anyone who’s purchased one of these games for a party only to discover that just a handful of songs are unlocked will be thrilled to learn that all 85 songs are available straight out of the box. Add to that a band mode where players can drop in and out at their leisure while the song plays on, and you’ve got a package that rocks.
‘Spectrobes: Origins’ (E10+)
***
Disney Interactive Studios
Wi
After two entries on the Nintendo DS, “Spectrobes” has jumped to the Wii in all of its vibrantly colorful glory. It’s sort of a less lazy man’s “Pokemon.” Rather than forcing cute little creatures to fight for you in turn-based battles, these Spectrobes fight alongside you in real time. Consequently, it’s something of a button-masher. But fans of cute critter collection will enjoy reviving these creatures from fossilized forms and nurturing them into mighty combatants.
‘Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box’ (E10+)
***1/2
Nintendo
Nintendo DS
Like the good professor’s last adventure, the story of “Diabolical Box” is really just an excuse for a series of brain-teasing mini-games that make good use of the DS’ unique attributes. There’s a little more variety this time around, thanks to a train that carries you to multiple places, rather than the one environment you were confined to in the first game. The presentation is still simple, but endearing, and some of the puzzles are borderline brilliant.
