Taking advantage of a complex and detailed religious tradition to create a finely sculpted atmosphere takes some talent.
This review is by no means an objective analysis of the games inherent quality, or a representation of anything other than the reviewer's personal experiences with the game. Any recommendations given out are based merely on the preferences of the writer and are by no means a guide for the reader to warrant purchases. Any reader should take this review with a grain of salt and if they are unsure as to whether the game will please them, to try it out before buying, as we all have our own personal preferences.
-REVIEW-
This game is not something that will appeal to very many people, but it could be surprisingly interesting for people who know nothing about Buddhism or Tibet. As both a Buddhist and scholar of Buddhism, I found this game exceptionally interesting despite its faults, and its use of the Buddhist tradition is very well-implemented. It just shows how much games are missing out when it comes to using religion as a basis for atmosphere and story.
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Gameplay
This is where basically all the game's faults lie. The gesture Quick Time Events are interesting as a means of making the player make "ritual movements" (mudras) but they hardly work half the time, and can get frustrating. Had these been better implemented, the game would have been much better. Other than the gesture QTE's, the gameplay is pretty basic (point and "shoot" with tank-control exploration) and helps increase tension. It is a flawed game design, but it works most of the time.
Story/Atmosphere
This game uses Tibetan Buddhism exceptionally well. Deep Silver definitely did a ton of research, and it shows in every little facet of the game's areas and story elements. The story is pretty simple, and the ending is a bit of a let-down... but the atmosphere throughout is amazing. It is constricting and always ominous.
Sound/Music
This is probably the best part of the game. Every area has either Tibetan-styIe music playing off in the background, or there is Buddhist chanting... which in the Tibetan styIe (that really low, almost grunting sound) is exceedingly creepy. All the enemies sound equally creepy and they definitely make you feel never-at-ease when around. And the blowing snow on top of the mountain always makes you feel cold and alone.
Technical Design/Graphics
It is a pretty average looking game. The graphics aren't the best the Wii has to offer, but they are far from the worst. The level design outside of Tibetan villages and Buddhist temples is pretty bland, but we are talking about snow-capped mountains, not lush rainforests.
Art Design
Again, the influence from Tibetan Buddhism is rife in every aspect. From statues of bodhisattvas and buddhas, to thangkas and other wall hangings, to incense and the basic architecture of temples and homes... all of it is highly-detailed and placed with a purpose. The character design is very good, and the Bardo-spirit and boss enemy designs are very unique (I don't know if they are Buddhism-inspired though, I have never seen them before).
Content/Value
There is not much in the game besides the main progression from beginning to end, but it is enjoyable while it lasts. I can see myself playing it again sometime in the future, just to experience the story again, and perhaps dig a little deeper into how they integrated Buddhist philosophy into the story and gameplay. But for the $10 I paid for the game, this was an exceptional deal. Though, I wouldn't think it would be worth much more. But if you do buy it, try to buy it new, because Deep Silver needs some financial support to make more games like this.
Difficulty
When the controls work, it isn't really that hard. Sometimes you need to look really hard to figure out what to do, but you never really get lost or aren't indirectly shown what to do. A lot of the combat requires patience and some intuition, since you aren't told really how to do much of anything, but those willing to look will enjoy it.
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-Overall-
It definitely isn't a game for everyone, but it is certainly a solid entry on the Wii and uses motion controls in some of the more meaningful ways I've seen applied over the years. The atmosphere and art design are very immersive and for anyone who is a fan of Buddhist art or Tibetan culture would definitely find this game worth their time.
Verdict: 8.5/10
Note on score: The way I score games does not in any way reflect its content or quality. This score is merely a quantification of how much I enjoyed playing the game, and how "good" of a game it is to me. As the reader, you may disagree entirely, but this is how I felt about the game, and not how I think others *should* feel about it. Go and try it for yourself before you decide whether or not its worth your time and money. I am merely writing this review for my own benefit. If you get something from it, that's great.