As if prison wasn't bad enough, this one is invaded by sinister creatures and ghosts, exterminating all human life in Abbott Prison. As Torque, you make your way through the game with your diverse collection of deadly weapons, from a shiv to a Tommy Gun. No matter what gives you the creeps, this grisly game will most likely keep you up at night. Tempted to rent The Suffering after a friend told me it was almost impossible for him to play alone, I headed to my local Blockbuster and pretty much spent the entire day playing through the game on Easy mode. Fortunately, I'm only 80% done with the story, which means I won't accidently slip and tell you the endings, as there are 3. Gameplay As Torque, you can switch between third-person and first-person views, using the Square button. This is one of the game's strong features, as it's sometimes easier to complete an objective in one view rather than the other. Third-person is usually better when you have a swarm of monsters attacking you at all angles. While first-person is more comfortable when your enemies are in front of you. Interaction with your enviroment is something Suffering doesn't lack, whether you're opening lockers, picking up the phone only to recieve a busy signal, or pulling/pushing large objects away from doors or to a desirable location. As seen in such games as Tomb Raider, Torque has the ability to move key objects: vending machines, cages, or boxes in order to advance in the level. In addition, Torque can use melee weapons to hack away at wooden boards or boxes blocking doors. As you'd expect, this cold-hearted criminal is in good shape and can do whatever it takes to escape Abbott. Torque's jumps feel about as high as Freeman in the original Half-Life, reaching a decent height off the ground. Jumping (R2) near a ledge will enable Torque to jump extra high to grab on and pull himself up. He can perform a sideways roll in either direction, and is a pretty fast runner. The game's pace is comfortable, not too fast nor too slow, which makes it all that more enjoyable. As seen in most movies, while killing enemies, their blood will splatter all over Torque's undershirt and immerse him crimson delight. In first-person mode, the realistic blood is visible on your gun or guns (you are able to hold dual pistols). I'm not sure, but I think blood underneath your sneakers will make a sloppy sound as you walk. That hasn't been confirmed, but a soggy walk or not, the blood in this game is outright stunning. Graphics Though I don't tend to put too much emphasis on graphics, is always a nice bonus. I personally prefer realistic models to cartoony or exaggerated ones, and 'Suffering' doesn't exactly deliver. Though the graphics aren't terrible, and will not bother the pickiest of gamers, it just doesn't take full advantage of the Playstation 2 hardware. The models look slightly disfigured, textures aren't all that great, and the character's faces look a little too plain. The graphics in The Suffering could easily be compared to that of Manhunt. On the brighter side, the lighting effects are super effective, as most of your light is produced by a small flashlight attached to Torque's shirt. Monsters There are a variety of monsters in Suffering, all representing different forms of executions. There are the Slayers, who we first meet who are spider-like creatures who can climb on walls and ceilings but also have the ability to lift up off the ground and attack you on foot. Next you meet Marksmen, who are large creatures with built-in rifles that can do decent damage. Further in the game you meet the mainliners, small creatures injected with a plethora of needles all around their body containing a green, deadly substance. Their blood being acid, they can damage you even after you kill them if you happen to walk over one's corpse. With these come humans and other hideous creatures who desire your life. Multiple Endings In The Suffering, there is a good, bad and neutral way to end the game based on the way you played through or decisions you made during levels. For example, players who invest time in good deeds, such as saving inmates from perilous situations will be rewarded with the good ending. However, killing them will most likely result in the bad one.
The Suffering was one of those games that kind of slipped under the radar for me, but one day I came across a review for it that was generally favorable and seeing as I'm a big fan of survival horror I wasted no time in ... Read Full Review
From the looks of the screenshots, you'd probably think this is your average third-person shooter. Lurking behind the box lies one of the most engaging horror titles I've ever played. Loaded with tons of blood, swearing,... Read Full Review
