- Created By Yuzna
"31 Days of Horror" DAY 2: Alone in the Dark (PC)
Welcome to DAY 2 of "31 Days of Horror". I'm your guide through this Horrible Night, ThatDudeWithTheSpreader (Yuzna).
Now for today, instead of doing another Film Review. Don't Worry I'm NOT Quitting on those, another one will be up for Day 3 (Tomorrow).
I'm doing a Lost Classics for this particular event. Don't worry it's going to be in the same structure as the regular segment. Instead, Since the month of October is wildly known as Halloween Season. It will be know as Lost Classics! [HALLOWEEN EDITION].
So What's the best way to look back at Overlooked Classics for The Month of October?.
By Look at Overlook Horror Video Games!!!
And What better way to kick of this special than starting off with the Granddaddy of Modern Horror Games...
Ladies and Gentleman of TheO Community. Met the Overlooked Classic "Alone in the Dark".
Released for PC (DOS/Windows OS), 3DO & Mac. The Floppy was released first in Europe in 1992, Followed by a CD Version a year later. The Same year when us Americans got the Disc Version.
This was Also followed with Ports for the 3DO & MAC Computer. The 3DO port was released on August 3rd, 1994. While the MAC port was released later that same year.
The Game was Developed in-house at Infogrames (Now Known as Atari). The Main Developers were Frédérick Raynal & Franck de Girolami.
While Infrograms Developed and Released the EU version. The NA version was published by Interplay.
STORY:
The Game opens in 1925 when Jeremy Hartwood, a noted artist and the owner of the Louisiana mansion Derceto, has committed suicide in the mansion's attic by hanging himself. The locals were not surprised of his death yet they were suspicious due to rumors of The Derceto Mansion being haunted by an evil power.
After the intro., the player is given the choice of playing either Edward Carnby, a private investigator who is sent to find a piano in the loft for an antique dealer or Emily Hartwood, The Niece of recently deceased Jeremy Hartwood. She's [Emily] looking for the Same Piano that Edward's trying to find because of a note that's located inside the piano that explains why her Uncle (Jeremy) committed Suicide. After Which ever character you've chosen to play enter's the mansion, the main door closes behind your character's back..... When that happens, Kiss Your Nerves Goodbye!
The Plot is Heavily influenced by the work of Beloved Horror Writer H.P. Lovecraft(A Writer that Fellow g1 & My best Friend Jerry got his g1 name from [AzathothNC]) . Two of his [Lovecraft's]creations from the Cthulhu Mythos, the Necronomicon (NOT the Necronomicon Ex Mortis XD) & De Vermis Mysteriis are found in the Mansion's Library.
GAMEPLAY:
The game plays out in a full 3D Environment. At the Beginning of the game, your only defense is your fists. As The Game Progress you'll find more destructible weapons such as firearms (mostly Pistols & Shotguns), Knives & Swords. Though the Movement of your character was sluggish. Remember this was still 1992 and it was HUGE achievement in the video game industry. It also gave birth to a new genre in Video Games: SURVIVAL HORROR!
The Enemies that are associated with Alone are: Zombies, Bipedal Rat like Creatures and other baddies that are mostly associated with the Supernatural. A Nice Diverse choice of baddies I do say so myself.
The Scares were Fantastic. Even Though this Game hasn't aged well graphics wise. I Still jump when an Enemy come out of nowhere and starts attacking me.
From the Game play to the Static in-game Camera. It inspired a Japanese Video Game Developer/Publisher by the Name of CAPCOM to Create their Own Game in the still Young Genre. That game which would be known as BIOHAZARD (AKA RESIDENT EVIL)Wouldn't be released until 4 years after Alone in the Dark's Debut.
Even Though The Controls for the Character are a pain. You'll get used to them as you progress through the title. For Any gamers who haven't play this classic, Remember back to the first time you've played Resident Evil. It may have been the PSX verison, The PC port, or The Sega Saturn Version... It Doesn't Really mater. All i'm trying to say is when you played Resident Evil, You were getting annoyed with the Controls but it didn't really bother you because you were trapped in the Experience of the game and More importantly... HAVING FUN!!!
I Just Wanted Younger Gamers who haven't played Alone in the Dark imagine what if felt like way back for myself and older gamers when playing this game. The Gameplay was awkward, The Movement and actions of your character were horrible. But it didn't matter because you were having fun.
Here's a Video Showing the game play of Alone:
SCORE:
What's a Survival Horror title not complete without a great Score. Composer Philippe Vachey created a beautiful and Haunting Score that went greatly with the the game's experience.
FINAL VERDICT:
Like I Said If It wasn't for the popularity of Alone in the Dark. We Wouldn't have Video Game Series Like BIOHAZARD (AKA Resident Evil), Dino Crisis, Silent Hill, Clock Tower, & Those other iconic Horror Series(Ironically the first 2 i mentioned are CAPCOM Titles XD). Also, Like i Said eariler. Even Though The Games Graphics haven't aged well, The Game is Still a hell of fun to play. For Gamers Who missed out on the opportunity to play this iconic title should give this game a try. Just to see if they only like it or not. But also to see how this Now Popular Genre came to be.
For Older Gamers, I actually played this game recently. As I started playing Alone, All the Memories of me playing this game 15 Years ago came back. Even In This age of HD Gaming, I Still had fun playing this game. And I'm proud to be called a Retro Gamer!
Newer Gamers = HIGH RECCOMENDATION
Older Gamers = What do you Think ? -__-......
HIGH RECCOMENDATION!
And With That, This includes DAY 2 of "31 Days of Horror"!
Again, I'm ThatDudeWithTheSpreader and I'll see you next time on LOST CLASSICS!
Lost Classics! "Where Overlooked Classics are given another shot"
"31 Days of Horror" DAY 4: D (Sega Saturn)
Welcome to DAY 4 of "31 Days of Horror". I'm your reviewer for the evening, ThatDudeWithTheSpreader (Yuzna).
Since my last review was 1992's "Alone in the Dark for the PC. I'm going to continue in this era and SOME early 2000's of gaming for the remainder of this edition of Lost Classics. But they're going to be different years, not chronological. I just want to be different from the other reviewers XD.
Anyways, tonight I'm going to review a game for the Sega Saturn. This particular game is considered by retro gamers (as i) more of an interactive movie than a actual game. But this game/interactive movie is entertaining non the less.
To the Lads and Ladies of theO Community, Tonight's Lost Classic is 1995's D.
(WARNING: This review is based off the Saturn Port.)
D or in it's native language, D no Shokutaku (Long Gone Video game Magazine, GAMEFAN translated it as "D's Dinner". While it's really "Dinner Table". Not Quote my on that!), was released on December 1st, 1995 for the Sega Saturn, PSX, 3DO & PC worldwide. The Sega Saturn version is the most known of the other ports.
The Game was developed by Japanese-based Company W.A.R.P. (This Company would be later know as Superwarp near it's end.) The Main Developer was Kenji Eno.
An Unknown WARP empolyee at the time, Fumito Ueda, would later leave WARP in 1997. He then joined Sony Computer Europe (SCE) as a developer. With SCE, Ueda would then create modern masterpieces with his own Team, Team ICO. These masterpieces Ueda would create are ICO, Shadow of the Colossus, and the upcoming PlayStation 3 game, The Last Guardian.
Also included in this Company's Team was Ichirō Itano, Artist, Producer & Director of the Famous Mech Series, Macross.
This Game was published in Japan by Panasonic Interactive Media. Acclaim, would publish the game, D, for the American Audience. The Only Port that didn't make it to the US Market was the 3DO Version. There is a Director's Cut version of D that feature deleted scenes that weren't used for the US Verison, the family's background & included in the package, a minidisc that contained D's Score that was also composed by the game's developer, Kenji Eno. However, This Cut of D is Extremely Rare. Think of this Cut to be: "SUPER ULTRA MEGA DEVIL DIRECTOR'S CUT!" XD
Thought This game did well in it's native, Japan. The US version, sadly did not.... And That's why it's a LOST CLASSIC!
Also, The US version was HEAVILY Censored! I Agree with the Happy Video Game Nerd, That D, is The Most Graphic T Rated Game I've Seen!
STORY:
The game's starts with the Main Character, Laura Harris. She's contacted by the Los Angeles police. Laura has received some disturbing news regarding her father, Dr. Richter Harris. Richter, a supervisor of a LA Hospital has gone on a killing spree. During this horrific event, he barricaded himself in the hospital. Laura, after hearing this horrific news, rushed to the hospital. She was hoping to find answers as to why her father, a well -respected doctor, committed these grisly deaths. As Laura entered the hospital, she is welcomed to the grotesque mutilated bodies laid across the hospital's dark corridors. Creeping forward, She is then taken by a metallic entity to an unknown, Gothic castle.
What Will she find in this terrifying castle?
What will become of her and her father?
Would we get an answer as to why Mr. Harris snapped?
You'll just have to play this game to find out......
GAMEPLAY:
It's hard to explain this game's control....
The way this game is played is, it's more of an interactive movie than a actual game. you move Laura with the d-pad. You also use the d-pad to highlight an item or when your doing a puzzle.
Also, The shoulder buttons are used to check your inventory. But, Be Warned Gamers! The Puzzles in D are HARD AS HELL!!!!!
Again, it's hard to say because it's a interactive movie. Think of D as a game based off of MYST. Except being on an island, it's eerie castle....
NOT GOING TO SHOW GAMPLAY!!!!
Even thought It's hard for me to explain to Gameplay, I can say this, the game WILL scare to living crap out of you!!! The Environment, both the hospital in the intro and the Castle gives you, the player, that feeling that this place is going to be the death of you! To other Horror fans, You know what I mean! :(
Also, If you take long enough for the time limit to run out, YOU DIE!!!!. Yes, I Forgot to mention that, there's a Time Limit! Also, No Save Points and Unable to Pause the game! Now that's what I call a good challenging game... WELL PLAYED WARP!
This Game also had three different endings (Good, Bad & Perfect).
Sadly, The Only flaw this game had..... IT'S SHORT!!!!
SCORE:
It's really impressive that the developer Kenji Eno, not only made this fantastic game, but made an eerie yet compelling score. Not only that, I would like to say that WARP's sound department, did a fantastic job. I really think it's on par with System Shock 2's Sound.
Sadly, There's no music that i could find from D that was uploaded onto the internet :(. Sorry guys, but trust me fellow gamers, when you do get the chance to play this masterpiece, you ARE gonna be shocked!
FINAL VERDICT:
I really had a very fun time playing this lost gem again. It's due to the fact that it feels like your watching a fantastic Japanese Horror film. Actually, I really think that's what developer, Kenji Eno, was try to accomplish with D no Shokutaku. If That's the case Eno-San, WELL DONE!!!!!
Now I hope that since D's, more of an interactive movie than an actual game, that it doesn't turn younger gamers away from playing this. Though it's a movie, the player will be terrified with the amount of gore & disturbing imagery that's shown in this game. Not only that, but whoever was the scriptwriter for D, did a Tremendous job. The Way he (scriptwriter) Executed the events that occurred was Fantastic.
Also, When playing as Laura, It feels like your playing as the typical last surviving girl in a 80's Slasher film. (i.e. Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, etc.) Which always brings a smile to my face since i'm a Horror Buff.
My advice Otakus, NEVER PLAY THIS GAME WHEN IT'S DARK!!!!! Trust me fellow gamers of old & new, You'll thank me!
Also, since I played this game back in the late 90's, It got my into the J-Horror movies that have been causing a Huge Buzz these days....
Even though I just said, Not to play it in the dark....
Don't cheat yourself by watching various clips on youtube!!! Go Out, Buy a Copy & play the way it was meant to be played.
Having the Room be pitch Black and the Volume WAY UP!
As I end this review of D, let me quote what Derek Alexander, The Happy Video Game Nerd, said about this game:
"Though more of an interactive movie than a game, D is still one of the scariest and most unique experiences in gaming."
HIGH RECOMMENDATION!!!!
And to prove my point, that what both myself & Derek said about this game, Here's his (Happy VG Nerd)Review:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And with this evening's review of Lost Classics finished, DAY 4 is done!
Tune in tomorrow evening fellow Otakus, for DAY 5 of "31 Days of Horror".
I'm ThatDudeWithTheSpeader! Thanks for reading!
Oh and Remember:
"When there's no more room in hell, The Dead will walk the earth!"
"31 Days of Horror" DAY 3: Review of George Romero's Martin
It's DAY 3 of 31 "Days of Horror"!
Welcome back to The [Untitled] Film Block. I'm Your Reviewer for the Evening, Ikari Warrior's ThatDudeWithTheSpeader (AKA Yuzna).
Tonight, I'm going to review another Under appreciated film by one of The Masters of Horror, George A. Romero.
Besides making iconic Zombies films & a cult Horror film (i.e. The Crazies). Romero made a Modern Vampire Film.
This Particular film was released 5 years after The Crazies and, Sadly, fell to the same fate as it's precursor.
G1 Community of ScrewAttack, Meet his other cult classic. The 1978 Vampire Film, Martin....
Trailer to "Martin":
PLOT:
The title character, Martin Mathias-played by John Amplas-may LOOK like a regular teenage boy, but in reality is an 83 year old vampire. He lives with his uncle and niece in the dying town of Braddock, Pennsylvania. His superstitious uncle, Tada Cuda-played by Lincoln Maaze-treats him like the creatures of old myths & tries to repel Martin's vampiric instincts by using strings of garlic bulbs nailed around the house, along with a crucifix. These are unsuccessful.
Since Martin is a vampire, he needs to feed on blood. But, unlike the vampires of old, Mr. Romero made an interesting twist: he sedats his victims [All of whom are women] with syringes full of narcotics. Once his victims are unconscious, he would then slices said victim's wrists with a razor blade and drinks the blood.
The movie ends with a twist that brings something new to the vampire mythology, & it also suggests to the viewer that this disease is more widespread than we originally thought.
CASTING:
What can I say? The actors & actress who played their respective characters made them believable to the audience, especially Actor John Amplas, the man who played the title character, as he made the protagonist mysterious, yet frighting. It was also nice to see Martin's writer/director, George A. Romero, as Father Howard. Also, seeing the Godfather of Gore, legendary special effects and makeup artist Tom Savini, being in the cast as the character Arthur was a must see for horror buffs.
SCORE:
Like in George A. Romero's previous films, Martin's composer Donald Rubinstein made a haunting score that fit the world perfectly. The band Goblin, who previously worked with another legendary horror director named Dario Argento, composed the Italian version of Martin. This relationship would continue with Romero when he asked them to compose the score to his sequel of Night of the Living Dead-1978's "Dawn of the Dead" (Credited as "The Goblins").
FINAL VERDICT:
This film failed due to bad distribution. Luckily, this film was more widely known, unlike his previous film The Crazies. But, sadly, this movie was also overshadowed by The Living Dead films. However, horror fans regard this as both a great 1970's B-Film and one of Romero's best pictures in his 41 years as a director. I also think that it not only revived the Vampire Genre, (that and the film's from UK-based studio Hammer Pictures,) but also made an unique take on mythology.
Anyone who is a horror fan, or a fan of George Romero's work, should buy this underappreciated classic!
HIGH RECOMMENDATION!!!!
DAY 3 of "31 Days of Horror" is Done!
If There's anyone that wants to leave a message, the E-Mail is: [email protected]
As always, I'm g1theincrediblejeff. See you Tomorrow for DAY 4 of "31 Days of Horror"!
"Good...Bad....I'm The Guy with the Spreader"- ThatDudeWithTheSpeader
ScrewAttack COTW: Team ScrewAttack
Hwy guys, Yuzna here!
Remember in my introduction blog to theO. I Mentioned a Retro gaming site called ScrewAttack? A Site that comes up with New Content every day.....EVERY DAY!!!!
Well this one of their Segments. It's called "The Clip of the Week (COTW). The Premise is they either take a Video Game movie intro., an old video game commercial, etc. and They put their own Unique but Hilarious spin of the original.
This Week's COTW. The ScrewAttack Crew are Parodying a well-known VALVE game.
Here's the Description from the man himself StudderingCraig:
"We realize that some of you have no idea who is actually producing these videos... what's up with that?"
http://screwattack.com/Clip/TeamUs
If their are any otakus that want to join ScrewAttack. The site's: http://screwattack.com/
If Any otakus that do join SA. Look me up my g1 name is:theincrediblejeff
Anyways I'll post up DAY 2 of "31 Days of Horror" later Tonight MWAHAHAHA!!!!
I'm Yuzna and I'll see you guys later!
"31 Days of Horror" DAY 1: Review of George Romero's The Crazies
Welcome to a new segment i'm doing for "31 Days of Horror"
called The [Untitled] Film Block. This is the first time i'm going to review a film. So I hope for a first timer it's good.
Anyways, For the first Review. I'm going to review a Under appreciated classic from one of the Masters of Horror. The Godfather of Zombie Films, George A. Romero. He is one of my influences in the Horror genre. Especially His Legendary Living Dead Films. But Besides creating one of the most influential Horror Series in Modern Cinema. He's Made some fantastic Films that are overlooked.
To theO Community, Meet his 1973 classic The Crazies....
TRAILER TO THE 1973 ORIGINAL:
Background:
This Movie Follows 2 Subplots. One that follow's the Citizens of the town Evans City, Pennsylvania (Most of Romero's films are BOTH filmed and based in Pennysylvania. The Same State where he met "Night of the Living Dead" Co-writer and friend John A. Russo) that consist of Firemen David played by Will MacMillan & Clank played by Harold Wayne Jones. Judy, David's Girlfriend and a Nurse at the local Hospital is played by Lane Carroll.
During The Film's Plot, It's hinted that Characters David was a Green Beret and Clank was an Infantrymen in the Vietnam War.
The Other Subplot comes into introducing new Characters later in the film.
Like Previous Romero films. He [Romero] Portrayed the U.S. Military as Abusive Men that hunger for complete power. Which He would use again in a Certain Zombie Film and Especially create one of my favorite Villains in Modern Cinema.
PLOT:
The Town of Evans City has been having it's share of Strange Events recently. This includes an arson fire at the local farm caused by a deranged farmer
OR SO WE THINK!!!!!
This Event concerns locals David & Judy due to her being Pregnant with David's Child.
Later, Heavily armed U.S. troops clad in NBC suits and equipped with gas masks and led by Major Ryder arrive at the town and take over the local doctor's office where recently introduced character Judy works at as a Nurse.
After the takeover, The Major [Ryder] reveals that a U.S. Military plane carrying an untested bioweapon crashed in the Hills of Evans City Recently. The Bioweapon codenamed "Trixie" infected the town's water supply causing any one who consumes it to become either homicidal. OR DIE!!!!! XD.
During this Revelation, The top brass in Washington D.C. Enlist Colonel Peckam (played by Lloyd Hollar). The Officials send Peckam to Evans City to "Contain" said Virus. As we All know while watching a Horror film, When The Word "Contain" Comes up it's usually a VERY BAD SIGN!.
With Peckam on his way to Evans City. A government scientist named Dr. Watts (Played by Richard France) arrives in the town to find a Cure before the Virus spread out of Pennsylvania and into the Nation's Streams and Lakes.
Again, I don't want to tell too much of the film's plot because it's very good. So Good That he reused the Characterization of the Military and it's leader in a certain at the time future film XD.
I can tell you that this film does have a Dark and Depressing Ending.
Casting:
The way each Actor/actress plays they're respective character. They make the Audience feel pity for them, Despise them, etc.
Yes Some of the Acting comes off Cheesy. But remember that this was the early 70's and at the time it was still okay.
This is One of Romero's films that shows why he's consider Not only one of the Masters of Horror. But also the Godfather of Zombies flicks. This is the best at what he does. Being A Great and Influential Director
Score:
From what I remember from the Movie's Score. Composer Bruce Roberts made a Atmospheric score that felt right for the movie. Like I said, I Slightly remember the music due to the fact I haven't seen this movie in 11 years..
FINAL VERDICT:
Like I Said in the intro. this particular film didn't have great success like his previous films due to the poor distribution of the picture. Also, Recently watching this movie to recall parts that I Forgot. This Movie actually inspired him to write the plot and Characters to one of my favorite movies from him. I Been Constantly trying to hide this film's title, but if any g1 has figured it out. MORE POWER TO YOU!!!!!
This movie is truly one Romero's lost Classics and Even since this movie was released on VHS & re-released on DVD, I'm proud that the Horror Community has embraced this picture in the same sense of his much more famous films.
This film is also getting a Remake. Now I have a Love/Hate relationship with Horror Remakes. There are some Remakes I think that are good Modern interpretations of the original and actually makes the younger generations check out the original.
But It's Mostly HATE towards Horror Remakes that I thank god that at least the original is Available and lets the bad remake fade away from my mind into nothingness. Also, It let's younger generations check out the Original to decide their own Opinions.
So Which ever way you look at it. It's a Win-Win Situation.
So Far this Remake looks good so Far. You g1s decide!
THE CRAZIES (2010) REMAKE:
And That's it DAY 1 of "31 Days of Horror" is done.
Prepare for Tomorrow for DAY 2 of The 31 Days of Horror XD!!!!!
[PLEASE LEAVE ANY COMMENT!
Also you can message me at [email protected]....
Again, This is my First Time Reviewing a Movie. So Please if There are any errors Please Let me know so that i can fixed them :)]
"Good...Bad....I'm The Guy with the Spreader"- ThatDudeWithTheSpreader
