Obscure: The Aftermath PSP Review

Obscure: The Aftermath has just been ported for the PSP, just in time for Halloween! You could indulge in your favorite cult horror Blockbuster rental, why not dive into a survival horror game for a much more interactive experience?

This is my first taste of the Obscure franchise, having missed out on not only the first game, but also the original version of this sequel. I hope to offer a unique view to others who have never had the pleasure, but are curious to give it a try.

The story of Obscure: The Aftermath continues the saga of the surviving cast of the first Obscure game, now enrolled in college. A mysterious plant that students have been serving up as a recreational tea (you’re not fooling me, that’s bong water!) rages out of control, turning everyone on campus into death-wielding monsters.

The tone of the game is much less serious than the more popular Resident Evil or Silent Hill series. It has a more Western attitude toward cinematic horror. Similar to American horror films, the characters are all hip 20-somethings that are quick to dispense sexual innuendo and show more concern for petty trivialities than the horrific, life-endangering reality they face. This may not appeal to the hardcore survival horror fans, but it could accommodate for a more entertaining experience to the casual player.

Aftermath continues the recent trend of multiplayer survival horror. Two characters are playable at the same time, with players within WiFi range able to join up and dish Evil a red-ass beating together. Players need only to keep their PSP’s WiFi switch turned on and anyone can jump into the fray at any time.

Each playable character has his or her own areas of specialty, like hacking, muscle, lock-picking, or even magic. This extends teamwork beyond just deciding who swings the shotgun or hockey stick. Each character has a role to play in advancing through the area.

You do have the option of playing through the game single-player, controlling both characters as a tag-team. I have no friends, so this was a solo adventure for me.

One thing that I absolutely must rave over is the controls. It doesn’t matter how cinematic a game’s plot or how gorgeous the graphics; if the controls are crap, there’s no way to effectively engage the player. Aftermath has a control scheme that is very easy to master and feels comfortable, even in mid-skirmish.

Other than declaring a jihad against bloodthirsty botanicals, you do have the standard labyrinth of puzzles to conquer along your way. There are geographical puzzles, where the intuitive path may be blocked and you’re forced to investigate your own detour. And of course, there’s always the simplest of obstacles: The “This door is locked. Where’s the key?” puzzle.

Expect to consult a player’s guide frequently, since it’s easy to miss hidden keys or clues. Not all of them appear to blink and some are too small to see on the PSP’s petite screen. When you’re stuck, forced to resort to running along every wall in every room frantically tapping ‘X’, it can disrupt the immersion.

Conversely, the puzzles that don’t require Robert Langdon have solutions that are served right to you. One of the characters will instruct you through your immediate chore. This polarization of difficulty mixed with bland puzzles can be disappointing.

Naturally, there’s more to worry about than puzzles and brain teasers on your path to unraveling the plot. It’s survival horror, and that means monsters! The action beats well make up for the milktoast puzzles. Switching to Aiming Mode, you’re able to target and toggle through each creature in the area to focus your attacks. Meanwhile, you’re AI-controlled partner wails on whatever gets too close.

The Health & Weapon Mode maps assigned pieces of inventory to your control buttons, making it easy to quickly heal up and batter up in the heat of battle. You’ll still need to keep nimble your fingers, since gameplay doesn’t pause while you’re reaching for that Red Bull.

After putting Obscure: The Aftermath to the test, I say it’s a fun experience for single player, though not extraordinary. Where this game excels is in multiplayer. It’s unfortunate that truly enjoying what this game has to offer depends so heavily on a second person, since a partner may not be so conveniently available when you’re ready to rumble. But if you’re laying alone in bed, late at night, with the lights out and PSP in hand…you’ll still find a fairly satisfying experience.

I recommend you rent two copies of the game for a weekend–one for yourself and one for a buddy. Pass around the PSPs to see who else the game sticks to. From there, you can find which friend will join you in a pact to also buy a copy of the game to compliment your own.