As a seasoned gamer with over three decades of gaming under my belt, I must say that The Thing: Remastered has been a thrilling journey back to my roots. Having grown up playing survival horror games like Alien and Resident Evil, this title took me right back to those tense moments of fear and uncertainty.
In 2002, Computer Artworks made a bold attempt with The Thing video game. It wasn’t about mindlessly shooting at The Thing creature. Instead, they aimed to embed the core element of The Thing – suspicion and mistrust – into the very essence of the game. To some extent, they succeeded, making it a cherished title for those who played it. However, there were flaws that remained unaddressed, preventing it from achieving perfection.
Picking up where Carpenter left off
The video game “The Thing” was launched as a follow-up to John Carpenter’s 1982 movie of the same title. In this game, players assume the character of Captain J.F. Blake, leading an American military team to explore Outpost 31, a science research camp following the events depicted in the film. The site is left in ruins, with chaos all around. As Blake and his team delve deeper into the mystery, they soon realize they may have bitten off more than they can chew. Evidence of the infamous shape-shifting creature from the movie, capable of mimicking any form it has encountered, abounds everywhere.
In a short while, Blake shifts his quest towards the neighboring Norwegian camp, where desperate survivors have sent out distress signals over the radio. As he delves into the investigation and confronts numerous terrifying alien creatures, it becomes evident that not every seemingly friendly soldier can be relied upon. Some have fallen prey to assimilation and are merely disguised as humans, potentially lurking as threats among us. Anyone who’s gone unseen for a moment or hasn’t undergone a blood test could be a hidden monster poised to strike.
The fundamental idea behind The Thing video game is that every Non-Player Character (NPC) you interact with could potentially be infected and transform into a monster. However, due to the storyline constraints in 2002, not all transformations were truly random. To address this issue, Nightdive Studios made an innovative change by modifying the scripted transformation sequences. Now, certain characters might break down under fear, losing control and becoming unpredictable. While it’s not a perfect solution, it does reintroduce an element of mystery into the game regarding who will transform and when, which was missing before.
That improvement is a cherry on top of the usual quality work that Nightdive has applied to all aspects of the game. It runs crisp as silk with near-zero load times, and is generally cleaner and easier to control across the board. The sound and music has been cleaned up as well and, for a 2002 game, it looks about as clean and polished as can be without a full-on remake. The dialogue might be the only place that really stands out as a sore spot. Cleaned up or not, most of the voice lines are pretty awkward, if not downright stereotypical action-hero fodder.
Keep a flamethrower in reach at all times
As a passionate fan, I’d say the gameplay in The Thing: Remastered is remarkably similar to its original version, save for certain enhancements. You find yourself immersed in the storyline, exploring a chilling mystery at the Antarctic outposts where the ominous Thing was unearthed.
In my gaming adventure, as I progress through each level, mutated creatures are waiting to pounce. The smaller ones can be easily taken down with gunfire, but the larger ones demand a strategic approach – a quick succession of bullets followed by an application of fire. This strategy becomes all the more crucial because it means that if I’m not equipped with a flamethrower or some fire ammunition, I’m at a significant disadvantage.
As a gamer, I’ve come to realize that any character I’m controlling could suddenly transform into a ‘Thing’ if they’re attacked or go out of sight for a second. The game randomly decides this could happen to any soldier at any point during combat with monsters. There’s also a fear mechanic in the game. Soldiers start acting erratically under various circumstances, such as seeing dead bodies and gore, or even just encountering strange creatures. However, they can be calmed down by providing them with weapons and ammunition. The only way to truly gain their trust is by proving to them that I’m not a ‘Thing’ myself.
Blood test kits function similarly to rare treasures in a game. They’re the unique tools to verify definitively whether someone is infected, serving as a means of assurance for both yourself and your teammates. You can use them on doubtful allies to alleviate suspicion, or employ one on yourself to assure others that you’re uninfected. These items are scarce in the game, and often, you’ll find yourself relying on trust or proceeding cautiously with questionable allies who might react adversely if pushed too far.
Nightdive Studios didn’t alter the game formula at all and instead enhanced it, but there’s one thing I find lacking – The Thing could use more heft. Everything moves too swiftly and lacks significant impact. This is a constraint inherent to the original game, and Nightdive Studios can only do so much about it. Frankly, this leaves me yearning for a comprehensive remake or a sequel that might build upon these foundations and delve deeper into them. However, given the improvements made to an otherwise engaging title, their work is commendable.
A Thing of beauty
For historians and enthusiasts, “The Thing” is definitely worth the cost, as it offers unique concepts and gameplay mechanics that are hard to find elsewhere. However, it’s not without its flaws – there are moments where the speed feels off and some of the dialogue can be awkward. But despite these issues, “The Thing: Remastered” adds an intriguing twist to the horror genre by addressing some of the original’s weaknesses, making it even more valuable.
This assessment is derived from a pre-release version of the game given by the publisher. The game “The Thing: Remastered” will be available for play on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Nintendo Switch starting December 5, 2024.
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2024-12-06 00:57