Overall 8.3 Graphics 9 Sound 9 Addictive 8 Story 8 Depth 7 Difficulty 8
10
Nightmare Creatures (4th best when compared with Resident Evil 1) SacraRain
Now, I'm sure many of you have heard of or have played "Resident Evil" as well as "Silent Hill"... but I doubt many of you can recall the game that came runner up to those two known as "Nightmare Creatures". A very simple but rather elegant in design type of game, if compared to "Resident Evil"... both revolve around the concept of zombies and zombie mutations (as well as a few other types of creatures).
This has got to be one of the most amazing games for the PS1/PSX/Playstation, when standing side by side with "Resident Evil" or "Silent Hill". Much like many of these zombie games (including "House of the Dead"), you will be required to play one of two playable characters (sometimes just one character)... and take on a horde of the undead. The game "Nightmare Creatures" combines the concept of "Resident Evil" with the concept of "Tekken" more or less, allowing you to use a choice of both guns, hand-to-hand combat and even various weapons such as pole-arms and swords.
Graphics- 9/10After putting both "Resident Evil" and "Nightmare Creatures" side by side for the PSX (Playstation/PS1), you cannot honestly tell the difference (if you had never played either of them). Both of them have somewhat of a 3D block-like texture to them, but also intergrate enhanced visual effects with the surrounding area as well as with the character. Each character is specifically designed around a background story, as well as designed for specific purposes... but all and all, in both games... the object of the game is to survive the horde of the undead, survive the dangers of nature... and see that this problem comes to an end. Both allow you "free control" of your character, but with limited controls unlike what you would receive in "Tomb Raider". You cannot climb anything (most of the time), nor can you push or interact with surrounding items (most of the time)... but you are given weapons in the beginning for your choice to take out the horde of the undead.
Sound- 9/10Both "Resident Evil" and "Nightmare Creatures" comes with a very dark and somewhat ambient soundtrack, allowing you to get the feel of the area as well as allowing you to recognize the differences between the audio of the music and the audio of the undead. Each game comes with more "realistic" sound effects as well as realistic graphics for that current system. These two games (as well as "Silent Hill" and "House of the Dead") have earned much respect and admiration from many gamers throughout the years. Even though "Nightmare Creatures" has not achieved the full potential that "Resident Evil" has, both you can honestly say deserve equal amounts of respect during the Playstation (PSX/PS1) era.
Addictiveness- 8/10Both of these games (even with a SET story) will end up dragging you further into their gaming line, and often make you want to play again and again. At most, you can end up playing "Nightmare Creatures" at least twice or more depending on how much you enjoy zombie games. Both "Resident Evil" and "Nightmare Creatures" has some similar traits as well as similar people working on the design of the game itself. Both games have had a 2nd in line right after the first game was created, and both have achieved a high rate of wealth from this game. With much respect to both, I can honestly say that I have spent at least 40+ hours on each game and at least 10+ hours per character.
Story- 8/10Much like "Resident Evil", the story revolves around zombies and some sort of "outbreak" occurring. Although "Nightmare Creatures" is based more off of medieval times as well as much older structure (the guns aren't as upgraded as you would see in "Resident Evil")... both have a long background story behind what had possibly caused this outbreak to occur. One being man made, the other being possibly a creation from "God" himself... to be fair, I didn't completely look into the story behind both of these... but after having played them, both have earned a special place in my heart as one of the best zombie games around (along with "House of the Dead" and "Silent Hill").
Depth- 7/10Both games allow you many options as well as many outcomes in the story, but along side this fact... both will have a pre-determined sequence for each character as well as a pre-determined outcome for certain situations. Each character has their own strengths and weaknesses, as well as each character having better skills in one area than the other. The female character is best with long ranged weapons, while the male character is best with close range weapons (much like in "Resident Evil", Chris Redfield is a master with the blade... but "Jill Valentine" has a lot of skill with handguns and is known to blow heads completely off with one).
Difficulty- 8/10Pretty much, most zombie games for the Playstation (PSX/PS1) have a high level of difficulty... but this is all based upon the sluggish controls as well as based upon the level of difficulty you set it at. In most cases, even on "easy" mode... you will encounter many enemies that can kill you in about 3-6 hits depending on where they hit you or how they hit you. In both "Resident Evil" and "Nightmare Creatures", as the game progresses forwards... so does the uniqueness of enemies, many of which are mutations of the virus taking new form of the host.
Overall- 10/10This game, much like other zombie games for the Playstation (PSX/PS1) is a MUST HAVE and should be played with much respect for the concept being completely warped around a whole new era. With these older zombie games, you can be sure that there is a definite challenge and there is much thinking to do... although "Nightmare Creatures" isn't as designed around using "logic" but more or less using "skill", it has also earned almost just as much money as the beginning of the "Resident Evil" series has earned. Both have become widely known to these type of gamers who enjoy the bloodshed of the undead, and both have become icons in our gaming history (along with "House of the Dead" and "Silent Hill").
Graphics 9 Sound 9 Addictive 8 Story 8 Depth 7 Difficulty 8
Review Rating: 4.8/5
Submitted: 05-26-13
Review Replies: 2