Scare Tactics

Space trivia 101: Mars wasn't always red you know - it's just been bloodied over the years. If you can believe Ridley Scott, "In space, no one can hear you scream."

Okay, so Mars has always been red. But rest assured, the release of Dead Space heralds a new age for the survival horror in the genre’s first successful mission under the stars. The futuristic take on Isaac Clark's struggle aboard the ISS ISHIMURA delivers a real sense of atmospheric brutality.

As a result, space now seems like a horrifying place. In an effort to understand why, Square-Go have taken a look at what brought us to this point. So sit back in the safety of your armchair and reminisce with us over the games that brought out your survival instinct.

The term "survival horror" didn't surface until the 1996 release of Resident Evil. Each instalment follows various members of the Special Tactics and Rescue Squad (S.T.A.R.S.) as they pick off hoards of the undead, while trying to unravel the mystery of the sinister Umbrella Corp. The shadowy pharmaceutical company managed to mutate half of Racoon City into mindless zombies while playing god with nature - nice move there lads...

What sets the Resident Evil series apart from its predecessors is the superb attention given to locations – designed with your fear in mind. The original game is set in a grand, chilling mansion and the freakish dystopia engulfs you deeper still with the engrossing character back stories and the unsettling character design of your cannon fodder.


Resident Evil 4 is undoubtedly the best example of the genre, and the mist-shrouded setting of small-town Eastern Europe provides perfect conditions for breeding discomfort. Capcom did a sterling job. The Resident Evil series spawned two sub-series, Survivor and Outbreak and together they captivated a worldwide audience.


Mind you, they'd had a stab at the concept before. A little-known Japan-only 1989 RPG, Sweet Home, served as a precursor to the Resident Evil series. The mansion setting, infuriating puzzles and open-door loading screen are all present and correct in the NES title. Capcom invested well in the hype surrounding 80's horror films like Aliens and Predator and unleashed the basic human instinct of survival on an interactive level.

Resident Evil may have established the survival horror genre, but Alone in the Dark was actually there first. The original 1992 PC title introduced Edward Carnby, a 1925 private detective who arrives at a shadowy mansion to retrieve a piano for an antique dealer.
Things soon turn nasty when a whole host of zombies and infallible ghouls move in to make your life a misery. Players instantly warmed to the atmospheric location and puzzle-solving scenarios, which were unique at the time. The series spawned several successful sequels and this year saw Carnby (who somehow hasn't aged a day since 1925) return once more for some gun-slingin'-zombie-bashin' action.

The series has undergone several graphical updates to deliver a game worthy of current gen systems and the score is as vexing as ever. A limited edition sold the game complete with a 15cm Edward Carnby figure, a game art book, a 'Making-of' DVD and a CD soundtrack - a generous package indeed.

Resident Evil's 1998 saw the birth of a new franchise from Konami the following year. Silent Hill offered a deeper psychological alternative to Capcom's series. Each instalment introduces the protagonist to the small American town shrouded in mist and filled with an ensemble of horrific beings, from mutated babies to faceless nurses. The 2001 sequel made better use of the the Playstation 2's advanced graphics to really nail down a sense of constant dread.

The psychological fear induced from even a quick play of Silent Hill is lent from the demented tale, Jacob's Ladder and has more than a touch of Stephen King about it. The series' sixth installment, Homecoming has just been released Stateside. If a psychological beatdown is your idea of a good time, look no further than Silent Hill 3 on the Playstation 2. The condemned fairground echoes with the constant screeching of machinery and pain - enough to keep anyone up all night.

There's a lot more to relate each of the above games than atmospheric locations. The constant reminder of your character's mortality and lacklustre arsenal is integral in developing a good survival horror. There's little incentive in combating demonic hoards of the undead when it's well within your capacity to do so.

Controlling a naïve or under-prepared character makes for a rewarding protagonist and bolsters the feeling of an endless struggle against impossible odds. The pace isn't fast enough for everyone, but if you dare to switch off the lights and submit yourself into a world of fear, gore and racing pulses, it's a truly satisfying ordeal – a fine choice, stranger.

Touch Me

I didn’t really know what to expect from Apple’s iPhone when it entered the handheld gaming arena. The touchscreen device sold out completely at launch and has become one of the most sought after pocket companions for tech heads across the world. The assurance of strong support from the AppStore and an inescapable ad campaign ensured that the iPhone was a strong newcomer to the previously exclusive two-horse race. With Nintendo and Sony both on the verge of releasing new models of the DS and the PSP, it seems like a good time to review the iPhone’s capabilities. Does mobile gaming stand a chance fighting it out with the big guns?

The iPhone 3G hit the shelves this summer, less than 6 months after the original model was released. Boasting faster 3G internet and assisted GPS, the gadget was heavily marketed as THE ultimate pocket companion. The sleek design is twinned with the iPod touch and combines the world’s most recognised mp3 player with mobile phone functions to remove needless pocket clutter. In fact, if you believe the hype, there’s nothing it can’t do.

The 3.5inch touchscreen allows for quick navigation through your videos, mp3s and contacts. But the device was also intended to be a contender in the handheld gaming market. The motion-sensing accelerometer and touchscreen controls combine to make a simple yet innovative mobile interface. Support from the AppStore means downloads like Bejewelled, Spore Origins and Crash Nitro Kart are finished in seconds, whether you’re on a bus or queuing for a sandwich.

Another game worth a look is the side-scrolling action game Kroll. Digital Legends have made fine use of the motion and touch controls as well as proving the iPhone is more than capable at running games in glorious 3D. In fact, to say these Apps are classed as ‘mobile gaming’ feels like belittling the iPhone’s capabilities. Things have moved on since Snake won our hearts in the pixel-munching nineties.

The games don’t stop there, either. Wannabe developers can download cheap dev kits to add to the growing number of innovative titles being produced by bedroom coders. This means there’ll always be a fresh wave of new titles appearing in the AppStore, even if most of them are weak efforts at recreating old favourites. At £180, the iPhone is nearly twice the price of a DS, but games are comparatively cheap ranging from completely free software to new titles priced at £5.99.

All in, the iPhone is a neat bit of technology. It’s a fine competitor to the PSP but it will always be looked on as a phone before it’s seen as a gaming system. It’s not without its faults either. One clumsy movement could see the device shatter your phone and your soul in one swift movement. Likewise, accidentally pocketing the iPhone in with your keys can cause nasty damage to the touchscreen. Favouring the touchscreen over digital button input can lead to some frustrating to-ing-and-fro-ing within the menus but that’s not a fault as such - nothing practice can’t resolve.

So is there anything it can’t do? Well, apart from match up to the phenomenal popularity of the DS, not really. The iPhone was never intended as a pure gaming system, but if you’re looking for an all-in-one gadget to store your life in while getting your game on, this is it. It’s newer, sleeker, smaller and (dare I say it…) it shows more innovative promise than any other pocket system out there. It won’t have the support of the DS or the PSP but the iPhone strikes me as the system that’s happy to cruise along in third.

Mobile gaming has finally begun to earn the respect it’s been yearning since Snake. Pocket gaming eventually has something to offer everyone. If you’re a busy tech-head then the iPhone seems like the obvious gizmo to discreetly waste time on long journeys. That’s not to say it’s out of reach for anyone. The entire generation of handhelds manages to accommodate everyone. It’s refreshing to have a three-horse race for a change, but don’t expect the iPhone to go and redefine portable gaming anytime soon. It is only a phone, after all.

5 ways to beat the credit crunch.

Whether you like it or not, all the turbulence this credit crunch is causing is going to take a while to go away. Thankfully, we gamers are in a great position to weather the worst of the storm. Staying in behind closed doors for nights on end is what we’re good at. Regardless, everyone has been affected in one way or another, and nobody should turn down the opportunity to save a bit of cash. So to make the most of tight times, here’s five sure-fire ways to get the most from your gaming without attacking the piggy bank.

1. Trade-ins
When was the last time you had a right good clear out? Trading games in can be the best way of avoiding paying full price for a game. Who knows, you might even get more than you had bargained for meaning that new release doesn’t have to be put off until next month. Most places offer you anything between 40-60% of their sale price for games and trade prices are significantly higher than cash, so trading in a couple of duff games could net you a classic you hadn’t got round to buying yet.

2. Buy Online
While there’s none of the satisfaction of swapping cash in hand for a game over the counter, it does tend to be an expensive affair every time. High street prices are raised to take that very convenience into account, so take your console or your laptop online and shop around.
www.ebay.co.uk is the obvious choice with plenty new and used copies of every game under the sun. Great deals on games start at 99p and console bundles could save you more than £50. You pay a small fee for shipping but taking advantage of the strength of the pound means buying import games from a US seller means you can save even more.

3. Virtual Console/PSN/Xbox Live
If you have your console hooked up to the internet then you’ll be somewhat aware of the immense collection of retro games available for download. For example, £15 will get you 2000 Wii points which lets you choose from hundreds of games from Nintendo’s back catalogue, Sega systems and other platforms. Games cost between 400 and 1000 points and provide great value as well as warming the heart as you immerse yourself in the cream of the crop from yesteryear. All systems get constant updates to their online game stores so you’ll never run out of ideas. Mmmm, fuzzy, pixillated retro goodness…

4. Get a Life
All systems have stellar examples of the sandbox genre. A sandbox game is an endless paradise void of time limits, damage from enemies and endings in general. The key is to create your play area just as you like it with in-depth customization options and maintain it to the standard that you have set yourself. It’s not for everyone, but if you fancy yourself as a bit of a demi-god in a digital world, they provide infinite gameplay and a few are so beautifully crafted you won’t be able to put them down. Animal Crossing: City Folk is due out soon on Wii and 360 owners should consider Viva Piñata, while pocket sized versions are available of both games on the Nintendo DS. If you own a PS3 and can wait a few months then LittleBigPlanet is going to be well worth the wait- the game even lets you create your own platformer and share them online!

5. Take it Online
All systems support WiFi play so if you have the internet, get connected! Challenging worldwide opponents for medals and trophies brings a whole new dimension to a game and it’s free!! So don’t just play through the story mode: scan the leader boards and have a pop at the top. Multiplayer sessions of MarioKart Wii and Smash Bros. Brawl are always ongoing. Forum tournaments are organized all the time so get yourself on a message board and join the action. Playing against opponents is far more entertaining and spontaneous than against AI. You’re safe doing your victory dance, and somewhere far, far away you’ve made a little girl cry distraught tears into her pillow.