QCF: Alien: Isolation

hen done right, playing a scary video game that manages to be legitimately unsettling, can trigger an entirely different dimension of fear that other forms of media will never be able to emulate, and that even goes for film. Agency is no longer a power struggle, but now a will to survive, and every action has an entirely different weight behind it’s consequence than a mere failure—the test of nerve under these settings can be maddening for some; if the impact is there of course, but in more recent years, it’s been lacking.

In a twist of strange coincidence, Ridley Scott’s Alien license within the realm of games have also been lacking, so it was only a matter of time before we would see the iconic Xenomorph return to its roots, and Sega’s efforts have never been so determined like they have with Alien: Isolation.

As far as scares and anxiety go, Alien Isolation gets the job done, and does it with gusto; but while it's certainly effective with the space frights, this isn't a sensation that can carry an entire game into an experience that's worth playing, and much is the case with the latest endeavor of the Sci-Fi monster show.

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QCF: Daylight

he concept of mastering the invocation of a certain emotion in your art is an art within itself, and a challenging effort when tastefully handled at that.  When witnessing the attempt at this every effort in motion, you can’t help but admire the conviction of the chase to engage others into feeling the intended vision, even when the inkling that the whole damn affair is destined to derail into a train wreck much sooner than later.

Zombie Studios’ Daylight is one of the more sensational victims of experimentation within the craft of video game design geared towards immersion that I’ve played yet, and the lingering aftertaste of disappointment is still fresh against the roof of my mouth.

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PAX East 2014: Initial thoughts and impressions of The Evil Within

ne of the floor spaces particularly bustling with a bevy of attendees was Bethesda as attendees eagerly trafficked into line to see two games showcased, one being a playable demo, and the other; a presentation demo.

While I covered both, I figured I’d start off the pair with the game that’ll would be the most exhausting to express in my impressions; The Evil Within makes its first showing at PAX East since E3 of last year, and if the demo is any indication of the direction that will lead to the final product then it’s with a heavy heart that I foresee it being a memorable disappointment at best for the year of 2014.

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QCF: Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs

hen Amnesia: The Dark Descent was released in 2010, it was a breath of fresh air into an industry that had seemed to have lost its way with horror titles for a while. Its unique tension and combat free gameplay gave the player a sense of helplessness that hadn't been experienced before. Paired up with undeniably scary set pieces this created a cult indie game that took YouTube by storm. The reaction videos to this terrifying game really hit a nerve and cemented The Dark Descent as a game every horror fan should experience.

Now it's three years later and the anticipation for this sequel has grown. Teamed up with Dear Esther creators The Chinese Room, Frictional Games is presenting us a follow up with a lot of pressure on it's back. A Machine for Pigs is this title and depending on your stance on what makes gameplay engaging, you'll either be loving it or hating it. However, one thing you unfortunately won't be is scared.

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QCF: Resident Evil 6

This review was a freelance assignement, written by Joshua Newey from Sega Addicts. Be sure to check Sega Addicts out by clicking here!

Few franchises have had the same growing pains as Resident Evil. While the first few titles initially garnered solid reviews for their groundbreaking qualities and resonating atmosphere, their now-maligned “tank controls,” flimsy puzzles and pre-rendered visuals makes it feel somewhat disingenuous and anachronistic to list them amongst my favorite games of all time.

Maybe that's why the series continues to struggle with the same identity crisis that's been slowly growing since games like Code: Veronica. With one foot set firmly in B-movie sci-fi horror, and the other shifting deeper and deeper into the cinematic world of dramatic camera angles, explosive set pieces, and muscle-bound heroes, Capcom seems increasingly unsure about how to help the series grow without shirking its roots or driving a wedge between itself and its longtime fans.

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Quarter Circle Forward Review: Dead Space 2

The following review was written by a special contributor to the site, David Porter. You can find David via his Facebook page. Thanks Dave!

WARNING: The following review may contains spoilers.

 

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