Dementium: The Ward
| Dementium: The Ward | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Renegade Kid |
| Publisher(s) |
Nintendo DS‹See Tfd› ‹See Tfd› ‹See Tfd› Nintendo 3DS |
| Director(s) | Jools Watsham |
| Designer(s) | Jools Watsham |
| Composer(s) | Jools Watsham |
| Engine | Renegade Engine |
| Platform(s) | Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS (eShop) |
| Release date(s) |
Nintendo DS‹See Tfd›
‹See Tfd› ‹See Tfd› Nintendo 3DS ‹See Tfd› |
| Genre(s) | Survival horror, First-person shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
Dementium: The Ward is a survival horror first-person shooter game developed by Renegade Kid for the Nintendo DS. The game was originally released in North America on October 31, 2007, courtesy of Gamecock Media Group.
Dementium: The Ward was originally planned as a Silent Hill game for the Nintendo DS. But Konami turned down Renegade Kid for the idea and have concluded to create an original game instead.[7]
In September 2014, Jools Watsham of Renegade Kid announces on his official Twitter account that the developer finally gained back the rights to the title,[2] and have later announced plans to release an enhanced version of the game on the Nintendo 3DS eShop in Q4 2015.[8] The game was released in North America on December 3, 2015 and Europe on February 11, 2016.[5]
Gameplay
Dementium features full 3D environments and a real-time flashlight. Creative director Jools Watsham also said the game's touch-screen controls are based on those used in Metroid Prime Hunters.
The game was originally set to include a multiplayer mode, but this was dropped so that the development team could focus on the single player aspect of the game.
Among several other features utilizing the touch screen, the game includes a notepad.
Plot
Dementium tells the tale of a man, William Redmoor, who has an operation on his brain. The Doctor realized that the mind of William is in danger, so he made nightmare dreams where William must fight back to the end and get out of his dreams. As the Doctor calls it, this is the first phase. Throughout the game, the constant mention of a man who murdered his wife and daughter is brought up. It was believed by the staff that William was the murderer. A news report towards the end of the game says that a man was found standing over the dead body of his wife with a gun in his hand. After a brief struggle police shot and wounded the man. His daughter was found alive.
Reception
| Compilations of multiple reviews | ||
|---|---|---|
| GameRankings | 73% (based on 24 reviews)[9] | |
| Metacritic | 75% (based on 24 reviews)[10] | |
| Publication | Review Score | Awards |
| Computer and Video Games | 7.9 out of 10[11] | |
| GameSpot | 7.5/10[12] | |
| GameSpy | 3.5/5[13] | |
| Game Informer | 5.75 out of 10 | |
| IGN | 8.0 out of 10[14] | DS Best First-Person Shooter[15]
DS Best Graphics Technology[16] |
| Nintendo Power | 8.5 out of 10 | |
| 1UP | C+[17] | |
Dementium received mixed to positive reviews. Craig Harris of IGN said that the visuals were "outstanding: the lighting effects and texture work in Dementium: The Ward are pretty special when you consider the Nintendo DS' capabilities." He also noted "the flashlight effect might not match what other developers have done on more powerful systems" but "it's a believable technique that's pulled off better than anything seen on same-level hardware."[14]
Dementium was criticized most prominently for its short length and lack of replayability; but also for its save system, and that most of the in-game enemies respawn on revisit, leaving a player short on items and ammunition and discouraging exploration.
On September 22, 2008, the Japanese Association of Psychiatric Hospitals published a protest against the game,[18] asking the game to be taken off the shelves because "the game uses the tradition of psychiatry in name but uses imagery of attacking patients".[19]
Dementium sold more than 100,000 copies worldwide.[20]
Sequel
Prior to E3 2009, Renegade Kid released a teaser trailer announcing the development of Dementium II for the Nintendo DS. The game was released on May 4, 2010.
After finally gaining publishing rights to the series in September 2014,[2] Renegade Kid announced a third instalment in development and to be released after re-releasing the first two games on the Nintendo 3DS.[8]
External links
References
- ↑ Game information at reliable video games website
- 1 2 3 McFerran, Damien (2014-09-17). "Renegade Kid Now In A Position To Produce More Dementium Games". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 2014-12-15.
- ↑ Dementium: The Ward Info - Dementium: The Ward Information - Dementium: The Ward Release Date
- ↑ Official Nintendo Magazine competition showing the release date
- 1 2 James (2015-11-19). "Dementium Remastered has a release date". Pure Nintendo. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
- ↑ Brian (2015-11-26). "Dementium Remastered targeted for January/February release in Europe". Nintendo Everything. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
- ↑ "Dementium: The Ward Was Pitched to Konami as a Silent Hill DS Game". IGN.com. 2015-04-27. Retrieved 2015-04-28.
- 1 2 McFerran, Damien (2014-12-15). "Renegade Kid Is Bringing Survival Horror Title Dementium To The Nintendo 3DS". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 2014-12-15.
- ↑ "Dementium: The Ward Reviews". GameRankings. Retrieved 2008-01-04.
- ↑ "Dementium: The Ward (ds: 2007) Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 2008-01-04.
- ↑ "DS Review: Dementium: The Ward - ComputerAndVideoGames.com". Retrieved 2008-01-04.
- ↑ "Dementium: The Ward for DS Review - DS Dementium: The Ward Review". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-01-04.
- ↑ "GameSpy: Dementium: The Ward Review". GameSpy. Retrieved 2008-01-04.
- 1 2 "IGN: Dementium: The Ward Review". IGN. Retrieved 2008-01-04.
- ↑ "IGN Best of 2007". IGN. Retrieved 2008-01-04.
- ↑ "IGN Best of 2007". IGN. Retrieved 2008-01-04.
- ↑ "Dementium: The Ward DS Review Index, Dementium: The Ward Nintendo DS Reviews". 1UP.com. Retrieved 2008-05-09.
- ↑ "Letter of Protest". Japanese Association of Psychiatric Hospitals. Retrieved 2008-10-05.
- ↑ "Japan Psychiatric Association Wants Survival Horror DS Game Pulled". Shacknews. Retrieved 2008-10-05.
- ↑ Prell, Sophie (3 January 2013). "Hackers claim to have gained entry to the 3DS - developers sound off on possible homebrew and piracy". The PA Report. Retrieved 3 January 2013.