Siren Blood Curse - review

Posted in Tech by TheAge on Oct 03, 07:00AM

Siren: Blood Curse
PS3
Classification: MA15+,
RRP $50 (or $16 a chapter)
Rating: 4/5

Blood Curse might be a Western remake of Sony's underappreciated survival horror gem, but also represents the promising future of digital download services: a future in which publishers would release riskier, more innovative games at cheaper prices, and experiment with different story-telling techniques and episodic content.

Blood Curse is available on the PlayStation Network for download in its entirety for less than half the price of a typical PS3 release, while more cautious shoppers can see if they like it by downloading a chapter containing three episodes for just $16.

Siren's strength is its chilling atmosphere, with the sense of foreboding heightened by the use of vulnerable, everyday protagonists such as high school students, doctors, TV production crews and children. The darkness is almost suffocating, and the cursed, zombie-like inhabitants of the Japanese village of Hanuda are terrifying to encounter.

As before, survival is dependent on use of the terrific "Sightjack" feature which allows you to tune into the viewpoint of nearby allies and foes, wiggling the analog sticks as if fiddling with an old TV's rabbit-ear antenna to switch between views.

A new split-screen perspective proves handy to keep one step ahead of your predators and solve simple puzzles, but the experience of seeing your character (or your current hiding spot) through the eyes of a shuffling zombie remains unnerving.

The clumsy controls can annoy, but also serve to heighten the tension and induce panic if you bumble into trouble. Combat is typically discouraged, although the game is more forgiving and accessible than its predecessors.

The start is a little slow, yet new plot insights are constantly revealed as you rapidly switch between the perspectives of 10 different characters. The bite-sized challenges (always clearly articulated and helpfully marked on the in-game map) also provide terrific incentive to keep playing. Great value.

- Review by Jason Hill for The Age.