Dementium: The Ward

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Dementium: The Ward
Developer(s)	Renegade Kid
Publisher(s)	NA Gamecock Media Group JP Interchannel-Holon
Designer(s)	Jools Watsham (director)
Engine	Renegade Engine
Platform(s)	Nintendo DS
Release date	NA October 31, 2007 JP June 26, 2008[1]
Genre(s)	Survival horror, First-person shooter
Mode(s)	Single player
Rating(s)	CERO: D ESRB: M
Media	Nintendo DS Game Card

Dementium: The Ward is a Nintendo DS survival horror-first-person shooter video game developed by Renegade Kid and published by Gamecock. Dementium was released in North America on October 31, 2007.

Contents 1 Gameplay 2 Plot 3 Reception 4 Trivia 5 External links 6 References

[edit] Gameplay

Dementium features full 3D environments and a real-time flashlight. Developer Renegade Kid has said in a press release that, "The Ward takes advantage of the unique properties of the Nintendo DS system with touch-screen exploration, and puzzles. Using the Nintendo DS touch-screen to look and aim provides the player with an enhanced sensation of freedom and control. The dynamic real-time flashlight immerses the player deep into the game's eerie atmosphere and allows the player to search the dark corridors of the hospital." 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, similar to the one seen in Hotel Dusk: Room 215.

[edit] Plot

Dementium: The Ward tells the tale of a man who awakens to find himself alone in a mysterious, derelict hospital that is frozen in time. Confronted by the deadly, grotesque surgical experiments that wander the halls, a series of challenging puzzles and a cast of peculiar characters, he must face his deepest fears, unlock the mysteries of the hospital, and escape with his life.

The game begins as you awake on a bed in the middle of the night. Upon leaving this room it becomes apparent that you are a patient of a hospital from a board outside your door which does not, however, give you any information to who you are with your name written here as John Doe. Embarking further you witness a woman drenched in blood being dragged from her room by a large creature with a meat cleaver in its left hand. This woman's name, like yours, remains a mystery, given as Jane Doe. Moving along you soon come across zombie-like creatures with their hearts exposed and various other enemies. As you dwelve further into the heart of the mysterious hospital it becomes clear that it is a psychiatric one and you are apparently a patient here for murder. It also becomes slightly clear from a few diary entries you find that experiments had taken place here, seemingly the ones that have caused the horrific monsters you continue to encounter. You run into Jane Doe a few more times during your attempted escape from the hospital but never truly in person. You also stumble across a little girl who in some levels can be seen, in others heard crying or singing.

The identity of these two, although never actually explained by any characters, is revealed by clues and hints.

In a flashback it is evidently clear that you at some point killed Jane Doe and the little girl was a witness. From even more clues it is although never openly revealed that Jane Doe was your wife and the little girl, your daughter. Their names are never given but yours is apparently Dr.Redmoor.

However upon defeating the final boss, who was met in a few occasions before, you awaken at the beginning of the game in broad daylight to find Jane Doe and the little girl standing in the doorway, smiling.

But there is again another twist as the screen fades to an operating where the final boss is operating on you apparently, stating that you were not expected to survive past "Phase 1", which has seemingly been the entire game, and to get ready for "Phase 2"...

[edit] Reception

Dementium received generally favorable reviews. The game was praised for its technical accomplishments. 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 system" but "it's a believable technique that's pulled off better than anything seen on same-level hardware."^[7]

The game was also favored for its good use of sound. The sound effects are said to be atmospheric and of higher quality than many other DS titles.

Dementium was also criticized most prominently for its short length and lack of replayability; but also for its save system, and that all of the in-game enemies respawn endlessly, leaving a player short on items and ammunition while wandering back and forth between corridors.

[edit] Trivia

• Gregg Hargrove, one of Renegade Kid's founders's name is printed on the Piano in a room during Chapter 3 of the game. The Piano is playable and must be played to continue through the game. His name is also found on a patient's clipboard in Chapter 2 when examined.

[edit] External links

• Dementium: The Ward official website
• Dementium: The Ward Developer Interview
• Renegade Kid website
• Gamecock website

[edit] References