I really tried to like this game. I really did. The devs are from Berlin and so more or less my neighbor (well, 300km difference but well).
I knew that Past Cure will have a lot of problems because Phantom 8's first game should include: AAA-Graphics, a "thrilling"-story with "survival-horror", stealth + action and powers. Many of Game- and narrative genres mixed together.
Wouldn't beI really tried to like this game. I really did. The devs are from Berlin and so more or less my neighbor (well, 300km difference but well).
I knew that Past Cure will have a lot of problems because Phantom 8's first game should include: AAA-Graphics, a "thrilling"-story with "survival-horror", stealth + action and powers. Many of Game- and narrative genres mixed together.
Wouldn't be a thing, if they had experience and a bigger team probably. But with (while in development) 8 people in the team, they couldn't focus on getting at least something on top notch. And so the inevitable happened.
They fail with the story, which is starting boring paired with a boring level which is just a 1,5h tutorial. The gun-gameplay is a pure mess - not to mention that there're only 3 guns (Pistol / Uzi / Pistol with a scope). The AI is a pure mess. They either run straight into you and are unable to shoot, are trying to shoot thru a wall or a - probably - concrete plant.
The story neither is getting more interesting while game progresses. Also because of the very primitive dialogues and even worse monologues. As a writer - not an English writer to mention - I have to give a straight grade 6 / F for this.
Graphics are actually quite good, indoor. However, often it ends in a "wishy-washy" look or textures are constantly reloading. Don't get me starting on these damn lens effect. I have eyes, not lens on my head. Might be good for some cinematics - sometimes - for a good effect. But not the whole game.
Action isn't involved either. Close-ranged battles end in a QT-Event instead of cool combos doing... Okay, Ian (the game's protagonist) is moving sometimes pretty cool in his finishers. Nevertheless, just then and never else.
Shooting with weapon never felt so weird and unrealistic. Could also be because of the whole sound of the game reminds me of toaster-quality. Especially sometimes some guards are - and I am not exaggerating here - really have the sound quality of my microphone I had 10 years ago, in my notebook, with this really annoying fan sound in the background.
Which leads me straight to the gun- and special effect sounds. Shooting with any gun sounds like punching a ruler on the table. Some "wooosh" sounds are just annoying and probably directly taken from Freesounds.org or even worse. When Ian is running, we also have the woosh sound for his arms - like which arms in any situation - besides very strange animated series - would make this sound? Even worse, you have to run so often in the game because you don't feel like wasting the time to finally get to the next C&P Level section.
Oh and get a better voice actor for Ians Brother Marcus and please try to put some more emotion in Ians Voice when he is just about to DIE! (Oh, that wasn't a spoiler, just a dream ian dreamed don't worry) Even I can do it better - just my voice shouldn't be heard by anyone.
But not everything is bad about Past Cure. Else, a 2 point rating would be too much I guess. Because besides horrible AI, gameplay and c&p levels, horrible sound and voice acting and many bugs, unfair enemies while sneaking and a horrible end-fight, there's something or a time where I felt like "wow, this game does make fun". Somehow.
It was chapter 5, the 2nd last chapter of the game and - what a wonder - also the demo which you are able to play if you don't own the game.
The atmosphere was great. Finally, the sound setting felt like well placed and the dark rooms and halls looked the best in this game. We - even if they were not that hard to solve - had to solve some (not innovative but good implemented) puzzles. The stealth gameplay was the far by best in this chapter of the whole game and all over this is what Past Cure should have been. A shocking nightmare, which Ian is encountering, solving his past by finding clues in his dark mind. This game could have been so much better when sticking to this style. And would have sold many copies.
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I see a lot of potentials and as I wrote in my German review for our magazine, Phantom 8 should stick to the stuff they did great and then I am awaiting a new game.
But to stick the Past Cure, you could have just played Metal Gear, Beyond: Two Souls and Max Payne on three different devices at the same time (enjoy the multitasking) - no difference.
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I got the game as a press kit-version and so 4 free. This - obviously - didn't affected my personal view and neither I got asked to post a review with a specific score.… Expand
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