A chilling take on the first-person shooter that ultimately leaves us frozen.
For all the strategy games I've been reviewing since the beginning of the year, I was excited to dig into Aspyr and 1C to Cryostasis: Sleep of Reason. Despite the absolutely ridiculous title, I was excited by the idea of taking on this horror-themed shooter for themselves. And the impression the game is very tense atmosphere of concern and the health of the drive, but eventually lost to the superficial story-telling, re-level, and for me at least one game-destroying bug that stopped us in our tracks about two thirds - of the way in.
It is a fine balance to be in media res approach to storytelling and Cryostasis misses the mark on the ambiguity of holding too long. We played the game for several hours and still can not really tell what it's all. We know, however, that the player starts on the massive Russian icebreaker, which struck an iceberg and was stranded for a long time. There are flashbacks of dogsled accident right at the beginning, and eventually you have to start re-experience events from the ship's past. There is no friction in the chain of command, flooding disaster, the spread of disease and infestation by certain types of ice mutants. Opening suited to the Russian fairy tale about a little strain, which disappeared in the woods, and was transformed to something.
First is the unpredictable nature of the story, including story-telling, is a charming and encouraging players to dig deeper into the mystery and start putting pieces together. The problem is that things are really coming together quickly to maintain the secrecy of interest. Even after playing for several hours, no more, we note what is happening. We heard that the final solution to manage the majority of elements linked together in neat little package, but because we hit a massive no-clip error-about two thirds of the way, whether it is a great end, or not, is kind of a moot point. In any case, it is necessary to have the game to solve at least some of the mysteries than we gave up on it.
The only thing that manages to keep you is that many of the flashbacks are interactive and provide support to the disaster, and even give a chance to rescue crew members from their terrible fate, or at least postpone it. Distributed throughout the ship, whose crew are dead red, pulsating heart suggests the possibility to intervene in the past and save their lives. Just enable these bodies to be taken back in time to stop floods, ship repair systems or kill mutants. In all cases, you will need to succeed in these last moments of life, in order to progress to the next area of the ship. The puzzles are not difficult, but if you fail, you will need to repeat until you get it right.
Horror games extremely rely on their atmosphere and Cryostasis manage to get several major achievements in this field. First, it's terrible sense of loneliness as you explore the ship is destroyed and a lot of chances to play detective as you try to compile past events, depending on the current state of its surroundings. There is also a huge visual style with lots of moody lighting and cramped industrial areas. Unfortunately, the sense of isolation is spoiled a bit on a possible onslaught of mutants welders, Beetle-winged guys in parks and ax-swinging ice creature. Worse still, some of your enemies spawn from thin air, which feels more than a little artificial. Environments tend to be a bit repetitive as well, given the endless series of frozen gray halls and cramped quarters. The overall level design is very linear, but all the rooms look so much alike that it is easy to get confused when you are forced to return.
As you progress through the game, you face a relatively narrow range of enemies, some of which can be quite intimidating for the right circumstances. But knowledge breeds contempt, as they say, and ultimately insane welders and flying mutants are just an excuse to take in a little target practice. Munice Cryostasis is somewhat limited but still a lot of bullets for each enemy we encountered. Award for the biggest gun is ridiculous-toss the flare gun and scoped rifle. The former has no shame and neither seem to disperse your enemies, while the other is completely useless, in such a cramped environment where enemies are never more than on the other side of the room. The real enemy in Cryostasis is cold, and it is a concept that leads to one of the most creative game conceits. Where most games you are wandering around picking up health kits, Cryostasis you like trying out a heat source. The environment itself slowly saps your heat and when it's gone, you die. Before that happens, you will need to find a cooler, torch, or even light a lamp to help stave off a cold. Different sources have different limits on the amount of heat to the right, which helps to propel you from room to room in search of warmth.
The only part of the system that violates the rules of proportionality is that the enemy attacks also damaged by heat. So you may find yourself smacked in the head with the ax, and turning to a campfire as a therapeutic agent. It sounds a little silly, but most players will be willing to suspend their disbelief enough to still enjoy the creativity. Of course, once you realize that you can become virtually immortal when standing next to the fan hot enough, things start to seem a little less believable.
Cryostasis has several visualization, which is really impressive to bring home the feeling of cold in many subtle ways. Yes, the dead sailors are blue, but there are also ice crystals on the walls and the snow drifting through the halls. You can even see your character in the breath in more extreme areas. Few outside the sequences are indeed blizzards, completely in the driving snow and whiteouts. You can play this game, and not feeling cold. Enemies and environments are well designed and highly detailed, with complex equipment in the machinist trade and plenty of sophisticated details on the clothes of your enemies. (Seamen, for the most part, it seems that lost their shirts.) There are a few downsides to the visual presentation, however, as the game is running poorly and suffer from some tears and trimming in the environment.
Sounds are as effective as in creating attractions chilling atmosphere. The slightest sound of ice cracking and tinkling in the next room is enough to cause you to time and the sounds of your enemies will have you play with light. The voice is surprisingly good for the game translated, which is added to the treatment.
Finally, it's a bug that stopped us in our giant track. Only after the prisoners returned from the outside, I realized I was already constrained by the laws of gravity or a collision. Free fly through the air and very counter to the ship, I found myself unable to root back in the real world of physics, even after trying several reloaded. I tried to play this way for several minutes, but it was too frustrating to continue. Forums for the game indicate that this is a common problem, but then again there were quite a few other bugs have been discussed, that we have not been found.
Closing Comments
Cryostasis benefits from the development of creative projects and has some very interesting elements. The setting is spooky, time-travel bits are attractive, and the overall atmosphere of big scores in the traditional part of the horror. On the other hand, does not solve the mystery quickly enough to the players and the overall course of the game is restrictively linear. Quibbles about the relative temperature of incandescent lamps and campfires party, the heat element of the game is very creative idea, which adds tension and tone of the game.
© 2009-04-24, IGN Entertainment, Inc. All rights reserved
It is a fine balance to be in media res approach to storytelling and Cryostasis misses the mark on the ambiguity of holding too long. We played the game for several hours and still can not really tell what it's all. We know, however, that the player starts on the massive Russian icebreaker, which struck an iceberg and was stranded for a long time. There are flashbacks of dogsled accident right at the beginning, and eventually you have to start re-experience events from the ship's past. There is no friction in the chain of command, flooding disaster, the spread of disease and infestation by certain types of ice mutants. Opening suited to the Russian fairy tale about a little strain, which disappeared in the woods, and was transformed to something.
First is the unpredictable nature of the story, including story-telling, is a charming and encouraging players to dig deeper into the mystery and start putting pieces together. The problem is that things are really coming together quickly to maintain the secrecy of interest. Even after playing for several hours, no more, we note what is happening. We heard that the final solution to manage the majority of elements linked together in neat little package, but because we hit a massive no-clip error-about two thirds of the way, whether it is a great end, or not, is kind of a moot point. In any case, it is necessary to have the game to solve at least some of the mysteries than we gave up on it.
The only thing that manages to keep you is that many of the flashbacks are interactive and provide support to the disaster, and even give a chance to rescue crew members from their terrible fate, or at least postpone it. Distributed throughout the ship, whose crew are dead red, pulsating heart suggests the possibility to intervene in the past and save their lives. Just enable these bodies to be taken back in time to stop floods, ship repair systems or kill mutants. In all cases, you will need to succeed in these last moments of life, in order to progress to the next area of the ship. The puzzles are not difficult, but if you fail, you will need to repeat until you get it right.
Horror games extremely rely on their atmosphere and Cryostasis manage to get several major achievements in this field. First, it's terrible sense of loneliness as you explore the ship is destroyed and a lot of chances to play detective as you try to compile past events, depending on the current state of its surroundings. There is also a huge visual style with lots of moody lighting and cramped industrial areas. Unfortunately, the sense of isolation is spoiled a bit on a possible onslaught of mutants welders, Beetle-winged guys in parks and ax-swinging ice creature. Worse still, some of your enemies spawn from thin air, which feels more than a little artificial. Environments tend to be a bit repetitive as well, given the endless series of frozen gray halls and cramped quarters. The overall level design is very linear, but all the rooms look so much alike that it is easy to get confused when you are forced to return.
As you progress through the game, you face a relatively narrow range of enemies, some of which can be quite intimidating for the right circumstances. But knowledge breeds contempt, as they say, and ultimately insane welders and flying mutants are just an excuse to take in a little target practice. Munice Cryostasis is somewhat limited but still a lot of bullets for each enemy we encountered. Award for the biggest gun is ridiculous-toss the flare gun and scoped rifle. The former has no shame and neither seem to disperse your enemies, while the other is completely useless, in such a cramped environment where enemies are never more than on the other side of the room. The real enemy in Cryostasis is cold, and it is a concept that leads to one of the most creative game conceits. Where most games you are wandering around picking up health kits, Cryostasis you like trying out a heat source. The environment itself slowly saps your heat and when it's gone, you die. Before that happens, you will need to find a cooler, torch, or even light a lamp to help stave off a cold. Different sources have different limits on the amount of heat to the right, which helps to propel you from room to room in search of warmth.
The only part of the system that violates the rules of proportionality is that the enemy attacks also damaged by heat. So you may find yourself smacked in the head with the ax, and turning to a campfire as a therapeutic agent. It sounds a little silly, but most players will be willing to suspend their disbelief enough to still enjoy the creativity. Of course, once you realize that you can become virtually immortal when standing next to the fan hot enough, things start to seem a little less believable.
Cryostasis has several visualization, which is really impressive to bring home the feeling of cold in many subtle ways. Yes, the dead sailors are blue, but there are also ice crystals on the walls and the snow drifting through the halls. You can even see your character in the breath in more extreme areas. Few outside the sequences are indeed blizzards, completely in the driving snow and whiteouts. You can play this game, and not feeling cold. Enemies and environments are well designed and highly detailed, with complex equipment in the machinist trade and plenty of sophisticated details on the clothes of your enemies. (Seamen, for the most part, it seems that lost their shirts.) There are a few downsides to the visual presentation, however, as the game is running poorly and suffer from some tears and trimming in the environment.
Sounds are as effective as in creating attractions chilling atmosphere. The slightest sound of ice cracking and tinkling in the next room is enough to cause you to time and the sounds of your enemies will have you play with light. The voice is surprisingly good for the game translated, which is added to the treatment.
Finally, it's a bug that stopped us in our giant track. Only after the prisoners returned from the outside, I realized I was already constrained by the laws of gravity or a collision. Free fly through the air and very counter to the ship, I found myself unable to root back in the real world of physics, even after trying several reloaded. I tried to play this way for several minutes, but it was too frustrating to continue. Forums for the game indicate that this is a common problem, but then again there were quite a few other bugs have been discussed, that we have not been found.
Closing Comments
Cryostasis benefits from the development of creative projects and has some very interesting elements. The setting is spooky, time-travel bits are attractive, and the overall atmosphere of big scores in the traditional part of the horror. On the other hand, does not solve the mystery quickly enough to the players and the overall course of the game is restrictively linear. Quibbles about the relative temperature of incandescent lamps and campfires party, the heat element of the game is very creative idea, which adds tension and tone of the game.
© 2009-04-24, IGN Entertainment, Inc. All rights reserved