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Demophobe
Joined: 17 May 2004
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 Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 3:09 am Post subject: Scariest/best designed level.... |
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The Shalebridge Cradle
From Ars
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There is one jewel when it comes to level design, that I feel it deserved a separate paragraph. It shines that bright. I'm sorry; as a perpetually aspiring Designer, I just go on and on when it comes to this. Just bear with me for a second. The mission in the asylum of Shalebridge Cradle is, in the more or less qualified opinion of this reviewer, one of the top five levels ever made by humans. Worth the price of admission by itself.
Now, I'm not an impressionable person. In fact, I have to admit I'm rather desensitized about scary things. Hell, I went though System Shock 2 without problems. SS2 was great, but it didn't scare me because I knew the game was trying to scare me. Does that make sense? There's an illusion that sometimes breaks when you know what's up. It's like a magician explaining a trick to you, or a politician saying he'll lower taxes. In other words, I'm not scared if I know you're actively trying to do it. It just shows too much.
That said, Shalebridge Cradle scared me like you wouldn't believe. There even came a point where I had to take a break because it was getting too intense. Let me just say this: At the foot of the stairs to the Attic, I was genuinely scared. When I reached the top, my heart was pounding so fast I had to stop for a while, quit back to desktop, do something else� whatever. I just couldn't take it.
Not very often do we come across levels that deliver such an intense experience. Shalebridge Cradle is one of those things you have to experience for yourself. My telling you about it will fall short. We're talking about a level that manages to create (and maintain!) one of the thickest, most-penetrating, and most-visceral fear atmospheres I have ever encountered in gaming. The use of lighting, shadows, and later on in the level, depth-of-field effects combine themselves well with a bare and decayed � but imposing � architecture. As you progress through the remains of the cursed building, you can't help but to feel the constant pressure of the threat that's out there carefully waiting for you. A threat that is masterfully done, not by overt or direct elements, but by the ever-present subtlety of the sights and sounds in your surroundings.
That level managed to generate one of the thickest atmospheres of tension, threat and yes, fear that I ever played. The cold, dark, and damp environments of the asylum will instantly feel constraining, oppressing you with a feeling of threat and danger that is ever present throughout it. You don't want to be inside that place. You will hate being inside that place. It's a little bit weird how, perhaps without intending it, TDS managed to deliver one of the purest, strongest horror gaming experiences inside a game that's not really about horror at all. I don't want to spoil it, that's why I'm a bit mum when it comes to detailing this experience. It's something you need to go through on your own. In complete darkness. Alone, during the night. You'll thank me in the morning. Or you'll want to kill me. Both are fine choices.
Shalebridge Cradle's use of sound is perfect. And I don't usually throw that word around just like that. Its visuals are fantastic and the mission design itself is creative � particularly during the level's last stages � and tight as a drum. All those things combine, like Voltron, to make what's easily one of the best FPS levels I played in years. It's not to be missed. |
I couldn't have said it better myself.
I played through this game when it first came out, and got really freaked out then. I loaded it up again last month, and the Cradle returned. Even knowing a lot about it, it remains the most intense level I have ever experienced in my life as a gamer. Incredible.
Anyways, pick this game up for a mere 8000 Won (seen at 2 E-Marts even!) and play through that level. There is no way to explain it. I had to take breaks every 15 minutes, playing late night, alone with the lights out.
However, do yourself a favor and don't do any walkthroughs or anything; just pick up the game and go. If you can't be bothered to play through it until that level comes up, I will send you my saved game files so you can jump right in.
Yeah, it's that good.
A ten-page article from PC GAMER on that level alone. (.pdf, 6MB, slow load)
Have fun.
If you do get/have this game, do yourself a favor and download the high-res texture pack made by a fan. It adds a lot to the game and really tightens up the atmosphere in many areas. At 100MB, this guy really did a heck of a lot of work. |
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rocklee
Joined: 04 Oct 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 8:00 am Post subject: |
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| How did this game compare with Doom3? That one spooked me like crazy. Alone in the dark with a pair of Senns. didn't help either! |
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corroonb
Joined: 04 Aug 2006
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| Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 3:14 pm Post subject: |
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That level is quite spooky, especially the inmates/patients who walk everywhere and are practically indestructible. Its a great game, its a pity the hub sections weren't so good. I think the "Ravenholm" level in Half-Life 2 is scarier.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravenholm
Last edited by corroonb on Wed Jan 10, 2007 3:22 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Demophobe
Joined: 17 May 2004
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| Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 3:21 pm Post subject: |
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Ravenholm and Doom 3 were a different kind of scary. Both were more about surprises and monsters rushing at you or hiding around corners. The Cradle is about fear; being scared not because of sudden surprises as much as pure atmosphere and tension.
The 'puppets' in the cradle are slow moving and fairly predictable, yet one clearly wants to stay away from them. Their sounds, movements and worst of all, if they see you, their jerky rush to catch you, is just inspirational.
Honestly, the Cradle is without compare. Some parts of "Undying" or "System Shock 2" were pretty tense, but seriously, not like the Cradle. |
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rocklee
Joined: 04 Oct 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 6:46 pm Post subject: |
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I remembered playing Doom3 with some Kylie Minogue playing in the background.
Yeah that helped  |
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mateomiguel
Joined: 16 May 2005
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| Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 7:00 pm Post subject: |
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Doom 3 wasn't scary for me. it was just annoying. It was your little brother hiding in the closet and jumping out at you one hundred different times. And then some plastic body parts would be lying around and someone smeared ketchup all over the walls. It just didn't jive for me.
The cradle is something out of nightmares. Like the in-game description said... it was an insane asylum and an orphanage before being abandoned for years. How much pain can you put into one building?
Well, you will know. |
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