John Carpenter’s seminal horror movie, The Factor, vastly influenced video video games and horror as an entire after its 1982 debut. It’s no shock {that a} online game adaption would occur, however no one might have predicted it might prove as fantastically as Black Label Studios’ 2002 effort. For one, it wasn’t a lazy 1-to-1 retread of the movie, however a real sequel. The Factor additionally featured some revolutionary mechanics on the time, with its single-player squad gameplay demonstrating clever AI. Seeing squadmates randomly rework in entrance of you was simply as terrifying and funky as it’s at present, and fortunately the remaster preserves that feeling with added polish.
On the forefront of that polish is the improved graphics. Textures are razor sharp, as anticipated from the newly carried out 4K decision. And the quirky characters all get a makeover with rebuilt facial textures and animations. Fortunately, gamers can really see characters’ faces a majority of the time as a result of volumetric lighting and brighter rooms instead of the unique’s pitch-black areas. This effort by Nightdive Studios just about comprehensively renovates all of the visuals of the sport, and it runs at a persistently stable 144 frames per second too.
“One instance of asset flipping I fairly like is changing the generic contaminated corpse in the beginning of the sport with Nauls from the unique movie.”
I significantly respect how Nightdive has added lower content material from the unique recreation together with all-new property in sure areas. One instance of asset flipping I fairly like is changing the generic contaminated corpse in the beginning with Nauls from the unique movie. In the event you have a look at side-by-sides, the unique physique is extra uncovered and ugly, however the option to pack some continuity from the movie instead of that’s an impressed and appreciated one. That mentioned, there’s no scarcity of ugly moments in The Factor Remastered.
Transformations are nonetheless as grotesque as ever, and sure characters take determined measures, sacrificing themselves to keep away from a dreaded transformation. Not one of the swearing or dialogue is altered or censored, and the general vibe and tone doesn’t really feel neutered or softened up in any respect from the 2002 basic. The one space the place I can see some gamers complaining a couple of lack of grittiness is the brightened lighting and elimination of that ubiquitous PS2-era fog. I see the improved lighting as a win, contemplating how tough it might be to see in lots of the unique’s pitch-black hallways. One might argue the remastered model’s new arctic-flavored shade filter is nearer to the movie than the unique recreation, making the marginally brightened visuals much more of a win-win. That mentioned, The Factor Remastered continues to be a lot darkish.
“Nightdive has graced us with much-needed autosaves all through the expertise along with higher positioning of save recorders.”
Visuals aren’t the one enhancement that’s been added to The Factor although, Nightdive has graced us with much-needed autosaves all through the expertise along with higher positioning of save recorders. Oh, and for the reason that unique was recognized for its extreme and infrequently unfair problem, 4 completely different problem settings had been added to offer gamers a extra forgiving expertise.
Serving to ease that sense of unfairness is the elimination of one of many largest flaws of the unique recreation: squadmate infections. As a single-player squad-based shooter, The Factor emphasizes teamwork to get via the harrowing Antarctic facility. A part of the genius of the unique cult basic recreation was the clever approach your NPC companions reacted to encounters and served their particular function. The Factor has a singular class-based system that makes every function helpful. Locked doorways and terminals require an engineer, whereas conditions in want of therapeutic depend upon a medic. And in circumstances the place ammo is tremendous low, you’ll be able to rely on the good AI of the soldier to shoot enemies. However again to the unique’s flaw: AI was a double-edged knife.
“Squadmates don’t randomly flip, however every has their very own ranges of immunity to infections and, extra importantly, solely turn out to be contaminated when in direct contact with a Factor beast (which occurs so much, as you would possibly anticipate).”
You see, a serious a part of this recreation’s schtick is your squadmates getting contaminated and mutating into grotesque ‘Factor’ monsters in real-time. This remaster lastly realizes that ingenious idea and ditches the antiquated and flawed 100% an infection charge the unique appeared to have. Administering a blood check amounted to nothing within the unique due to random ‘outburst’ infections that may occur at any time. That always meant a squadmate turning on you mere minutes after having them come up detrimental on a blood check.
Effectively, that’s been largely mounted with this remaster; squadmates don’t randomly flip, however every has their very own ranges of immunity to infections and, extra importantly, solely turn out to be contaminated when in direct contact with a Factor beast (which occurs so much, as you would possibly anticipate). The elimination of random an infection outbursts helps the idea come nearer to realizing its unique intent, although there’s nonetheless a problem I’ve with the gameplay mechanic. Don’t get me flawed, the nervousness of by no means fairly figuring out when an ally lastly activates you is fascinating, however on the finish of the day your companions at all times whittle all the way down to the panicked cowering state since they inevitably come into contact with contaminated Issues ultimately. Briefly, the belief/worry system is healthier carried out than the unique, however nonetheless doesn’t fairly hit its full stride.
“You may command squadmates to comply with, cease, and head to a set route utilizing a conventional four-way wheel.”
The remainder of the squad controls work splendidly. As much as three squad members be part of you intermittently all through the marketing campaign, fulfilling the mechanic, medic, and soldier roles as they comply with instructions and banter amongst themselves. The personalities these NPC squadmates exhibit are enjoyable to witness in motion, due to nice voice performing and the considerably campy tone the sport brilliantly adapts from the movie. You may command squadmates to comply with, cease, and head to a set route utilizing a conventional four-way wheel. The wheel exhibits you the squadmates’ facial expressions too, so it’s straightforward to see what state they’re in at-a-glance.
You even have a wheel for utility objects and weapons, of which the sport does a very good job various up. I respect how this recreation makes you really use most utility objects; in any case, not each survival horror recreation makes your repertoire of things helpful. I had enjoyable amassing and conveniently inserting flares in darkish corners and blind spots, for instance, and equally loved divvying up medpacks between squadmates.
The vary of weapons listed below are balanced properly so that every monster sort is weak to one thing distinct; you’ll be utilizing the shotgun and msg in equal measure. Not like Resident Evil or Silent Hill, ammo isn’t so scarce; nonetheless, loads of it will get dispersed between your squadmates so cautious conservation continues to be suggested. Capturing is improved from the janky unique due to the auto-aim help and enhanced sensitivity settings, however focusing on Issues nonetheless lacks the accuracy of different third-person shooters, feeling each bit just like the early 2000s title it’s. The flamethrower weapons are improved as properly, with hitboxes that extra precisely symbolize the place you’re pointing the weapon.
“The flamethrower weapons are improved as properly, with hitboxes that extra precisely symbolize the place you’re pointing the weapon.”
Regardless of all of the enhancements to weapon controls, the gunplay nonetheless finally ends up feeling outdated and arcady, although it may possibly hardly be thought of dangerous or horrible. One side of gameplay that I nonetheless struggled with this time round was often getting caught on terrain, however once more, it’s nowhere close to as dangerous because it was within the unique. The bevy of bug fixes and little high quality of life enhancements on the gameplay entrance are very welcome, however can solely elevate up the sport’s age to a sure diploma.
That brings me to one of many recreation’s best strengths: degree design. There’s really various selection in ranges regardless of the restrictions inherent within the solitary Antarctic atmosphere. Lesser film-based video games of the 2000s would’ve been content material merely recycling doodads and rearranging the darkish rooms of the outpost, however The Factor efficiently manages to shock with distinctive environments round each nook. And the remaster ups the ante with some newly added objects to offer the places much more taste. For instance, some corpses now resemble aspect characters from the movie as an alternative of generic our bodies, and a few creature design property had been redone to look extra detailed. The distinctive layouts in tandem with how distinct every location’s lighting are make Outpost 31 really feel all of the extra memorable and engaging to discover. You’re not simply working from room to room; the sport has you strolling atop vent programs, exploring small cavern outcroppings, or extra generally, battling the chilly outdoors.
“The Factor efficiently manages to shock with distinctive environments round each nook.”
I merely ate up the survival components on this recreation, gentle although they’re. You’ll be compelled to journey out within the chilly together with your squadmates in tow all through the expertise, every second draining the characters’ temperature meter. When the meter reaches zero for you or your teammates, it’s paramount to get inside a constructing until you need to be a Factor’s frozen desert. The sport’s nice degree design accommodates these harsh out of doors situations with well-placed indoor zones that replenish the temperature meter simply sufficient to scrape previous the cruel out of doors jaunts. My solely grievance is that squadmates often get hung up on geometry or lag behind you after closing a door, probably holding them out to freeze.
General, I actually loved my return again to this cult basic and really feel that this remaster lastly meets the lofty potential the unique arrange. The tremendous darkish areas of the unique are lit as much as see higher, controls are improved, and the flawed random infections have been gutted to make the worry/belief system actually work. The tone completely captures the unique movie, with a gritty and isolating ambiance that merely begs to be explored. The Factor Remastered is completely definitely worth the survival horror fan’s time, and when you like the unique recreation or video games from the period, it’s a transparent must-have.
This recreation was reviewed on the PC.
