1. Echolocating

   9

   I'm one of those grumpy, aging gamers who is slowly becoming disenchanted with video games. Why? Because the medium doesn't seem to be evolving and maturing with me. I'm tired of playing childish games that pretend to be mature. Cursed Mountain is exactly what I needed. The game is thoughtful, has an amazing atmosphere, and a story that doesn't cater to an adolescent intellect. It has a slower pace that actually supports the immersion of climbing a mountain alone. The game isn't perfect (the motion controls could have been a bit more forgiving), but it's been one of the most enjoyable games I've played in a very long time. Hopefully, Deep Silver opened a few developers' eyes to the concept that there's a whole other level of "mature" that has yet to be truly explored in video games.… Expand

   • Helpful? 1 of 1 users said Yes.
2. Sea

   8

   I have waited for a while for some gloomy games on the wii, so i had expectations about this. I must say that it's good. It's visually stunning, with a very good dark atmosphere, and nicely directed. Sounds are very good and in-the-right-place, and I must admit the thrilling is very well rendered. Many people say it's slow paced, and it's true, but again, it's a survival horror, not a shooter. I found it refreshing, and a nice way to show what the wii is capable of doing.… Expand

   • Helpful? 1 of 1 users said Yes.
3. RobG

   7

   This game certainly has a lot going for it: Unique storyline, creepy atmosphere, and beautifully haunting scenery. It also suffers from several disappointing flaws: Occasionally unresponsive controls(you WILL swear at the game when this happens), overly dark graphics(even with all the lights off in my room, I sometimes still could not make out objects on the screen), and subpar instructions. If this game was $50, I would never recommend it. I purchased it for $20, however, and I would call it a fairly good gaming value. If Deep Silver can work out a few control issues in a possible sequel, they could have great game on their hands.… Expand

   • Helpful? 0 of 0 users said Yes.
4. imagremlin

   2

   CM starts out quite promising. A survival horror game on an original setting and novel mechanics, but on its way it breaks down horribly.
   
   You play Eric Simmons, star mountaineer going to the Chomolonzo a sacred mountain in Tibet to look for your missing brother. On your way up, you'll explore Buddhist monasteries and the mountain itself, which as the title suggest has some supernatural stuff going.
   
   The graphics are functional but primitive, PS2-esque. But their general ugliness do add to the atmosphere. The 'cutscenes' are little more than slideshows, clearly the team was working to a tight budget. They tried their best, but after a while, they feel too simplistic, you won't be looking forward to the next plot development.
   
   The main game mechanic revolves around fighting ghosts with your enchanted pickaxe (seriously). And this is where things begin to fall appart. The fighting is slow, broken and tedious. The novelty of dispatching enemies with waving spells wears out quickly.
   
   Level design is extremely basic. Progress is strictly linear, there's plenty of scenery, but you're always on an invisible tunnel. So the game boils down to walk forward and kill ghosts. That's it. There is no strategy exploration or progress. Enemies become faster and more numerous (you'll start to wonder how many people died there, as it makes next to no sense).
   
   The final third of the game is a textbook example of bad design, an exercise on boredom. You'll climb numerous vertical walls (which consist on pushing the stick forward and watching Eric slowly inch his way up) and dispatch waves of repetitive ghosts. Even the atmosphere breaks down as the supposedly unexplored landscape is littered with buddhist structures
   
   Then there's the final boss, an unbearably slow, clunky battle, which forces you down the mountain to fight ghosts again every time you fail (and you will, many times, unless you remember something they told you many hours earlier).
   
   Final word: Avoid.… Expand

   • Helpful? 0 of 0 users said Yes.

See all 9 User Reviews