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Dementium: The Ward

EMAIL PRINT ds

8.1 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 48 critic reviews
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Based on 20 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Gamecock Media Group

Developer: Renegade Kid

Genre(s): First-Person Shooter, Action, Horror

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: M (Mature)

Release Date: October 31, 2007

Summary

Dementium: The Ward tells the tale of a man who awakens to find himself alone in a mysterious, derelict hospital that is frozen in time. Confronted by the deadly, grotesque surgical experiments that wander the halls, a series of challenging puzzles and a cast of peculiar characters, he must face his deepest fears, unlock the mysteries of the hospital, and escape with his life. A completely new experience on the Nintendo DS, Dementium promises to creep you out with gory visuals and bone-chilling audio that brings the world screaming to life. [Gamecock]

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What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Deeko

Visually, Dementium's divine and every facet is designed / To create a sense of ambience that offers frights galore.

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Zentendo

Dementium is definitely easy to interact with, and it flows quite nicely.

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Cheat Code Central

Dementium is a riveting title which expertly straddles the line between survival horror and first-person shooter - two genres vastly underrepresented on the DS.

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Nintendo Power

This is one genuinely frightening experience, and the brave of heart will want to play in the dark, with headphones, for maximum scares. [Holiday 2007, p.84]

Destructoid

There's nothing like Dementium for the DS out there, and for me personally it's always a thrill to see the first game of its kind for a portable make a debut.

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Gamer 2.0

Dementium: The Ward is a terrific experience. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

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Vandal Online

Dementium: The Ward is a very noteworthy title within the Nintendo DS portfolio, not just for being a good game in the first person action genre -not so crowded in the console-, but also for its interesting plot and an intriguing, full of tension atmosphere.

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GamerNode

Everything about Dementium: The Ward is polished and clean, in a very dirty sense. While you won't be jumping from your seat in fear, there's no other portable that will scare you as much. Hopefully a sequel is in the works.

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Games Radar (in-house)

Dementium: The Ward is almost perfection, performing as a fantastic feat of first-person survival, and oozes with a truly, truly frightening aesthetic. Even if it's not the first in its genre, it's the most satisfyingly original game we've seen on the DS in some time.

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GamePro

A cohesive game with the sum of all of its parts adding up to a frightening whole.

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IGN

It's appropriately gory (it is a shooter, after all) but also adds an element of mystery to the whole thing. Some design issues do get in the way a tiny bit, but not so much that you'll hate on the game…and unless you've got the expectations of a PC shooter fan, it's hard to not be impressed.

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GameDaily

It doesn't push the horror genre forward, as most of its features pop up in the Resident Evil and Silent Hill franchises, but Dementium still offers up a few genuine frights, and stands out as one of the DS' most under hyped but entertaining video games.

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ZTGameDomain

The FPS genre is extremely rare on the system which means that the amount of quality titles is even rarer. Dementium sets a new standard on the system for presentation and visuals as well as delivering the first truly engrossing horror title for Nintendo’s micro-console.

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Modojo

At the end of the day what you can hope for is what we actually got, an extremely noteworthy effort that bodes well for future releases from this company.

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VideoGamer

A lot of fun and a highly accomplished debut.

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Cubed3

Dementium: The Ward is a good start to what will hopefully spawn a sequel or two - a solid shooter, presented fantastically well on Nintendo's DS.

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Games Master UK

One of the better first-person efforts on DS, and a good survival horror game too. [Sept 2008, p.79]

NGamer UK

Genuinely atmospheric and unnervingly scary - a grown up treat for your DS. [Jan 2008, p.60]

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Official Nintendo Magazine UK

A decent suspense-filled horror game that looks good for the DS but would probably be more at home on a console. [July 2008, p.98]

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My Gamer

Dementium is a respectable game. However, it seems that for every step in the right direction this game takes, it takes one back as well. But even with all the flaws that this game has, it is still an entertaining DS experience.

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The Onion (A.V. Club)

Turn off the lights. Put on your headphones. Hear that? Wait—turn down the cheesy music. Now do you hear the screech of metal against the walls? Yep, that's scary.

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GameSpot

Dementium is a handheld mixture of Doom and Silent Hill that is about as scary as a game played on a 3-inch screen on the bus can be.

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Nintendojo

It’s difficult to recommend this title wholeheartedly, but Dementium does just enough to warrant it.

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Multiplayer.it

Dementium: The Ward demonstrates that you can make a good survival horror game even on the Nintendo DS. The graphics are impressive, really fluid, and the controls work great (but only if you don't play for too much time). The game seems to be a little too linear and the difficulty is low, but it's worth a try if you want something different for your DS.

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Meristation

We've been waiting too long for Dementium in Europe. After dealing with its American version, the only thing that we can tell is we're facing a very good game here, mixture of survival horror and shooter adventure. It's a good game if you don't mind its strange gameplay mechanic and the lame story that offers. At least you can enjoy with the superb graphics and its creepy atmosphere.

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PALGN

Dementium is an ambitious and solid portable horror effort, and is an interesting diversion for any fan of the genre.

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3DJuegos

Dementium: The Ward has an amazing atmosphere, a necessary game in the lineup of the Nintendo DS. The visuals are notable but with some problems in the playability. The first steps with the game give us good impressions but later the game shows a repetitive way, an annoying save system and a strange gameplay mechanic.. A great game mixture of FPS and survival horror.

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Level7.nu

A first person shooter in 3D combined with puzzle elements, set in a dark and horror themed world doesn't really sound like a typical game you'd find on a Nintendo system, and certainly not a portable one. But developer Renegade Kind has actually managed to pull off such a game where both presentation, gameplay and puzzles together work as a foundation for an atmospheric and thrilling experience. There are flaws though. The game is a bit short and when you've played through it once there are no incentives to take it for a second spin. Still, a worthwhile purchase if you a fan of the genre.

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n-Revolution Magazine UK

Combat can get a bit repetitive, but the spooky atmosphere is spot on. [Issue#23, p.79]

Nintendo Life

Dementium may not be the greatest FPS experience there ever was, but, for what it is, it is quite an enjoyable romp.

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D+PAD Magazine

In spite of some medium-sized annoyances, there are no game-breaking problems here, and there’s a lot of enjoyment to be had for players who like a sprinkle of terror on their gaming pie.

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Teletext GameCentral

The best portable Silent Hill game never made with great first person combat and impressive presentation.

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SpazioGames

Dementium the Ward is indeed a good game. A shame it won't last too long, and the saving system is still annoying, but solid gameplay mechanics and good graphics make it the perfect choice for everyone who's looking for a good shooter experience on Nintendo DS.

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Eurogamer

In its newly 'remastered' form, Dementium is easily one of the most interesting games to appear on the DS in some time, and certainly should have a great appeal to anyone looking for a decent horror offering.

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NintendoWorldReport

The game certainly has some flaws (like the loose aiming and overly complex map), and I find it hard to forgive the "die and start over again" philosophy, but Dementium is definitely something different, and it's something I think people will generally enjoy.

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GameSpy

As much as you'll wish for more variety in setting and situation, what you do get is so smooth, creepy, and darkly pleasurable that you'll be left with a smile and a twitch, if not necessarily satisfaction.

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Pocket Gamer UK

Dementium: The Ward comes in a pretty wrapper, offering an entertaining first-person adventure light on fright. Not the best candy in the basket, then, but it's certainly still worth a bite.

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Worth Playing

It's very scary, but it's held back by an annoying save system, limited inventory and respawning enemies.

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Gaming Target

These factors, combined with a lack of special features, makes Dementium an undeserving purchase for all but the most die-hard survival horror fans.

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Video Game Talk

There’s no denying Dementium is a solid first effort for the Renegade Kid development team, and a sequel would certainly be welcome. The visuals are quite good, the sound is immersive, and the gameplay is above average.

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1UP

It's clear the team at Renegade Kid has plenty of talent and potential, and the creepy atmosphere and unique controls make the game worth a look for survival-horror fans with lots of patience -- there's not really anything else like it on the DS. Just be aware that the most of the screams the game elicits have nothing to do with the onscreen horror.

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Thunderbolt

It makes a brilliant case of “show, don’t tell”, but unfortunately, it just doesn’t show a heck of a lot.

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Game Revolution

There’s some repetition in the layouts for the rooms and floors, and frankly, there’s not much incentive for replay, but it’s a solid, challenging and surprisingly atmospheric, creepy ride while it lasts.

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GameShark

With this game, Renegade Kid has shown that they’re able to pull off some very impressive technical feats on the DS, however there needs to be some equally impressive design choices married with the technology to make whatever they do next a stand out title.

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Game Informer

It’s not frightening or disturbing. It’s just extremely frustrating.

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Edge Magazine

There are nice touches – cockroaches that scatter under your flashlight, the occasional puzzle, effective cutscenes – but there is little that you won’t have found implemented in a vastly more satisfactory form elsewhere. [May 2008, p.99]

Gameplayer Sweden

An amazingly smooth-running game that stumbles upon story and makes a nose-dive when it comes to combat and sound. Unfortunately the scariest thing about The Ward is it’s extreme repetition. Its’ not a bad game per say, it’s just so helplessly behind its time and fails to make use of the unique abilities of the NDS.

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Eurogamer Spain

It will make you scream, but not because of fear. It will cause you pain, but not in a figured way. And it will give you nightmares, but for motives that are not even related with its storyline.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.1 (out of 10) based on 20 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Gio D gave it a9:
We need more game like this on the DS. Dementium is a FANTASTIC debut game from new publisher Gamecock, and new developer Renegade Kid. To sum up the story of the game, your trapped in a very derelict and bloodstained hospital but you have no idea how you got there, why you are there, and no memory of who you are/were. Ofcourse there are all sorts of mostrosities in the hospital all iching to kill you while you explore and look for answers. I really can't stress this enough but Renegade Kid did a superb job here. Screenshots DO NOT do this game justice. It looks and runs beautifully while you play, without dropping any framerate or slowdown when multiple enemies are on screen. Music is very tense, atmosphere is very dark and disturbing, graphics are some of the best that i've seen on the DS, and the controls (this being first person) are very easy to learn and get accustomed to. If you crave for something that is truly different from the norm on the DS, due yourself the huge favor and pick up Dementium. A terriffic survival horror game.

DJ T gave it a4:
At first it was okay. But then after the first chapter, the lock and key mechanics really started to take away from the overal atmoshere. You found yourself cursing why you can't climb over a simple desk to get to a part on the map rather than scared because some shrieking worm is coming after you thru the vents.

Sheila C. gave it a6:
Hard on the hands and has save game issues.

Wil gave it a9:
I asked myself how the hell did I managed to wet my pants looking at a 2.5 inch screen. Laughing? You try it at mid-night and see! A master-piece.

Robert gave it a10:
This game is truly scary, great sounds add to the creepiness. The use of the stylus here is second only to a pc, controls are very good. It looks really good for the ds as well. Good storyline, it's both horror and thriller, good plot twists. A GREAT entry in the horror genre.

Adrian M. gave it a9:
This game is really good and scary, but you have to play it at night with all the lights off and hooked up to your surround system to scare the heck out of out. Honestly, under these conditions, I don't think I've played a scarier game than this one. So if you're a fan of horror games and own a DS, then this is the game for you. I loved it. 9/10.

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Dementium: The Ward

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