Games Database
PS2
Adventure: Survival Horror
| Viewed: | 3D First-person / Third-person | Genre: | Adventure: Survival Horror |
| Media: | DVD | Arcade origin: | No |
| Developer: | SCEI | Soft. Co.: | SCEJ |
| Publishers: | SCEE
(GB) |
Released: | 4 Aug 2006
(GB) |
| Ratings: | PEGI 18+ | ||
| Features: | Vibration Function Compatible, Analogue Control Compatible: analogue sticks only | ||
| Accessories: | Memory Card | ||
Summary
It's time for survival horror aficionados to put out the lights again and crank up the volume, as Forbidden Siren 2 stumbles into view, the inevitable sequel to Sony's fright-fest from 2004. Without wanting to sound like a wuss collective, the original scared us silly in parts, which is just the kind of reaction that the developer was after. Forbidden Siren 2 promises more of the same, with an eerily similar premise to what came before.
The game begins as a group of people is stranded on a remote island after their boat is washed ashore amid a violent storm. Little do the passengers know that this island - Yamijima - has a mysterious past in which, almost 30 years ago, every inhabitant suddenly disappeared. And yes, you guessed it, the past comes back to haunt the unfortunate ones who find themselves literally in the dark. Not only does the player have to deal with the dark and claustrophobic atmosphere, but the ominous wailing of the titular siren is a warning sound. The castaways are suddenly faced with the emergence of the Shibito (the living dead) and the Yamibito (people of the dark). Maybe these creatures are all that's left of the island's original inhabitants? This is where things get very hairy and mucho scary. The original Forbidden Siren's use of shades of dark and light makes a reappearance, but it's hardly any kind of reassurance, 'cos the tension is almost unbearable for most of the time. The Shibito can be defeated by turning out the lights, whereas the Yambito are sensitive to light and can be conquered with illumination. There are of course more extreme methods of despatch at your disposal: throwing things is always effective to some degree, as is taking control of an abandoned vehicle and running down anyone/anything hostile. The original's 'sight-jacking' feature is back too, so players can see the game through the eyes of the enemy. Watching your own character being hunted by the Yambito or Shibito is an eerie and novel experience.
Frighteningly real - and really quite frightening in parts - Forbidden Siren 2 is essentially one of those classy, creepy contemporary Eastern horror films gone interactive. Think along the lines of the unearthly atmosphere conjured up by the likes of Shikoku or Dark Water (the Japanese version, naturally) and you're not too far away from the queasy, uneasy ambience of…wooo-o-o-o-o-o-o…Forbidden Siren 2-o-o-o-o!
The game begins as a group of people is stranded on a remote island after their boat is washed ashore amid a violent storm. Little do the passengers know that this island - Yamijima - has a mysterious past in which, almost 30 years ago, every inhabitant suddenly disappeared. And yes, you guessed it, the past comes back to haunt the unfortunate ones who find themselves literally in the dark. Not only does the player have to deal with the dark and claustrophobic atmosphere, but the ominous wailing of the titular siren is a warning sound. The castaways are suddenly faced with the emergence of the Shibito (the living dead) and the Yamibito (people of the dark). Maybe these creatures are all that's left of the island's original inhabitants? This is where things get very hairy and mucho scary. The original Forbidden Siren's use of shades of dark and light makes a reappearance, but it's hardly any kind of reassurance, 'cos the tension is almost unbearable for most of the time. The Shibito can be defeated by turning out the lights, whereas the Yambito are sensitive to light and can be conquered with illumination. There are of course more extreme methods of despatch at your disposal: throwing things is always effective to some degree, as is taking control of an abandoned vehicle and running down anyone/anything hostile. The original's 'sight-jacking' feature is back too, so players can see the game through the eyes of the enemy. Watching your own character being hunted by the Yambito or Shibito is an eerie and novel experience.
Frighteningly real - and really quite frightening in parts - Forbidden Siren 2 is essentially one of those classy, creepy contemporary Eastern horror films gone interactive. Think along the lines of the unearthly atmosphere conjured up by the likes of Shikoku or Dark Water (the Japanese version, naturally) and you're not too far away from the queasy, uneasy ambience of…wooo-o-o-o-o-o-o…Forbidden Siren 2-o-o-o-o!
Artwork
