Rise of Nightmares
By Marc Saltzman,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Survival horror on Kinect where your actions do the killing.
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What’s It About?
Sega's RISE OF NIGHTMARES is a \"survival horror\" game that uses the Kinect's wireless motion-sensing technology to traipse through a creepy Eastern European mansion, battle hoards of scary enemies, and solve puzzles. Played from a first-person perspective, the single-player game drops you into the role of a hapless American tourist, Josh, determined to rescue his wife, Kate, from the clutches of a mad scientist. To succeed in your mission, you'll navigate trap-laden halls and rooms, slice and dice disfigured humans, and look for clues that inch you closer to your kidnapped spouse -- all by moving your body and waving your hands in front of the television.
Is It Any Good?
Most people associate Microsoft's Kinect for Xbox 360 peripheral with family-friendly games, such as Kinectimals or Kinect Adventures, but the popular $150 accessory –- which lets you use your body and voice to control video games –- is now being used to deliver spills, chills and thrills. However, in Rise of Nightmares, the awkward and sometimes clumsy controls will likely detract you from the simple-but-fun combat and deliciously dark atmosphere. You see, walking around the mansion using Kinect feels unnatural and stiff as you step forward to walk and turn your torso left and right to make Josh do the same. Once you get the hang of it, it works, but there are times when you need to move quickly out of the way to avoid spikes, blades, and other traps laid out by Viktor the scientist, and the limited control likely means an uncertain death. Stabbing, chain-sawing, and gouging these undead enemies can be fun, but expect to wince at the gory carnage. Because control will likely be an issue for many, Rise Of Nightmares is an experimental game that succeeds in concept but more or less fails in execution. The chilling imagery works and combat is decent, but walking around the game can be as painful as the carnage you inflict on baddies.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whether Sega crossed the line with this game. Is it OK to venture outside of the kid-friendly Kinect for Xbox 360 titles and offer a more mature experience for those who love horror movies? Or is this game worse than other survival horror titles because you're performing the motions in front of the television?
What is it about horror games that you find appealing?
Game Details
- Platform: Xbox 360
- Available online?: Not available online
- Publisher: Sega of America
- Release date: September 6, 2011
- Genre: Survival Horror
- ESRB rating: M for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes
- Last updated: August 29, 2016
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