Well, I'm back. Sorry it took so long for another blog entry, but between stupid internet drama, moving back home (finally) and preparing for a Walt Disney World trip and my own move to sunny Sarasota, I really just haven't had the time to do this review. But, I do now, so here it goes!
I got the game used on Amazon from an independent dealer for 6 bucks, and that includes tax and shipping. Came with the case and the book, too, and they were in great shape, as was the game disc itself. Sadly, they did not come with the free movie voucher, which I would have enjoyed having for the lulz if nothing else. Pictures would have been taken and Eddie Murphy would have been photoshopped in. Anyway, we tore into the game pretty much immediately, and we were introduced to Ezekiel Halloway (who prefers Zeke), a young man who'd lived his entire lives in orphanages and is trying to become a writer. Zeke's answered an ad in the newspaper asking for a caretaker to come and assist caring for the old mansion, not realizing that it was the forlorn spirits of the Mansion reaching out for help.
The controls are, thankfully, very easy to get used to. Zeke is not a 'tank' like so many heroes of his time were (looking at you, Redfield family. Zombies are no excuse to pilot like a school bus). Tilting the analog stick forward makes him move forward, there's a button to jump, a button to attack, and a button to gather 'withered' spirits.
Me, however...I was not so brave half the time. The game has some amazingly effective scares that play on sight and sound. I'd hate to spoil the scares for anyone, so I won't say too much except that you'll be on your toes--and you'll be swearing. I don't remember how many times I shouted "oh shit" or "fuck me" while scrambling to get my bearings while being attacked.
There are 'boss fights' which can be anything from an actual fight to a ball-bustingly irritating puzzle or eight. There are plenty of cameos from well known characters--ghosts we've seen at the Haunted Mansion over and over again, if we've seen the attraction in person--including Phineas, Ezra and Gus, the Hitchhiking Ghosts, the organ player, the Duelist...Zeke himself seems to even be a younger version of the Caretaker in the graveyard scene of the attraction...y'know, the one with the skinny-ass dog? The resemblance is definitely there, only young Zeke is a bit skinnier and seems to really go for the eye makeup.
The music is fantastic. It doesn't abuse Grim Grinning Ghosts, and you only hear the entire version of the song during the credits. Hit pause, though, and you'll hear an adorably maddening loop of the Dapper Dans singing their intro to the classic song over...and over...and over, until you've unpaused the game.
Overall, I give the game an 8/10. The only negatives are the jarring puzzles that can occasionally take you off guard and irritate the piss out of you, and an anti-climactic final boss fight that leaves you wanting a little more. Definitely worth the few bucks you'll have to shell out for the game, and still worth it if you have to pick up a used PS2 from your local GameStop.
