Gaming Target - PlayStation 2: Disaster Report

Written by Tony Kennetz on January 22, 2003

First Impressions: Zombies? We don't need no stinkin' zombies!

Survival-Horror is a genre that hasn't seen a great step forward since Resident Evil was released on the PlayStation One. To be certain, there have been some simply stellar games in the genre that deserve praise. Eternal Darkness, Fatal Frame, Silent Hill 2, and even the Resident Evil remake on GameCube come to mind. But when was the last time someone did away with everything that gamers associate with survival horror? No zombies, no ghosts, no boomsticks. Enter Disaster Report.

Although these days games claiming they are going to bring waves of change to their genre are a dime a dozen, Disaster Report looks ready to prove its worth. You'll play the game as a reporter, on an island that is being constantly rocked by the aftershocks of a major earthquake. Say good-bye to flashy weaponry, partially decomposed bodies and all. This game will rely on the risk that any step could send you plummeting into the ocean depths below, and having talked to many people involved in such Уactivities,Ф I can assure you, it's a nerve racking experience to be certain. Along the way, you'll meet many non-player characters whom you must lead to safety as you search for the truth and shelter for yourself. Even your editor will give you objectives, who would have thought in such peril, a man could have such strict deadlines. But it's all in the name of game progression, so this is excusable.

While one may classify Disaster Report as a Уsurvival-horrorФ game, early reports have stated that the game plays much more like Sony's Ico rather than a Resident Evil. The game is divided into sections, in each your goal is to find the way to safety for yourself, and possibly an accompanying computer controlled characters. Not only is doing this extremely honorable, but you'll have to be selfish with them as well, as they may have key items that directly relate to your success.

For anyone who has ever seen or taken part in the damage a earthquake can create, you know how devastating they can be. Luckily, Irem is taking great steps to make sure this one simulates these destructive forces as realistically as possible. Although it hasn't been confirmed whether or not the aftershocks are scripted or random, the gamer will certainly have no forewarning as to when an earth shattering event may occur. Of course, if these occur on a scripted basis, this could take away major replay value. At any rate, the aftershocks can greatly change the face of your environments, therefore taking away paths to the goal and giving new ones.

For anyone who was wondering, Disaster Report does use a health meter. While this type of game may sound like you wouldn't need it (something large falls on you, you are dead right?) its actually put to good use here. You'll notice that under the health bar in the corner, there are also blue bars. These rank how badly our hero needs to get a drink of water. Simply walking around will eventually lend how thirsty, but by sprinting down a long road or making a death defying jump will very quickly increase he need and desire for water. This plays a key role in how the game is played, and it's a factor that gamers must be sure not to forget.

There are many tools that can be found and utilized one this now abandoned island. Included are bikes, compasses, and boats, and more according to Agetec. Look for all of these items to be needed in some stage of the game to make it off the crumbling piece of land that you currently stand on.

Like many other adventure games, storage will play an imperative role in how youСll go about your business. However, instead of just having a set amount of items you'll be allowed to carry, Disaster Report does things a bit differently. Your backpack will be symbolized by a transparent 3D likeness, that is filled in by the items you are carrying. While it's not a necessity, the change of display is still refreshing when compared to the boring menu-esque item screens a la Resident Evil.

Graphically, Report is looking even better. Although the colors and vibrancy of a Metroid Prime are not present, it really does not need to be. There will be some gamers who will remain under whelmed by the visuals, the drab look contained within the game are what was needed to convey the real-world likeness that, for a game of this nature, is not only nice but required. Some videos for Report in action show some ugly slowdown though, we can only hope it doesn't affect gameplay at this point.