The Suffering (Xbox)

The most remarkable thing I found about this game was the quite unbelievable levels of profanity used by the characters - it would even put Derek & Clive to shame (well, maybe not..)! When you consider that 'Vice City' caused a stir in some quarters partly due to its 'bad' language one can only imagine how this game will be received by our 'moral guardians' (an '18' certificate is surely on the cards). However if, like me, you still get a juvenile kick out of extended tirades of vulgar invective (within an unusual context like a video game) then you'll no doubt find it all rather amusing. The 'effing' and 'blinding' is noticeably more pronounced when the other inmates of the penitentiary tag along with you (so if you grow tired of their cussin' you may consider humanely blasting their brains out). Ironically therefore, in effect the *ahem* 'gritty' dialogue subtracts from the sinister feel the game so obviously would like to transmit (unless it was consciously the creator's intention: comic relief to reinforce the impact of the game's darker themes. Who knows?).

That said this is still a very good game. No classic maybe - but at least it distinguishes itself by being the most potty-mouthed game I have ever encountered (whether that's a good or bad thing is up to you).


ooo, it's a bit sweary!!!   May 25, 2004
Lewis Darwen
10 out of 10 found this review helpful

Ok, first things first, The Suffering is wrong. Terribly wrong.
There's more swearing in the opening cut scene alone than in any other game I have ever played. Take the swearing in a Bernard Manning stand up show. Then double it. Not one to be played in front of your mother. Then there's the gore, ah the gore, the cornerstone of any good survival horror game. Well, let's just say The Suffering does'nt dissapoint in this area. The hideous monsters you encounter (created by Hollywood's monster master Stan Winston, no less) whose appearance is based on the way they were executed, add gripping gameplay. There's a constant barrage of pant-soiling horror round every corner. Flying limbs and bucketloads of claret are commonplace. This is no slow, bumbling Silent Hill or Resident Evil copy, this is a ball's to the wind gore fest. And I love it.

You play Torque, on death row for the murder of his wife and two kids. And he's next in line for execution. Luckily, or not as the case may be, evil Demonic forces have beseiged the prison accidentally setting Torque free, which is where your journey of survival starts.
The game plays simply enough, shoot things until they die. Sure there's the occasional puzzle but only the most intelectually challenged amongst us would find these taxing, but what is clever and highly innovotive is the ability to switch perspective at the touch of a button. Pressing x swaps the viewpoint from either first or third person perspective giving the player the ability to play the whole game through with either. The first person becomming very useful in confined spaces. You also have a Rage mater, which fills up the more enemies you kill. Once it's full Torque can morph into a huge monster, akin to something from 'The Thing'. During this spell Torque becomes a relentless killing machine disembowling any enemies stupid enough to cross his path. Another clever idea is the way your actions directly determine weather Torque is innocent or guilty of the crime in which he is accused. Kill a helpless prison guard and steal his weapon and you get Bad points, help him survive and, you guessed it, you get good points. Depending on weather you are good or bad will determine the ending you get. The flashback sequences, in which you whitness ghostly apperitions appear, then dissapear and also quite haunting.

Graphically the game is very good, but very dark, very, very dark. Just dont let your flashlight run out of batteries. And the detail that has gone into the monstors is superb.
Special mention must also go to the voice acting which is suprisingly good for a game of this type.

Perfect this game is not. Later in the game you spend a lot of time running around dull woodland areas instead of the interesting, exciting prison in witch you spent most of the game. It just becomes a bit of a slog.
A minor gripe you may think but play the game and you'll know what I mean.
Apart from that though this is a great game. It does'nt pretent to do anything new, or be anything it's not. It's just an explosive shock fest that'll keep you going for a few days (it took me roughly eleven hours first time). It does have some new, interesting ideas but nothing that's going to break barriers in the genre. It's gory, very sweary but most of all lots of fun. Just don't buy it for the kids.


One hell of a game!   February 21, 2005
DVD Fan (london, United Kingdom)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

I have just completed the game for the first time, oh somewhere around 10 hours! lol, depends on how much you explore really? Well have to say I'm a big fan of horror survival games esp resident evil, and this doesn't dissapoint! It's very good, more action than puzzle solving, there are a few to do but most are obvious, sometimes you may get stuck but if you search well enough you find your way! The graphics are very good as is the music which adds to the tension. A good array of weapons including grenandes etc can be used. You start off in a creepy prison on a remote island and try to get off it, depending on how you adjust the brightness of your tv you can be playng in near pitch black darkness, although you do have a torch,when you have batteries! This does add to the atmosphere of the game, which can make you jump with sudden nightmare visions and flashbacks! The best bit is swithcing from 1st or 3rd person mode,which helps when fighting many enemies at once and you can play either mode switching back and forth as you like. It is very gory in terms of scenery with beheaded figures etc all over the place,the swearing is only really in the opening scene, after all not a game for young kids!
The game throws up chances to be good or bad with helping other prisoners or guards and this affects the ending of the game which is good replay value,help everyone or kill em all? Also on the game are behind the scenes making of game approx 15mins,not too in depth but cool bonus and also prison is hell documentary about 20-25mins featuring a haunted prison in usa again a nice bonus.


SWEET, FREAKY , SCARY WEIRD GAME!   December 27, 2004
Lucy (UK unfortunately)
5 out of 6 found this review helpful

Lets start off with your either gonna love the game or hate it(no in between)

This game starts in a prison which is basically filled with evil head things wanting to rip parts of your body off(its a horror game what would u excpect) The graphics are nice and clear, true they can be a bit dark (all u gotta do it turn the brightness on ur tv up) unless of course u want to play it dark with no lights on
(suggest clean underpants near) i haven't played on this game much,but what i've played so far i have really enjoyed.

Pro's
*Good graphics, well detailed
*Levels are big
*Never a dull moment
*Pick it up cheap
*Great game for all you gore fans
*Save when you want
*Question's whether your normal or insane???
(weird ghosts run around i questioned myself askin if i'd just imagined them..lol)

Con's
*Maybe a Bit 2 much swearing(not such a biggy)
(why don't u either turn the sound off or skip that part its not important anyway, not to mention it is a 18 game)
*Not the easiest of games

Overall its a good game, will keep u occupied either playing on it,hiding in your room,or staying in the bog all nite (releasing number 2's..lol)

Any gamer who likes Resi or Silent Hill you'll love this game.. just don't play it alone..


Save anywhere, Yay!!!   July 12, 2004
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

If I've completed a hard part of the game but then die before reaching the next checkpoint or completing the level, I don't want to have to do that bit all over again. I've proved I can do it, let's move on. This game gives you that rare opportunity of being able to save whenever you want to. The gameplay itself is fun although it can be a bit repetitive at times.
good points: save anywhere, choice of difficulty, controls, rarely frustrating, 3 different endings.
bad points: occasionally not sure what to do/where to go next.
Lifespan: approx 9 hrs to complete first time through