PS2 Underrated Gem: The Thing

This is a series of gameplay vids I'm doing highlighting overlooked games for the PS2.

Admittedly, I've never seen the the original John Carpenter movie The Thing this game acts as a sequel of sorts to.

The Thing plays like a mix of a squad shooter, and survival horror game. The original movie was about an antarctic research team who comes across an alien lifeform that can take over and imitate it's host.

The game plays off of this concept with you having to earn your squad-mates trust before they'll help you. They have to know you're not infected. It's a really neat concept, but overall, it's not developed that well. You never get the feeling of paranoia, like you can't trust your teammates, or that you have to watch your back, because you are so heavily armed. When your squadmates do finally turn, it takes them long enough to change, that you're already spraying them with the flame thrower by the time they even get to attack you. So that aspect was a cool concept, and adds soemthing extra tot he game, but could have been developed better.

The game also doesn't really give you that feeling of tension like other survival horror games, and though it's based off of a movie, it's storyline is basic and poorly implemented. In fact, you probably won't be playing this game for it's story.

That being said, the squad shooter elements are really fun to play. Very few survival horror games let you be this well armed, so, in a sense, the game feels more like an action squad shooter at times than a survival horror game. That's not to say there aren't some tense moments, the game just overall does the action elements better.

The big enemies in the game can only be killed with the flame thrower, however the range of the weapon is poor. When free gunning, your character will only shoot the flame thrower at the ground (so don't run forward, and shoot it or else you'll kill yourself rather quickly), and when aiming in on an enemy that's a few feet in front of you, you'll miss, because the flame doesn't go that far. However, you can learn these quirks of that weapon, so it will only be a big problem at first.

My other minor complaint, is that when you die (and you will die a lot in the game trust me), it doesn't give you the ability to load your game from the death screen. It'll let you restart the level, but you have to exit to the title screen to reload your data, even if you made it to a save point in the level.

Overall, though the game wasn't everything it promised to be, there is a fun, and completely solid experience underneath. It's not perfect, but is overall an enjoyable well made experience. Don't expect an in-depth story, and don't expect it to be filled with big Hollywood scares, but if you're looking for a good squad shooter in a horror environment, then look into The Thing.

The Thing is also available on the Xbox, and PC.

NOTE: I seriously got this game for exactly $1.

Category:

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Tags:

• The
• Thing
• Sony
• Playstation
• PS2
• Video
• Game
• Underrated
• Gem
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• Carpenter

[wulfshelmut]

I have seen The Thing. The movie is great and freaky as hell. Its a classic. Must watch 2D, must watch. My nephew is a fan of the movie and has the game. I should have bought this game. I still may just so I can play it. I hope its as freaky as the movie. Like I said you have to see it. I dont mean on TV either because they cut all the good stuff out.

[teh2Dgamer]

The game is more action based than horror based. It's not really freaky, but it's still a solid game.

[SabreXT]

Whos spoony, and why do people keep mentioning him?

[teh2Dgamer]

Just another guy who over-sensationalizes the flaws in otherwise good games and calls them crap for it. Didn't you know FFVIII is a crappy game.

[SabreXT]

Yes. All the FF games are rubbish imo, but he sounds like just another AGN wanna be to me.

[teh2Dgamer]

How dare you sir!!! Just kidding. That's OK. I love the old FF series, and like the new ones, but I understand why others don't like those kind of games.

That's the beauty, not everyone will agree on everything. To each his own.

[305SEGA305]

ps2 for life

[gordonfreeman64]

@1orwell1 Gameinformer 8.25 look it up

[1orwell1]

Fucking Game Informer gave this a 3...some very low number. Gave Warriors an 8 and I bought it and it sucks. I'm stuck with this unsellable, unplayable booty juice and have never seen a used copy of the Thing. That's why this season and maybe the next I'm not reading any reviews and getting a damn gaymfly account.

[mattariel520]

Still have my copy for xbox after all these years, every now and then ill toss it in the ol' 360. Great game.

[GamingMad247]

@shitbox99 yeah i found the name for it about a week ago, but thanks anyways :)

[shitbox99]

@GamingMad247 Could you be thinking of Cold Fear? It's not snow, but rain. A very good game and often overlooked.

[Sajun88]

While I like Spoony and his review of this game (it's super entertaining), I will admit that this is a fairly good game, though not perfect. As Spoony said, you do encounter a ridiculous amount of fuze boxes, almost every enemy you fight is a head-crab from Half-Life, and your team members are completely retarded. That being said, this game is creepy, and I found it entertaining. I'm happy that I purchased it.

[GamingMad247]

can someone help me? i was looking at an original xbox game today at my local shopping center but i cant remember what its called. its very similar to this with the infection and snowy setting but its on a boat. can someone help me PLZ?!

[sladerfoster]

FUCKING OWNED, PLAYED, AND LOVED THIS GAME, i think about this game almost evryday, i had so many stories to tell my friends about this game. HUGE Thing fan over here

[IntoxicatedGhost1]

ps was awesome they should remake ps3 fuck ps3, need the classic backs

[Gryphful]

great movie=great game ( also i found out that GAME is a SEQUEL to a movie, pretty stunning)