ObsCure
Encyclopedia
ObsCure is a survival horror video game developed by Hydravision Entertainment and published by DreamCatcher Interactive for Microsoft Windows
, PlayStation 2
and Xbox
. It was released on October 1, 2004 in Europe
and North America
on April 6, 2005.
You'll take control of the five desperate teens as you explore the massive school and battle a number of different types of infected students.
The students discover that the enemies they face are sensitive to light, with direct sunlight being able to destroy them. Flashlights help to slightly weaken their foes and the malevolent black aura surrounding them.
The students wind up discovering a conspiracy about the injections turning students into mutated monsters, mostly experimentations based on a rare plant spore with the possibility to allow people to live forever. It is discovered that the Nurse and the Principal are over 100 years old but seem only to be in their 60s thanks to the tests they had performed on others.
The students later come across their principal, who is killed by a teacher seeking to cure himself of the infection caused by Herbert's experiments. Herbert's brother, Leonard, however lurks in the back of that room and seeing his brother dead gets quite angry. He murders the teacher and that leaves Kenny and co. to defeat the biggest mutant seen yet, the first mutant.
After defeating him, you return to the gym and inject yourself with the cure. However Leonard returns. After a quick and painless battle, Leonard gives into the sunlight and everything is back to normal.
to any firearm
. Some critics, including the review show X-Play
, have stated that this was the only redeeming quality, and mocked id
's Doom 3
for not implementing such a concept.
ObsCure also contains tracks performed by the bands Sum 41
and Span
. The story was inspired by The Faculty
.
While each of these abilities sounds useful, none of them are necessary to complete the game. Each character can perform the same physical acts even if it takes some characters longer and/or more effort than others. The puzzles generally aren't taxing enough to require much help, and if any teen cast members should die during the adventure, the player may simply continue on with those remaining.
.
Some of the soundtrack can be downloaded from Olivier Derivière
official website:
http://www.olivierderiviere.com/
There are also 2 tracks that play during the game that are not in the official soundtrack.
German Version
In the German version there were many songs from Sportfreunde Stiller
.
Spanish Version
The Spanish version of the game features the song Supersonica performed by Dawholeenchilada for its ending credits. The music video for the song is unlockable as a bonus for completing the game.
French Version
The French version of the game features the song Cinglés performed by Enhancer for its ending credits. The music video for the song is unlockable as a bonus for completing the game.
, PlayStation 2
, Wii
and PlayStation Portable
.
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
, PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
and Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
. It was released on October 1, 2004 in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
on April 6, 2005.
Storyline
Some strange things seem to be happening at Leafmore High. Four teenagers set out to search for their missing friend. They’ve found themselves locked inside the school overnight, and they now have to get to the bottom of the strange occurrences.You'll take control of the five desperate teens as you explore the massive school and battle a number of different types of infected students.
The students discover that the enemies they face are sensitive to light, with direct sunlight being able to destroy them. Flashlights help to slightly weaken their foes and the malevolent black aura surrounding them.
The students wind up discovering a conspiracy about the injections turning students into mutated monsters, mostly experimentations based on a rare plant spore with the possibility to allow people to live forever. It is discovered that the Nurse and the Principal are over 100 years old but seem only to be in their 60s thanks to the tests they had performed on others.
The students later come across their principal, who is killed by a teacher seeking to cure himself of the infection caused by Herbert's experiments. Herbert's brother, Leonard, however lurks in the back of that room and seeing his brother dead gets quite angry. He murders the teacher and that leaves Kenny and co. to defeat the biggest mutant seen yet, the first mutant.
After defeating him, you return to the gym and inject yourself with the cure. However Leonard returns. After a quick and painless battle, Leonard gives into the sunlight and everything is back to normal.
Features
ObsCures most notable feature is the two-player cooperative mode that allows the player to complete the campaign with a friend. ObsCure also allows players to combine items, for example taping a flashlightFlashlight
A flashlight is a hand-held electric-powered light source. Usually the light source is a small incandescent lightbulb or light-emitting diode...
to any firearm
Firearm
A firearm is a weapon that launches one, or many, projectile at high velocity through confined burning of a propellant. This subsonic burning process is technically known as deflagration, as opposed to supersonic combustion known as a detonation. In older firearms, the propellant was typically...
. Some critics, including the review show X-Play
X-Play
X-Play is a TV program about video games, known for its reviews and comedy skits...
, have stated that this was the only redeeming quality, and mocked id
Id Software
Id Software is an American video game development company with its headquarters in Richardson, Texas. The company was founded in 1991 by four members of the computer company Softdisk: programmers John Carmack and John Romero, game designer Tom Hall, and artist Adrian Carmack...
's Doom 3
Doom 3
Doom 3 is a science fiction horror video game developed by id Software and published by Activision. An example of the first-person shooter genre, Doom 3 was first released for Microsoft Windows on August 3, 2004. The game was later adapted for Linux, as well as being ported by Aspyr Media for Mac...
for not implementing such a concept.
ObsCure also contains tracks performed by the bands Sum 41
Sum 41
Sum 41 is a Canadian rock band from Ajax, Ontario. The band was formed in 1996 and currently consists of members Deryck Whibley , Tom Thacker , Jason McCaslin and Steve Jocz .In 1999, the band signed an international record deal with Island Records...
and Span
Span (band)
SPAN was a Norwegian rock band that formed in 2000 from the ashes of two other outfits; Explicit Lyrics and Squid. Self-proclaimed as "Norwegian Turbo-Rock 'n' Roll Commandos" , the band spent much of the years between 2002 and 2004 touring the UK and Norway as well as spending a brief time in the...
. The story was inspired by The Faculty
The Faculty
The Faculty is a 1998 science fiction horror film written by Kevin Williamson and directed by Robert Rodriguez...
.
Player Characters
ObsCure gives players the ability to control and switch between any of five playable characters on the fly. Given that he or she will be playing in pairs of characters, the other characters will be computer-controlled A.I., or a second player can join in and take over for the computer at any time. Choices of characters includes:- Josh Carter (voiced by Sam RiegelSam RiegelSamuel Brent Oscar "Sam" Riegel is a voice actor, writer and director who appears in many television cartoons, anime, and video games. He began as a child actor in theater in Virginia, and moved to New York City to perform in Broadway and off-Broadway shows...
) - A shy and reserved reporter for the school paper. He can tell if there's anything left to do in an area, such as items to pick up, or locations that advance the storyline. First received after the opening scenario involving Kenny. It is known that he survives the events of ObsCure, only to go missing by the time of the second game. A hidden video in ObsCure IIObsCure IIObsCure II is a survival horror video game developed by Hydravision Entertainment and published by Playlogic Entertainment for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2 and Wii. It is the sequel to the video game ObsCure. The game was released on September 7, 2007 in Europe, March 25, 2008 under the name...
shows from the perspective of what is believed to be his camera, visiting the ruins of Leafmore High only to have him and Ashley both presumably killed or captured by Leonard's mutant son. Josh is also attracted to Shannon which is shown in the end when the two embrace.
- Stanley Jones (voiced by Scott Haze) - A stoner and a slack student at the school, good friends with Josh and Kenny. The only problems that he had in school is being a thief and hacker in computers. He is able to crack locks easier. With more skill, he can break into rooms as well. First received when entering the bottom left building on the map. He survives the events of ObsCure and ObsCure II.
- Kenny Matthews (voiced by Michael SinterniklaasMichael SinterniklaasMichael Tremain Sinterniklaas is a Dutch American actor, voice actor, ADR Director and script writer who has worked for Viz Media, Bandai Entertainment, Funimation Entertainment, DuArt Film and Video, 4Kids Entertainment, and Tripwire Productions...
- He is the varsity athlete, and Shannon's older brother, who is blessed with quick speed and a powerful punch. First received at the beginning. He survives the events of Obscure. In the second game, he is a playable character for a short time, until he turns into a powerful mutated monster with huge arms. He gets killed by Shannon and Stan at the end.
- Shannon Matthews (voiced by Stephanie ShehStephanie ShehStephanie Ru-Phan Sheh is a Chinese-American voice actress, a writer, and a story editor who has worked for Geneon Entertainment, Bang Zoom! Entertainment, Bandai Entertainment, Media Blasters, NYAV Post, FUNimation Entertainment, and Viz Media...
) - Kenny's smart younger sister. Shannon dresses provocatively to take the focus away from her intelligence. She provides tips on puzzles and heals other's wounds for them. First received after the opening scenario involving Kenny. She survives the events of ObsCure and ObsCure II. She is able to heal 20% more with a normal health item.
- Ashley Thompson (voiced by Tara PlattTara PlattTara Platt is an American film and television actress as well as a voice actor. She is married to fellow voice actor Yuri Lowenthal....
) - She is a cheerleader, and is also Kenny's girlfriend. She has the ability to rapid-fire a pistol, and deals more damage with most weapons. First received after the opening scenario involving Kenny. She survives the events of ObsCure only to go missing (presumably dead or captured) before the events of ObsCure II, going with Josh to investigate the partially destroyed ruins of Leafmore High and suddenly getting attacked in the process. She is mentioned in ObsCure II and a picture of the group is shown with both her and Josh.
- Dan - A student that was held in a prison and is playable when Kenny saves him, however he cannot help the player for long as he immediately gets killed when escaping a mutated experiment. He will appear again in the game clips as a fully mutated experiment.
While each of these abilities sounds useful, none of them are necessary to complete the game. Each character can perform the same physical acts even if it takes some characters longer and/or more effort than others. The puzzles generally aren't taxing enough to require much help, and if any teen cast members should die during the adventure, the player may simply continue on with those remaining.
Non-player characters
- Denny Walden: A biology teacher of Leafmore High. He appears several times; sometimes offering help, other times obstructing the main characters in a frantic manner. The player later discovers this is due to him recently obtaining knowledge of his employers actions.
- Ms. Elisabeth Lucy Wickson: The nurse of Leafmore High. There is more to her than there appears to be. Apparently, she has seemingly been involved in the Friedman plans to some extent.
- Herbert Friedman: The principal of Leafmore High. A former scientist and co-founder of Leafmore High. Herbert and his brother Leonard discovered a plant in their expeditions that had a possibility to regenerate cells indefinitely. Lacking the proper funds and test subjects, they instead found a school and perform secret experiments in a lab beneath it. A rash of student disappearances start. He is over 100 years old.
- Leonard Friedman: The twin of Herbert and cofounder of Leafmore High. He is the first person to be mutated by the spores of the plant he and his brother discovered, as is shown in a reel of film recovered by the students. His brother then seeks to find a cure for him through experimentation. Herbert's last words to Leonard are "Leonard, forgive me... I almost found the formula. I almost did it..."
- Mr. Garrison: The school janitor of Leafmore High who was apparently an ex-police officer. He locks the player into a room at the beginning without realizing he or she is there and later on has an interesting run-in with some monsters. Later on in the game when you go into the Janitors room, you will find Mr Garrison ripped open on the floor.
Soundtrack
24 tracks, written and produced by Olivier DerivièreOlivier Derivière
Olivier Deriviere has studied composition and orchestration at the Nice Conservatoire . In 1999 he produced a solo album and started to write arrangements of great film scores for the percussions quartet he founded at the Cagnes-sur-Mer Conservatoire...
.
- Main Titles
- Empty School
- Something Hidden
- First Ones
- Blowing Up a Wall
- Being Surrounded
- Herbert Friedman
- Who is Herbert?
- Wickson, the Nurse
- Infested Place
- Give Us Eternity
- The First Queen
- Pure Suite
- Wickson and Leonard
- The Second Queen
- Gardener's Story
- Herbert's Secret Office
- Old Movie
- Friedman's Place
- Finding Leo
- Final Fight
- Leonard's Death
- Death
- End Titles
Some of the soundtrack can be downloaded from Olivier Derivière
Olivier Derivière
Olivier Deriviere has studied composition and orchestration at the Nice Conservatoire . In 1999 he produced a solo album and started to write arrangements of great film scores for the percussions quartet he founded at the Cagnes-sur-Mer Conservatoire...
official website:
http://www.olivierderiviere.com/
There are also 2 tracks that play during the game that are not in the official soundtrack.
- "Still WaitingStill Waiting (Sum 41 song)"Still Waiting" is the title of a song recorded by Canadian punk rock group Sum 41. It was released in November 2002 as the lead single from the album Does This Look Infected?.-Music video:...
" performed by Sum 41Sum 41Sum 41 is a Canadian rock band from Ajax, Ontario. The band was formed in 1996 and currently consists of members Deryck Whibley , Tom Thacker , Jason McCaslin and Steve Jocz .In 1999, the band signed an international record deal with Island Records... - "Don't Think The Way They Do" performed by SpanSpan (band)SPAN was a Norwegian rock band that formed in 2000 from the ashes of two other outfits; Explicit Lyrics and Squid. Self-proclaimed as "Norwegian Turbo-Rock 'n' Roll Commandos" , the band spent much of the years between 2002 and 2004 touring the UK and Norway as well as spending a brief time in the...
German Version
In the German version there were many songs from Sportfreunde Stiller
Sportfreunde Stiller
Sportfreunde Stiller is a German antifascist rock band from Germering, near Munich, in Bavaria.The band was founded in 1996 by Peter "Balboa" Brugger , Florian "Rakete" Weber , and Rüdiger "Rüde" Linhof . They took their original name, Stiller, from their former football manager, Hans Stiller, at...
.
Spanish Version
The Spanish version of the game features the song Supersonica performed by Dawholeenchilada for its ending credits. The music video for the song is unlockable as a bonus for completing the game.
French Version
The French version of the game features the song Cinglés performed by Enhancer for its ending credits. The music video for the song is unlockable as a bonus for completing the game.
Sequel
The storyline of Obscure II takes place two years after the first game, the kids who survived are now at college living normal lives. They discover a strange plant on campus and things start going awry. The game was released for Microsoft WindowsMicrosoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
, PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
, Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
and PlayStation Portable
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
.
External links
- Obscure PC, at Microïds Official Website
- ObsCure at Game RankingsGame RankingsGameRankings is a website that collects review scores from both offline and online sources to give an average rating. It indexes over 315,000 articles relating to more than 14,500 games.GameRankings is owned by CBS Interactive...