The survival-horror genre is alive and well, thank you very much.

Those who have picked up a Silent Hill game or have had a long-lasting crush on the Resident Evil series can attest to that fact and we are certainly happy that the genre continues to offer us fans new titles on our favorite consoles and, thankfully, now on our handhelds like the PSP. One of the latest additions is Obscure: The Aftermath, a game that was originally released on the PlayStation 2 and has been ported to the PSP with a few problems.

The first Obscure game, on the PS2, told the frightening tale of a high school turned into a living nightmare as a group of students fought the faculty as well as monsters to stay alive. In this sequel, we find some returning characters as they find themselves in college. We are introduced to new characters like a skater named Corey, twin sisters, a pizza delivery boy named Stan and a sexy bombshell named Amy. Like the first game, The Aftermath has you guiding two characters at a time as the story jumps into different moments of the eight students’ fight for survival.

You see, it has been two years since the events that unfolded in Leafmore High and siblings Shannon and Kenny Matthews find them attending the local university in Fallcreek. All is well until Corey and his girlfriend Mei realize that students on campus are experimenting with the strange plant life … particularly flowers that look strangely like the kind that started the whole Leafmore High nightmare in the first place. On their way to a frat house party, Corey and Mei find themselves in their friend Sven’s room “experimenting” with said flower when suddenly the young couple wake up in the middle of the woods in the darkness.

Flashing forward, this year’s winner of the Wet T-shirt Contest on campus, Amy, and her friend Kenny are trying to get into the frat party when screams can be heard inside and the pair enter to find a bloodbath and frightening mutants and monsters out for blood. The stage is set for a battle for survival as each pair of students try to stay alive as well as discover the truth behind the madness that is consuming the university.

The good news is that the game looks and controls just as good as the PS2 version of the game. You will be moving through detailed environments with the ability to explore your surrounding much like you would in a Silent Hill game. You’ll also have weapons that make sense in a school setting so you’ll be using everything from a golf club to a hockey stick to defend yourself against the enemy. You’ll also get to use handguns and shotguns in the game with very limited ammo.

Each of the eight characters has his or her own unique abilities and skills they use throughout the game. While Stan is great at picking locks, it is Mei who is able to hack into electronically controlled locks. Amy is good at solving puzzles that would vex other players while Kenny is able to push that heavy crate. Sven is the brawler while Corey is the more acrobatic one so knowing when to use each character’s individual skill. You can even switch between characters easily with the Triangle button if you’re playing solo. You see, the game offers co-op action via the Ad Hoc connectivity so a friend can take up the role of the secondary character. Co-op runs smoothly and the best part is that a friend can drop in and out at any time.

Unfortunately, the game falls prey to many of the problems that plagued the PlayStation 2 version of the game and is more problematic on the PSP. You will still have to wrestle with the camera, tilting it manually quite often. Combat can also be a little frustrating at times and that is thanks to the aiming feature. It isn’t so horrible that combat is broken but it just isn’t as good as it should have been even on the handheld format. Still, if you’re willing to look past these things, Obscure: The Aftermath has a good story and a great overall presentation.

Visually, the game is quite impressive and the level of detail is displays are quite spectacular. The environments really do stand out in the game and offer plenty to look at while you explore and the characters models look great in action. In fact, they look a lot better than the cut scenes. The visual effects really stand out as well such as the mist and the way the monsters evaporate after they die. There’s no shortage of scary images that flash on the screen so this is a game you will definitely not want to play alone or at night if you’re the type that scares easily.

The game’s sound also manages to offer some scares thanks to the brilliantly creepy score by the Boston String Quartet and Paris Opera Children’s Choir. There are some rock tunes thrown in as well to pump up the action but, overall, the soundtrack is magnificent. The voice acting is also good, although I must say that some characters sound way too clichéd. Still, there are a lot of creepy background noises that do a good job of proving more scares. 

While the PSP version of Obscure: The Aftermath has its share of problems that hinder the gameplay, the game isn’t a bad survival-horror game to share with a friend. I do wish the load times were better and the camera less frustrating but the story is good, the characters are interesting and the co-op is loads of fun. This is definitely a game worth trying but only if you enjoy the genre.

Gameplay: 7.0
Once again, a school is the setting for a frightening battle to survive as another collection of students pair up to solve puzzles and fight off monsters. Combat is still clunky even on the PSP and the camera is not your friend but there is still fun to be had if you have a friend willing to lend you a hand in co-op.

Graphics: 8.5
This game just goes to show you that the PSP is more than capable of displaying visuals that are exactly like those on the PS2 and that also includes the best looking PS2 games out there. The character models and environments look crisp even on the handheld’s small widescreen.

Sound: 8.5
The voice acting is top notch with some characters sounding a lot more convincing than others. There’s a creepy sense of being followed that makes the sound effects really work even on the PSP and the soundtrack is simply mesmerizing.

Difficulty: Medium
The various monsters and supernatural creatures that pop up in the game offer some challenging moments in the game. With limited ammo and weapons that force you into combat of the up-close-and-personal approach, you will certainly have your hands full.

Concept: 6.5
Each of the eight characters has their own unique skills and that are more than enough weapons at your disposal to put up a fight. There are puzzles aplenty and unlockable extras but there is very little else that warrants another play-through.

Multiplayer: 7.5
This game is best played with a friend taking up the role of the secondary character and the good news is that the Ad Hoc connectivity makes for a smooth co-op experience. It definitely makes teamwork far more effective than it is when you’re playing solo.

Overall: 7.0
Hardcore survival-horror fans will get a kick (and a few good scares) out of Obscure: The Aftermath for the PSP despite the few hardware evils that hold it back. That said there are a number of good things about the game but only for those loyal survival-horror game fans that don’t mind the flaws.