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The Thing (video game)
Encyclopedia
The Thing is a third person
survival horror game. The game was presented as a sequel to John Carpenter
's 1982 film The Thing. It was developed by Computer Artworks and published by VU Games. It was released in North America
for the PS2 on August 19, 2002, on the PC
on August 20, 2002 and on the Xbox
on September 9, 2002 .
with a message from MacReady describing how the base was over run by an alien
life-form that imitates the body and mind of any living organism. The soldiers also find the body of Childs, one of the only two survivors from the first movie who apparently died of exposure to extreme cold. Upon securing the facility after facing off with several small Thing monsters, Blake is airlifted to the Norwegian research station to locate and reinforce Alpha Team. Colonel Whitley, the game's villain, informs Blake that they have lost contact with Alpha team. There Blake and his group encounter swarms of bigger humanoid "Things" that slowly rip apart Beta team as Blake rescues a soldier called Colin, the only survivor from Alpha Team, and learns of a government conspiracy with a company called Gen Inc. (Genetics Incorporated). This corporation conducted experiments on the alien life-form and isolated a microbiological form of The Thing called the "Cloud virus" to be used in biological warfare. Eventually the Thing begins to infest everyone involved at the company's secret research facility in Antarctica. Blake learns that Whitely was behind the breakout the whole time, even injecting himself with a dose of "Cloud Virus B4" strain. With a new group of survivors, Blake fights his way inside the secret base battling numerous black ops and gruesome Thing creatures before facing the horrific mutation of Whitely, taking place at the site of the alien's crashed spaceship. During the last battle with the gigantic Thing monster, Blake has the assistance of a helicopter pilot, revealed to be R.J. MacReady (Kurt Russell), the hero and survivor from Carpenter's film.
Weaponry for the player's character includes pistol
s, grenade
s, sniper rifle
s, flame-throwers, shotgun
s, submachine gun
s, assault rifles, grenade launcher
s and fixed heavy machineguns. Other items that can be found during the game are health packs, explosives, body armor and ammunition
.
Portable test-kits to discover assimilated characters can also be used. If any of the non-playable characters tested is discovered to be a 'Thing', it will change immediately and attack the player and the rest of the squad members.
Non-playable characters are divided in classes and can be ordered to perform certain actions according to their class that range from attacking the enemy, healing other characters or the player, guarding a place, opening doors or fixing equipment.
The game also uses a fear system and a trust system to increase the feeling of paranoia and the realism of the game. This was implemented by making it possible for one of the player's teammates to be 'turned', and for the player to not realize that until it is too late.
In the trust system, the player may lose or gain the trust of his squad if he kills a teammate on the belief that that teammate had been 'turned'. The squad will react to the killing depending if the slain teammate was or wasn't a Thing. If the teammate had been 'turned', the squad will praise you for killing him and their trust will increase. However, if the teammate was still human, the squad will lose faith in you and may even try to kill you. Also, if a test is performed on a team member and he turns out to be human the trust of that character will reduce. However, if the player tests himself the level of trust of the other squad members increases. Giving weaponry and ammunition to the non-playable characters will also increase their trust in the player. Their level of trust may be hinted by the different phrases and the mood that the characters will show during dialogues.
In the fear system, the non-playable squad reacts to the environment of an area. An area that is covered in blood, with lots of alien remains or an area where there is dwindling or no ilumination at all or even a lot of wreckage present, might inspire fear in the squad members. Also, the number of 'Things' present or the sizes of the monsters may frighten the squad members during battle. If the level of fear of the non-playable characters increases they will start shaking and ignoring orders after some point. Depending on the level of fear, the individual members of the squad may run away, simply give up and commit suicide or become irrational and start shooting indiscriminately. As this places the player and the squad in significant danger, the player often has to kill this teammate. If the player kills this teammate, the squad will neither gain nor lose trust in the player.
There are several different ways that a player may kill a 'Thing'. A small monsters may be shot to death, while a larger one will have to be shot to near death with a regular gun and then torched with a flamethrower. This does not carry over to the boss 'Things'; it varies from situation to situation as to whether a player can kill the boss with a traditional gun or kill the boss with the flamethrower. Also, different types of grenades may stun, blow up or set on fire the different types of monsters.
, and William B. Davis
as Col. Whitely. John Carpenter also lent his likeness to the character Dr. Faraday.
is heard in the end credits of the game. The song is also featured on their second studio album "Every Six Seconds
".
magazine awarded it 7 out of 10 in issue 116, highlighting the well-managed tension and atmosphere, and the impressive weapon effects (such as the flamethrower.) However, the reviewer was ultimately disappointed by the game's linearity.
GameSpot
also awarded the PC version 7.7 out of 10, while giving the Xbox and PS2 versions an 8.4 criticizing the "fear/trust/infection" system (one of the main features of the game) as having little impact. However, the reviewer felt that the game still worked as a good shoot 'em up
with almost flawless presentation.
IGN
rewarded The Thing with a 8.5 out of 10 for the PC
version and their complaint about this game was its lack of replay value. GameZone
gave it a 8 out of 10.
Official UK PlayStation 2 Magazine
was very taken by the game's high quality, awarding it a 9 out of 10 and describing it as "top-class survival horror meets one of the best sci-fi movies of all time. Excellent".
installations, oil processing bases, access tunnels and an aircraft carrier
. New monster designs for the unproduced game sequel inspired those of the creatures in the 2011 film prequel
.
Third-person shooter
Third-person shooter is a genre of 3D action games in which the player character is visible on-screen, and the gameplay consists primarily of shooting.-Definition:...
survival horror game. The game was presented as a sequel to John Carpenter
John Carpenter
John Howard Carpenter is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, editor, composer, and occasional actor. Although Carpenter has worked in numerous film genres in his four-decade career, his name is most commonly associated with horror and science fiction.- Early life :Carpenter was born...
's 1982 film The Thing. It was developed by Computer Artworks and published by VU Games. It was released in 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...
for the PS2 on August 19, 2002, on the PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
on August 20, 2002 and on the 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...
on September 9, 2002 .
Plot
The game begins at U.S. Outpost 31 in Antarctica a short time after the events of Carpenter's 1982 movie, where a team of U.S. special forces called Beta investigate the destruction of the American base. The player controls the character of Blake, a member of Beta team and the game's protagonist. During Beta Team's exploration Blake finds the small craft made by the Blair-Thing in the first film and also a tape recorderTape recorder
An audio tape recorder, tape deck, reel-to-reel tape deck, cassette deck or tape machine is an audio storage device that records and plays back sounds, including articulated voices, usually using magnetic tape, either wound on a reel or in a cassette, for storage...
with a message from MacReady describing how the base was over run by an alien
Alien
Alien or Aliens may refer to:* Alien , a non-citizen inhabitant of a country* Extraterrestrial life, defined as life that does not originate from Earth* Introduced species, a species living outside its native distributional range...
life-form that imitates the body and mind of any living organism. The soldiers also find the body of Childs, one of the only two survivors from the first movie who apparently died of exposure to extreme cold. Upon securing the facility after facing off with several small Thing monsters, Blake is airlifted to the Norwegian research station to locate and reinforce Alpha Team. Colonel Whitley, the game's villain, informs Blake that they have lost contact with Alpha team. There Blake and his group encounter swarms of bigger humanoid "Things" that slowly rip apart Beta team as Blake rescues a soldier called Colin, the only survivor from Alpha Team, and learns of a government conspiracy with a company called Gen Inc. (Genetics Incorporated). This corporation conducted experiments on the alien life-form and isolated a microbiological form of The Thing called the "Cloud virus" to be used in biological warfare. Eventually the Thing begins to infest everyone involved at the company's secret research facility in Antarctica. Blake learns that Whitely was behind the breakout the whole time, even injecting himself with a dose of "Cloud Virus B4" strain. With a new group of survivors, Blake fights his way inside the secret base battling numerous black ops and gruesome Thing creatures before facing the horrific mutation of Whitely, taking place at the site of the alien's crashed spaceship. During the last battle with the gigantic Thing monster, Blake has the assistance of a helicopter pilot, revealed to be R.J. MacReady (Kurt Russell), the hero and survivor from Carpenter's film.
Gameplay
Since the whole game is set in several bases located in Antartica, during the action taking place outside buildings the player's health bar will slowly reduce after some time unless an enclosed spot is found for cover and protection from the extreme cold weather.Weaponry for the player's character includes pistol
Pistol
When distinguished as a subset of handguns, a pistol is a handgun with a chamber that is integral with the barrel, as opposed to a revolver, wherein the chamber is separate from the barrel as a revolving cylinder. Typically, pistols have an effective range of about 100 feet.-History:The pistol...
s, grenade
Grenade
A grenade is a small explosive device that is projected a safe distance away by its user. Soldiers called grenadiers specialize in the use of grenades. The term hand grenade refers any grenade designed to be hand thrown. Grenade Launchers are firearms designed to fire explosive projectile grenades...
s, sniper rifle
Sniper rifle
In military and law enforcement terminology, a sniper rifle is a precision-rifle used to ensure more accurate placement of bullets at longer ranges than other small arms. A typical sniper rifle is built for optimal levels of accuracy, fitted with a telescopic sight and chambered for a military...
s, flame-throwers, shotgun
Shotgun
A shotgun is a firearm that is usually designed to be fired from the shoulder, which uses the energy of a fixed shell to fire a number of small spherical pellets called shot, or a solid projectile called a slug...
s, submachine gun
Submachine gun
A submachine gun is an automatic carbine, designed to fire pistol cartridges. It combines the automatic fire of a machine gun with the cartridge of a pistol. The submachine gun was invented during World War I , but the apex of its use was during World War II when millions of the weapon type were...
s, assault rifles, grenade launcher
Grenade launcher
A grenade launcher or grenade discharger is a weapon that launches a grenade with more accuracy, higher velocity, and to greater distances than a soldier could throw it by hand....
s and fixed heavy machineguns. Other items that can be found during the game are health packs, explosives, body armor and ammunition
Ammunition
Ammunition is a generic term derived from the French language la munition which embraced all material used for war , but which in time came to refer specifically to gunpowder and artillery. The collective term for all types of ammunition is munitions...
.
Portable test-kits to discover assimilated characters can also be used. If any of the non-playable characters tested is discovered to be a 'Thing', it will change immediately and attack the player and the rest of the squad members.
Non-playable characters are divided in classes and can be ordered to perform certain actions according to their class that range from attacking the enemy, healing other characters or the player, guarding a place, opening doors or fixing equipment.
The game also uses a fear system and a trust system to increase the feeling of paranoia and the realism of the game. This was implemented by making it possible for one of the player's teammates to be 'turned', and for the player to not realize that until it is too late.
In the trust system, the player may lose or gain the trust of his squad if he kills a teammate on the belief that that teammate had been 'turned'. The squad will react to the killing depending if the slain teammate was or wasn't a Thing. If the teammate had been 'turned', the squad will praise you for killing him and their trust will increase. However, if the teammate was still human, the squad will lose faith in you and may even try to kill you. Also, if a test is performed on a team member and he turns out to be human the trust of that character will reduce. However, if the player tests himself the level of trust of the other squad members increases. Giving weaponry and ammunition to the non-playable characters will also increase their trust in the player. Their level of trust may be hinted by the different phrases and the mood that the characters will show during dialogues.
In the fear system, the non-playable squad reacts to the environment of an area. An area that is covered in blood, with lots of alien remains or an area where there is dwindling or no ilumination at all or even a lot of wreckage present, might inspire fear in the squad members. Also, the number of 'Things' present or the sizes of the monsters may frighten the squad members during battle. If the level of fear of the non-playable characters increases they will start shaking and ignoring orders after some point. Depending on the level of fear, the individual members of the squad may run away, simply give up and commit suicide or become irrational and start shooting indiscriminately. As this places the player and the squad in significant danger, the player often has to kill this teammate. If the player kills this teammate, the squad will neither gain nor lose trust in the player.
There are several different ways that a player may kill a 'Thing'. A small monsters may be shot to death, while a larger one will have to be shot to near death with a regular gun and then torched with a flamethrower. This does not carry over to the boss 'Things'; it varies from situation to situation as to whether a player can kill the boss with a traditional gun or kill the boss with the flamethrower. Also, different types of grenades may stun, blow up or set on fire the different types of monsters.
Cast
Voice actors include Kathryn CressidaKathryn Cressida
Kathryn Cressida is an American voice actress, also known as Kat Cressida. She guest-starred in several television shows and was featured in a few films before moving into voice-over full-time in 2000. She is notable as a top celebrity voicematcher, impersonating top female stars for Disney,...
, and William B. Davis
William B. Davis
William Bruce Davis is a Canadian actor, known for his role as The Smoking Man on The X-Files. He has also appeared in Stargate SG-1 as Damaris, a Prior of the Ori and as Mayor Tate on Smallville...
as Col. Whitely. John Carpenter also lent his likeness to the character Dr. Faraday.
Music
The song "After Me" performed by American rock band SalivaSaliva (band)
Saliva is an American rock band formed in Memphis, Tennessee, in September 1996 and currently under Island Records. Saliva released their self-titled debut album on August 26, 1997, under Rocking Chair Records....
is heard in the end credits of the game. The song is also featured on their second studio album "Every Six Seconds
Every Six Seconds
-Personnel:* Josey Scott - vocals* Wayne Swinny - guitar* Dave Novotny - bass* Chris D'Abaldo - guitar* Todd Poole - drums, percussion, backing vocals-Chart positions:AlbumSingles...
".
Reception
The Thing received a generally favorable critical reception with an average critic score of 80% for the PS2 version, 78% for the PC and 77% for the Xbox at GameRankings. EdgeEdge (magazine)
Edge is a multi-format computer and video game magazine published by Future Publishing in the United Kingdom. It is known for its industry contacts, editorial stance, distinctive anonymous third-person writing style, yearly awards and longevity....
magazine awarded it 7 out of 10 in issue 116, highlighting the well-managed tension and atmosphere, and the impressive weapon effects (such as the flamethrower.) However, the reviewer was ultimately disappointed by the game's linearity.
GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
also awarded the PC version 7.7 out of 10, while giving the Xbox and PS2 versions an 8.4 criticizing the "fear/trust/infection" system (one of the main features of the game) as having little impact. However, the reviewer felt that the game still worked as a good shoot 'em up
Shoot 'em up
Shoot 'em up is a subgenre of shooter video games. In a shoot 'em up, the player controls a lone character, often in a spacecraft or aircraft, shooting large numbers of enemies while dodging their attacks. The genre in turn encompasses various types or subgenres and critics differ on exactly what...
with almost flawless presentation.
IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
rewarded The Thing with a 8.5 out of 10 for the PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
version and their complaint about this game was its lack of replay value. GameZone
GameZone
GameZone is an American multiplatform video game website. GameZone's daily coverage includes reviews, previews, news, hints & cheats, and editorials. Additionally, GameZone offers downloads, a child-targeted website and in association with GameStop, hosts GZGameShop, an online retailer...
gave it a 8 out of 10.
Official UK PlayStation 2 Magazine
PlayStation Official Magazine (UK)
The Official UK PlayStation Magazine is a now-defunct magazine, launched in November 1995 to coincide with the launch of the PlayStation console. It ran for 108 issues, with the last hitting news stands in March 2004. The first issue sold 37,000 copies...
was very taken by the game's high quality, awarding it a 9 out of 10 and describing it as "top-class survival horror meets one of the best sci-fi movies of all time. Excellent".
Cancelled sequel
A sequel for the game was in development by the same videogame company a year after it was released, but was later cancelled when Computer Artworks closed down in 2004. Several pieces of official production art for the unproduced game as well as two cinematic videos do exist and can still be found online. According to some screenshots a beta of The Thing 2 videogame supposedly also exists but is yet to be released to the public. The images of the unproduced sequel show a similar gameplay interface with improved graphics and new levels in infested locations set in refineryRefinery
A refinery is a production facility composed of a group of chemical engineering unit processes and unit operations refining certain materials or converting raw material into products of value.-Types of refineries:Different types of refineries are as follows:...
installations, oil processing bases, access tunnels and an aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
. New monster designs for the unproduced game sequel inspired those of the creatures in the 2011 film prequel
The Thing (2011 film)
The Thing is a 2011 science fiction horror film directed by Matthijs van Heijningen Jr., and written by Eric Heisserer. It is a prequel to the 1982 film of the same name by John Carpenter, the plot taking place immediately prior to the events of that film...
.
External links
- The Thing at GameFAQsGameFAQsGameFAQs is a website that hosts FAQs and walkthroughs for video games. It was created in November 1995 by Jeff "CJayC" Veasey and was bought by CNET Networks in May 2003. It is currently owned by CBS Interactive. The site has a database of video game information, cheat codes, reviews, game saves,...