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> Results: Scurge: Hive
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ESRB Content Descriptors Say:
Animated Blood: GamerDad found that the creatures we destroyed splattered strange green stuff. Fantasy Violence: GamerDad spent hours battling lots of funky looking beasts! Original games are somewhat of a rarity on handheld platforms, and while Scurge: Hive isn't going to blow you away with its novelty, it is different enough from existing games to make it an interesting new property. You play as a female bounty hunter named Jenosca forced to wear special armor to protect yourself from the technology infestation known as the Scurge. You have a projectile launcher build into your suit that allows you to blast your enemies while avoiding being corrupted by their infection. There is an obvious parallel to the Metroid series here, but this is where it ends: this is an ultra-fast paced action romp that will have you keeping a white-knuckled grip on your DS as you plow your way from area to area right until the end of the game. The game plays like a classic action-shooter, looks great and has one of the coolest soundtracks in recent handheld gaming memory. Scurge: Hive is presented in a top-down isometric view, which is also its biggest weakness ﾖ enemies will come at you quickly from all directions, increasing your infection level if they touch you, but you can only move and aim in the four D-pad directions. This can get very frustrating when you are facing a large horde of enemies or are far from the next disinfection area to reset your infection level. The world won't be going topsy-turvy with Jenosca fever any time soon, but those who enjoy fun sci-fi action games will be very pleased whether they get the DS or GBA version, which are basically the same with the exception of the map on the second DS screen. The fast-paced, simple yet challenging action feels retro and modern all at once, and delivers hours of fun wrapped up in a nice unfolding story.  
The gameplay in Scurge: Hive is simple action adventure in which you blast your way from area to area and solve simple puzzles. There is nothing beyond the obvious constant battling of aliens and peril regarding your own health and infection level that is of concern. It was those things that earned the game the E-10 rating and a 10+ GamerDad seal ﾖ there is nothing objectionable in the story or dialogue, the female heroine is handled nicely without making a huge issue about the fact that it is indeed a female as the heroine. The obvious comparison to the Metroid GBA games applies here as well ﾖ only in this case the perspective and infection system makes the game feel more intense and frantic, perhaps too much for younger gamers. If you have a child under 10 who has enjoyed games such as Metroid Fusion and you feel they can handle the intensity, they will definitely enjoy this as well.
Which version to buy? DS: Reviewed above ﾖ the best version. GBA: basically the exact same game without the second screen. Comments? Chat about it in our forums! Format For Printing | Tell A Friend | Digg | Slashdot | del.icio.us | Buy This Game Home > Review Archive > Video Games > Results: Scurge: Hive |
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