Besides looking for clues and fighting off monsters, there are also various puzzles to be solved in the game. Many revolve around sinister riddles and passwords. This is where the notepad functionality comes into play, since you can jot down clues with your stylus to remember things later. Though I wouldn’t say these were the highlight of the game, they served as a nice distraction from the constant sense of terror, since, typically, puzzle rooms are free from threats. Now, let me discuss a big draw in any horror game — the bosses.
 |
 |
 |
 |
The bosses in Dementium Remastered are all vicious, monstrous and challenging. They range the gamut from a cleaver-wielding mass of flesh to a wheelchair-bound maniac with a gatling gun arm to a room full of gaping mouths that spit worms. Each boss has a different pattern you need to master, and none will tolerate you making the same mistakes. While in general I loved the ghoulish bosses, I have one minor complaint. Two of the bosses make a return appearance after you put them down the first time. I found these second encounters to be derivative at best and a chore at worst, since they don’t offer anything new, but seemingly dole out more damage. I would have rather have fewer bosses overall, but with each being unique, much like they did in Dementium II. That said, they all look fantastic this time around, so I can’t complain overmuch.
My playtime with Remastered was only a few hours, but I was very slow and cautious in how I approached the game. I would often play for 10 minute spurts, put my 3DS into sleep mode, then muster my courage and flip it open again. Though there isn’t much in the way of replay value for the game, I find it was short and sweet enough that I could justify playing through it again on a harder difficulty. I am a bit disappointed that the remastered version of the game didn’t offer any real extra features, other than ironing out problems with the original release. Then again, most other remasters I’ve played don’t go that extra mile, so it’s not a huge deal.
All in all, I was very pleased with Dementium Remastered. For $14.99, you get a fantastic horror title worthy of any console. I’m still shocked it made its way to Nintendo again, especially given how prone the company is to sticking with more well known properties lately. While the game isn’t perfect (and I am still irritated by some features), it is a great game, and one that aptly shows what the 3DS is capable of. If you want a real freaky treat, turn on that 3D slider and play the game. Now, I just have to wait patiently for Dementium III to answer all my burning unanswered questions…
| Review Score | |
|---|---|
| Overall |    |
Review copy provided by publisher
