The Ward: a brand new FPS announced for the DS
And you thought Bowser was scary
The Ward is a newly-announced DS first-person shooter set in an abandoned hospital. Not just any abandoned hospital, mind, it's an abandoned hospital frozen in time (insert the standard NHS jibe here).
Currently being developed by Texas-based Renegade Kid, the company says The Ward will offer 'a twisted story with gruesome 3D visuals'. And there was us thinking that it was going to be all smiling nurses, free morphine and happy endings.
The storyline centres on an unfortunate chap who wakes up alone in the hospital on a stormy night. One thing leads to another and before you can say "please doctor, my arm doesn't bend that way", you'll be neck deep in the victims of failed surgical experiments, all bent on taking out their shoddy, rhinoplasty-induced rage on you.
Besides fighting off ill-tempered patients, you must also uncover the mysteries of the hospital and escape with your life.
It's not an original premise, but The Ward does hint at a unique combination of playing styles (at least for the DS), with touch-screen exploration and puzzles backing up the more standard FPS action, as well as the now-obligatory wi-fi multiplayer option. The player will also be equipped with a flashlight, which suggests that The Ward will rely chiefly on darkness for its frightening tactics.
Realised fully in 3D, creating a thick and foreboding atmosphere with the limited grunt offered by the DS is no mean feat. Judging by the impressive screenshots, however, this is well on the way to being achieved.
The Ward (that's still a working title, by the way) is due to be completed some time later this year; there's no word yet on a European publisher.
Could this be the horror classic the DS needs to balance its cuddly repertoire? Let's just hope it plays as good as it looks. Click 'Track It!' to be awoken with a bump in the night (or an email) when we hear more.