Here is my review of the 3DS release, The Hidden
a game based off of the concept of fighting and capturing ghosts hiding within your real world, basically becoming a ghost buster in your own living room. Although in theory this may seem like an intriguing concept, takes full advantage of the Nintendo 3DS back facing dual camera and integrates and its gyroscope functionality to allow you to look around your surroundings to find ghost’s which will appear to be floating within your environment. If this all sounds familiar to you that is because it is every 3DS comes preloaded with a free game called Face Raiders which has you snapping photos of your friends faces and shooting them as they float through your surroundings, overall the game got a lot of praise especially as a neat piece of free software.
The Hidden
on the other hand is not so impressive the game throws you into the action with barely any sort of an introductory and has you searching your room right away for irritating floating blobs. The 3D effect is decent but that is all the doing of the rear facing camera which is able to add a lot of depth to your image as far as what the game has added to the 3D effect not so much, the ghosts mostly float in a neutral position and the 3D really doesn’t add to much to improve your gameplay. In fact because this game is so reliant on being up on your feet and swing your head and 3DS left and right, it is hard to keep your head constantly in that sweet spot which is needed to enjoy the 3D effect and seeing as these ghost really don’t like to stay on your screen long before shooting off in another direction it is almost easier to play the game with the 3D off.
The other thing that bothers me about the game is the way the game presents itself. I was hoping the game might have more of a hide and seek nature to it where a ghost just might be hiding behind a shadow or a few steps away in the next room but thats not the case, the game just throws a flurry of ghosts in your direction occasionally throwing a new weapon your way to beat them down with. The game will occasionally ask you to walk so many steps but it doesn’t appear to make any difference as if you just take one more ghost are sent your way.
I would say that this game would have made a good download title but as a full fledged retail purchase, I just don’t see the bang for your buck. But if this title really did interest you there is always Face Raiders on the 3DS. It is free and loads of fun and the 3D effects your gameplay so much more as you have your friends faces flying from the furthest corners of your room to head butting you in the face. But as far as this game goes I feel that over time it will just take to its name and become hidden
(in the cushions of my couch) and it won’t take long at all before it becomes the forgotten.
Written by: Matthew Largent