Over two decades after its initial release did justice to the film in a well-received adaptation,The Thing: Remasteredhas managed to achieve a positive reception once again. Despite its more dated elements, the survival horror action gameplay of this sequel to the John Carpenter movie remains a compelling complement to the influential original work. As a successful example of a less-represented franchise demonstrating that it can still find an audience years after its most recent outing,The Thing: Remasteredhas created momentum that shouldn’t go to waste.
When it comes to adapting horror movies into the video game medium, they tend to have a better track record than other genres of source material. WithThe Thing: Remastered’s impressive salesonly being the latest instance of this sort of pairing paying off, following the precedent of other more recent titles that have similarly performed well with a brand-new game is likely to be worthwhile as well. Releases in the vein ofAlien: Isolationoffer a blueprint thatThe Thingis capable of iterating on with a sense of terror and paranoia that could be largely attributed to the film’s impact.
The Thing: Remastered Proves the IP Has Held Up Surprisingly Well
Still appealing to players after 20 years since release is a feat thatThe Thinghas seemingly accomplished through the sheer originality of its premise. Set as more than just a retelling of the events of theclassic horror movie from 1982, the game functions as a sequel that explores more than just the mystery at the core of the film. The titular monster is split into different enemies with various difficulties, with the player taking control of Special Forces operatives combating it in both Antarctic outpost camps of the canon. This heightens the level of visceral combat somewhat above the source material, but this doesn’t mean the more subtle horror isn’t present as well.
Anaspect ofThe Thing: Remasteredwhich can enhance its replayability and sense of anxiety is the interplay between the mechanics of ear, trust, and infection, which can affect NPCs. Whether other characters trust the player or not can vary and affect their willingness to cooperate and obey orders, while infection offers another variable in the form of contact with enemies, making the transformation into the Thing more likely.
Giving The Thing a New Game Could Make the Most of One Survival Horror Niche
Leaning into the Stealth of the Original Film
While it’s even more of a quiet and subdued experience than its source material,2014’sAlien: Isolationhas earned the statusof one of the strongest adaptations of its entire franchise. By building a tangible sense of fear via what largely amounts to interactions with but a single Xenomorph, it’s become a showcase of how far a simple horror premise can go with the right execution. IfThe Thingwere to receive a new outing in the gaming industry, current technology could enable a far more tense and modular experience by looking at this example. With the level of variance possible in dealing with the shape-shifting monster in an intimate setting like another isolated research station, there’s the chance for a game that keeps players on their toes even after many playthroughs.
The Potential to Make the Most of the Fear/Trust System
The strengths of the ability to affect relationships with NPCs inThe Thing: Remasteredshould serve as an examplefor any future efforts, as this managed to capture the palpable sense of the unknown that defines the movie. If a dialogue system and nuanced character interactions are able to take advantage of advancements in hardware, the horror of a new take onThe Thingwould be able to extend far past upfront body horror scares.
The Thing: Remastered
WHERE TO PLAY
No One Survives Alone.The 2002 third-person survival horror shooter that serves as a sequel to the genre-defining 1982 film is back, remastered by Nightdive Studios to bring this innovative blend of fast paced squad action meets survival horror to the modern era. Including Antialiasing, Per Pixel Lighting, 4K Resolution and up to 120 FPS.Where the movie ended, the true terror begins.You are Cpt J.F. Blake, leader of a U.S. Special Forces rescue team sent to investigate the blood-curdling events and enigmatic deaths of the American scientific team that transpired at the Outpost 31 research facility located in the frozen wastelands of Antarctica. Within these inhospitable surroundings your team encounters a strange shape-shifting alien life-form that assumes the appearance of people that it kills. Trapped by the elements and infected by this horrific entity, using all your team members is critical if you hope to accomplish your objectives, let alone survive. If you only knew which ones were still human…
