ObsCure: The Aftermath

60%
Game Brain Score Based on 349 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
ObsCure: The Aftermath Game Cover
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"ObsCure: The Aftermath" is the sequel to the classic survival horror game, "ObsCure". The game follows a group of college students who must survive a nightmare brought on by strange, dangerous flowers appearing on their campus. With 6 playable characters, players can experience adventure, action, and puzzles in a teen horror-movie scenario, with the option for a second player to join in co-op mode. Find clues and uncover the terrifying truth behind Fallcreek University.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 2
  • PSP
  • Wii
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

60%
Audience ScoreBased on 349 reviews
story30 positive mentions
replayability4 negative mentions
  • The game offers a fun co-op experience, making it enjoyable to play with friends.
  • The character abilities add a unique twist to the gameplay, requiring players to use different characters to solve puzzles.
  • The nostalgic B-movie horror vibe and cheesy dialogue provide a humorous and entertaining experience.
  • The camera controls are frustrating and can lead to disorientation during gameplay.
  • The story is convoluted and lacks the depth of the first game, with many characters feeling underdeveloped.
  • The save system is restrictive, with one-time use save points that can lead to significant backtracking.
  • story140 mentions

    The story of "Obscure II" is often described as a mix of campy horror and absurdity, with many reviewers noting its cheesy dialogue and predictable plot twists. While some appreciate the continuation of the narrative from the first game and the character development, others criticize it for being linear, rushed, and filled with plot holes, leading to a less engaging experience overall. Despite its flaws, the game's over-the-top elements and humor provide a certain charm, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre, albeit not as strong as its predecessor.

    • “The story is fun, and lots of people die, which brings a lot of emotion into the story, or at least it would if the voice acting wasn't awful.”
    • “Obscure 2 is definitely a spiritual successor to the first game; the story is great, the horror elements are great, and I would definitely want to see a revival of this series. It's very underrated and definitely a hidden gem in the horror scene.”
    • “I love the detailed environments, I love the callbacks to the first game, I love the cheesy story and relationships.”
    • “The important thing to note is that there's more story this time, and the writing is so poor you will likely be laughing out loud at points.”
    • “The game killed a lot of fun to the game by having sequential deaths of characters without you having any input or saying in it; there is nothing you can do to prevent them as they are scripted, the game also ruins the story of the original in an effort to create drama.”
    • “Obscure II's plot is full of holes, contrivances, retcons, arbitrary character shifts, and terrifying CGs nestled comfortably in the pit of the uncanny valley.”
  • gameplay80 mentions

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its unique character abilities and puzzle mechanics, while others criticize its clunky controls and frustrating design choices. Many players feel it does not live up to the original, citing a lack of exploration and the removal of helpful mechanics, leading to a more linear experience. Overall, while it offers some fun moments and cooperative gameplay, it struggles with execution and polish, leaving it feeling mediocre compared to its predecessor.

    • “The gameplay is fun if unpolished, and the combat system is even clunkier than the first one.”
    • “The gameplay mechanics are quite unique, though a bit wonky, and it has a nice blend of Silent Hill, Amnesia, and Resident Evil altogether.”
    • “Obscure gives you a mix of a good combat system that's fluid and like a classic survival horror, having to stop to reload or swing your melee weapon, and pretty good co-op gameplay, one of the only true survival horror games that has co-op and it was indeed creepy.”
    • “It's also a shame to see that some mechanics that could have made the game potentially simpler for those unfamiliar with this type of gameplay were completely removed.”
    • “The gameplay sucks.”
    • “The game commits two major sins: it is quite different from the original (and a downgrade gameplay-wise) and it runs badly.”
  • music45 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising it as "amazing" and "terrific," enhancing the atmosphere and tension, while others criticize it for being inconsistent and sometimes glitchy. Many players appreciate the soundtrack's improvement over the previous installment, noting its fitting orchestration and haunting qualities, although some feel it lacks cohesion with the game's overall tone. Overall, the soundtrack stands out as a highlight for many, despite some technical issues and varying opinions on its effectiveness.

    • “The music is well done.”
    • “The eerie music and the sounds of monsters lurking in the darkness will definitely give you the chills.”
    • “The game is great looking, and the soundtrack is stellar.”
    • “I don't know if it's just a bug or a problem with the game itself, but apart from cutscenes, no music was playing.”
    • “The music is downgraded, sounds awful most of the time and tends to just be all over the place; it can't decide whether it's an action game or horror, and that great orchestra hardly is there, not that it fits this anyway.”
    • “The music will not allow itself to be streamed; it glitches and sounds god awful, almost like the FMVs have the VHS DRM of the 90s.”
  • graphics28 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some players noting that while they are decent for a 2007 release, they still exhibit the limitations of the PS2 era, including blurry visuals and low-quality textures. Despite this, many appreciate the atmosphere they create, contributing to the game's creepy vibe, though some feel the graphics have not significantly improved from the previous installment. Overall, opinions vary from praising the graphics as "good" to criticizing them as "ugly" and outdated.

    • “Although it is not as good as the first installment in terms of story, it has excellent mechanics, far more improved than the ones of the first one, good graphics (for 2007 of course), and lots and lots of gore.”
    • “First off, the graphics are pretty decent for a game that came out in 2007.”
    • “It's good to see this game on Steam; I remember playing it years back on PlayStation 2, and even playing it now I'm still impressed with the graphics.”
    • “The second part meets us with many changed mechanics (compared to its predecessor), while remaining graphically at the same level, and even a little worse.”
    • “Graphics are nothing short of PS2 beauty.”
    • “The graphics are terrible, the gameplay is poor and boring, the story is every horror movie from 1996 to 1999, it's as scary as a wet sock on the floor and the fighting or controls are horrible.”
  • humor18 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mix of intentional and unintentional comedy, with many players finding the cheesy dialogue and over-the-top scenarios amusing, even if they detract from the horror elements. While some voice acting feels forced and the plot is absurdly silly, the campy charm and goofy cutscenes contribute to a fun experience, especially in co-op mode. Overall, it’s seen as a humorous, albeit flawed, take on the horror genre that embraces its "so bad it's good" nature.

    • “The important thing to note is that there's more story this time, and the writing is so poor you will likely be laughing out loud at points.”
    • “The plot is very cheesy and gets extremely silly at times but that's sort of part of all the fun, just laughing at how bad some of the dialogue is.”
    • “Even if not compared to the first game's flimsy pretext, Obscure 2's plot goes to insane and hilarious over-the-top places, while remaining completely straight-faced, even retroactively turning Obscure's plot into a land of stupidity.”
  • atmosphere16 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its nostalgic, creepy charm reminiscent of classic horror titles, while others feel it lacks the depth and personality of its predecessor. The graphics, though considered ugly, contribute to a haunting ambiance, and the soundtrack enhances the overall experience. However, many reviewers note that the game shifts towards action, diluting the atmospheric tension that defined earlier entries.

    • “The level design and feeling you get in these places speaks to very competent level designers, capturing that Resident Evil 1 eerie beauty and even Silent Hill's grimy and sterile atmospheres.”
    • “The OST is crème de la crème, and when it's coupled with its gloomy atmosphere?”
    • “I love the plot of the game, the music of the game, and I absolutely love the atmosphere!”
    • “The atmosphere of Obscure 1 is completely gone until the last 15 minutes of the game where they reveal a plot that should have actually been relevant at some point during the last five hours of the game.”
    • “There's more environments to explore than Obscure 1, and each has its own creepy atmosphere, but you are never in one long enough for it to develop a personality of its own like Obscure's school, or Resident Evil's mansion, or RE2's police station.”
    • “The atmosphere is completely brutalized and thrown out the window in favor of an action game with action pacing.”
  • replayability12 mentions

    Overall, the reviews indicate a significant lack of replayability in the game, with many players expressing disappointment compared to the first installment. Key factors contributing to this sentiment include a short playtime, absence of unlockables or varied difficulty settings, and a linear experience that limits exploration. While some users noted high replay value in the original game, the sequel fails to capture that same enjoyment, leading to a consensus that it is unlikely to be revisited after completion.

    • “High replay value.”
    • “Replayable.”
    • “The feeling of exploration and discovering new things adds to the replay value.”
    • “Not as good as the first game; there is no replay value, but I did finish it. I'll just never play it again. Part 1 is still fun though.”
    • “Short games with little replay value.”
    • “The voice acting isn't anything to write home about, its playtime is pretty short, the controls are really straightforward, and there is virtually no replayability after you finish your first run.”
  • stability9 mentions

    The stability of this PC port is widely criticized, with numerous reports of severe bugs and glitches that significantly disrupt gameplay, including black screens and game-breaking issues during critical moments. While some users note improvements in certain mechanics, the overall experience is marred by instability, making it one of the least recommended versions to play.

    • “The game is mostly bug-free and stable.”
    • “I appreciate how stable the gameplay experience is.”
    • “The stability of the game allows for a smooth and enjoyable experience.”
    • “Be warned, it's a very buggy port.”
    • “Let me start off by saying this version of the game on PC is considered the worst version to play mainly because of the glitches that can affect your experience, like black screens and even one glitch that occurred during the final boss and caused the game to be unplayable; I had to restart the game.”
    • “This game has no redeemable characters, glitches introduced into the PC port that can break any sort of progress and the first game's main draw has been compromised to make use of character-specific puzzles.”
  • optimization8 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised for solid performance and stability, with many users noting it runs well even on low-end systems. However, some players report performance issues, including lag on high-end setups, suggesting inconsistency in optimization across different hardware.

    • “The game's of-the-era flaws are however outshone by mostly solid performance and a nostalgic touch.”
    • “The optimization is great; it's rare to see a 3D game being able to run on a potato.”
    • “The game's of-the-era flaws are, however, overshadowed by mostly solid performance and a nostalgic touch.”
    • “Some performance issues.”
    • “As far as performance goes, the game runs well on modern Windows.”
  • grinding7 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be frustrating and tedious, primarily due to poor navigation, janky combat, and repetitive tasks like lockpicking. The linear design and lack of helpful AI contribute to a sense of monotony, making encounters feel like chores rather than engaging challenges. Overall, many users express that the grinding elements detract significantly from the enjoyment of the game.

    • “There's no maps for any areas which makes navigating any environment in the game way more tedious than necessary.”
    • “The game is straightforward and linear, which wouldn't be bad, but the combat is so janky that it makes every enemy encounter feel tedious and chore-like.”
    • “One negative I should mention is that some combat sections feel cheap because of the stiff hit detection and the AI partners not being too keen to help us; also, the lockpicking sections later on were expanded to a minigame that progressively gets tougher and more tedious the more you find them.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    The game evokes strong emotional responses through its darker and more heartbreaking narrative, featuring gruesome character fates that enhance its somber tone compared to its predecessor. However, technical issues like the lack of a robust save system and uncomfortable camera controls detract from the overall experience, potentially limiting players' engagement with the story.

    • “The fates of some of these characters are gruesome and sometimes heartbreaking, making this story much darker and more depressing than the first game.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development in the game is noted to be significantly improved compared to its predecessor, with characters receiving more depth and personality. However, some reviewers feel that the overall experience could benefit from additional exploration, secrets, and dialogue to further enhance the character arcs and gameplay depth.

    • “They all get a lot more character development than the rather blank slates in the previous game.”
    • “What Mighty Rocket Studios could have done to enhance the experience of this game was to include more exploration in its levels, as well as more things to find such as special weapons and collectibles, which would further improve the game's character development.”
    • “They all get a lot more character development than the rather blank slates in Obscure 1.”
    • “What Mighty Rocket Studios could have done to make the experience of this game better was to have more exploration in its levels and more things to find, such as special weapons and collectibles, more secrets and dialogue, further improving on this game's pretty shallow gameplay and character development.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the games is primarily driven by advertising, as users recall seeing ads for them in the past, indicating a reliance on promotional strategies rather than in-game purchases or subscriptions.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

53% average critic score

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Play time

2hMedian play time
2hAverage play time
2-2hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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