The Thing: Remastered

The story of the remastered game is a mixed bag, with many reviewers finding it generic and lacking coherence, often feeling like a predictable rehash of familiar tropes. While some appreciate its connection to the 1982 film and the nostalgic elements, others criticize it for straying too far from the original's ambiguous narrative and introducing convoluted plot points. Overall, the storytelling is seen as cheesy and underwhelming, with a few highlights for fans of the source material, but it ultimately fails to deliver a compelling experience.

The remaster features significant graphical improvements that enhance the original game's visuals while maintaining its classic art style, resulting in a polished and nostalgic experience. While some reviewers noted that the remaster feels somewhat lazy compared to modern standards, many praised the updated lighting, textures, and overall performance, making it a solid choice for fans of the original. Overall, the remaster successfully revitalizes the game with enhanced graphics and quality-of-life improvements, though it may not meet the expectations of those seeking cutting-edge visuals.

The atmosphere of the game has been widely praised for effectively capturing the tension, paranoia, and immersive qualities of the original film, particularly in its early segments. Enhanced graphics, dynamic lighting, and shadows contribute significantly to the overall ambiance, although some reviewers noted issues with audio mixing that can disrupt immersion. Overall, the remaster successfully maintains the iconic atmosphere while updating the experience for modern audiences.

The music in the game has been widely criticized for its absence and lack of impact, with many players noting that it is often missing during key moments, such as boss fights and throughout the campaign. While some appreciate the sound design, the overall consensus is that the audio experience feels incomplete, with abrupt cuts and a need for more ambient tracks to enhance immersion. Additionally, the removal of certain songs from the credits has disappointed fans, further highlighting the need for a more polished audio experience.

Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while many players report smooth performance and minimal bugs, others encounter frustrating glitches, particularly with AI companions and occasional gameplay interruptions. Some users have experienced no issues at all, while others note that the game can be somewhat buggy, suggesting the need for future patches. Despite these inconsistencies, the remaster is generally praised for its visual improvements and enjoyable gameplay.

The game's optimization has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with players noting smooth performance, excellent graphics reminiscent of the PS3 era, and responsive controls. While there are minor issues such as occasional audio desynchronization during cutscenes, the overall experience is seamless and well-optimized, even on lower-end systems. The remastering by Nightdive Studios is praised for enhancing gameplay and visuals without compromising performance.

The game suffers from low replayability, primarily due to the absence of new game plus modes or alternative gameplay options, which detracts from its overall value, especially given its short campaign length of under 10 hours. While some improvements in NPC mechanics and combat AI in the remaster offer slight replay value, the experience largely hinges on individual enjoyment of the campaign. Overall, many reviewers rate the replayability around 5/10, indicating a significant limitation in this aspect.

The humor in the game is noted to be quite enjoyable, with players experiencing many funny moments, including amusing bugs and entertaining cutscenes. However, to fully appreciate the humor and storyline, players are advised to pay close attention to the cutscenes, as any input can skip them. Overall, the game offers a blend of humor that resonates well with players, making it a fun experience.

The monetization of the game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with reviewers noting that it merely updates the original for modern systems without offering substantial improvements. Many recommend sticking to the original version instead, viewing the remaster as a mediocre attempt to capitalize on nostalgia with a higher price tag.

Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly in the second half where they are required to engage in repetitive combat against human enemies and complete monotonous objectives, such as destroying planes. This shift detracts from the overall experience, making it feel less engaging.

The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the unique dynamics of squad mate NPCs, whose emotional states and potential transformation into monsters due to an alien virus create a tense and immersive experience. The game's homage to John Carpenter's work enhances the emotional depth, evoking nostalgia and a strong connection to the source material.