1916: The War You Never Knew (59Mb)
This is a very interesting and at times brilliant retake on FPS games. You get given a piece of paper which says ‘Find the Ladder’, and then you go over the top. But what confronts you below in the trenches or out on top, is very decidedly non-human. It’s a first person survival-horror game. Survive as long as you can as by golly, you can’t fight some of them, let alone kill them!
First there’s the ferocious velociraptors ; chasing you in the claustrophobic hidden confines of the trenches. But when you find the ladder, there’s deep fog out there when you climb out over the top and a terrifying, as yet unknown threat out there, a shadowy and monstrous presence in the looming mist. Shell-shocked and exhausted, you don’t know what’s out there . . . and you’re not sure you want to find out . . . and then it looms out from the mist! It’s a genuine scary experience and unlike Amnesia: the Dark Descent you don’t have to pay, as it’s free. And free scares are always the best! The only thing that’s going to save you is your cunning or a total blinding bombardment of the battlefield that will somehow have to miss you! Your chances are not good - and frankly neither are your chances of surviving too long, either in the trenches or worse, far worse out on the battlefield. So you set out to survive, as long as survival is possible. Daunting, yes! And totally, totally terrifying! You’re already completely demoralised and the real trials are still to come. . .
It may not be WW1 history as we know it, but it works wonderfully well. The atmosphere and tension is terrific along with a sense of foreboding and gloom all around. Do you really want to climb the ladder and see what is out there? Or would you rather take your chances with the velociraptors? But there are also gas clouds, bombs and artillery shells to contend with.
In a deeper sense it’s portrayal of war as a lost cause, with no real gains amongst real and genuine pain; along with precious little chance of surviving, let alone with just a pitiful hope of winning; - is far more realistic than games where winning becomes a likely outcome. Ok, thankfully man and dinosaur never met, let alone in the trenches, but it makes for an incredibly stark and harsh environment and a brutalizingly fearful experience. The adrenaline comes fast and furious, as tension mounts, and more and greater uncertainty ensues. And fright becomes terror! It’s a primordial fear that the game plays on superbly well. Now you see it now you don’t, where and when is it (or are they) going to suddenly and startlingly appear next? Can your tired legs carry you fast enough when the chase is on, them, after you . . . and every likelihood of them outpacing you!
You’re going to get caught and die horrifically unless . . .
There aren’t many games out there that get as tense as 1916 - The War You Never Knew does!
Weapons and ammunition are scarce to say the least! The trenches form a considerable, seemingly never-ending maze! Will you ever find the ladder? And if you do . . . ?
Controls are 'W,A,S,D' or 'Arrow' keys to move, 'Spacebar' to jump, 'Shift' key to sprint, 'E' key to interact (hold where necessary to take flesh), 'G' key to equip gasmask, the '1' key to select a flare or '2' key to select rifle (when you have found these!) and the mouse to look, and fire using left button for fire 1/throw, middle and right buttons for fire 2 and 3 (or 'left Alt' and 'left Enter' for fire 2 and 3). Joystick use is supported and you can also re-define control keys in the download version. 'P' key to pause, and 'Esc' key to get back to the main menu.
You can play the game in your browser, but you will probably get a better experience downloading and playing the game full-screen. The 3D monochrome graphics are very well suited to the game and visually shock when they need to; and the sound effects are totally realistic and well-timed, and give the game a most incredible and tremendous atmosphere.
The game plays in XP, Vista and Win 7, as well as OSx. It uses the Unity player for the browser version. The download version can be played windowed or full screen.
It's an excellent and brilliant game that mostly has you being chased rather than you doing the chasing!
Turn the lights down and the sound right up, and start trembling/shaking!
Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TuCHib3iMo
Download HERE
