Noticing the current interest in Asian horror flicks, Sony has released some new info on Forbidden Siren 2, sequel to 2004's supernatural shock-'em-up. Due out this summer, the survival horror derivative once again features the interesting 'sight jacking' system which allows players to see through the eyes of incoming enemies. There's a whole new plot this time, though, as the press release explains:
"The story starts as a group of characters are washed up on the island's shore after their boat is caught in a violent storm. Unbeknown to them some twenty nine years earlier, all the inhabitants of the island mysteriously disappeared in a black-out."
So, obviously, the inhabitants come back as vengeful zombies. It's Lost meets The Fog!
But that's not the really 'new' info...
Continuing the series' interest in adding fresh elements to the well-worn survival horror genre, this edition will include a new light sensitivity element to deal with enemies:
"To survive on the island players need to use light to their advantage. Both the Yamibito (people of the dark) and Shibito (living dead) are sensitive to light – but in opposing ways. To wipe out the Yamibito players need to turn lights on but, to take out the Shibito players need to eliminate light by turning off lights or smashing street lamps."
Of course, the exploitation of light sources is already a staple element of the stealth genre, but this is an interesting re-interpretation for horror (I suppose there's also a light meter in Fatal Frame, which lets you pick out usually invisible ghosts, but there you can't actively use light as a weapon...).It would be great to see a real-life light meter version - a la Boktai - for the PSP...
Naturally, there will be other weapons to pick up, plus you can use abandoned vehicles, thus bringing in elements of the FPS genre too...
Anyway, talking about Asian cinema and videogames, wouldn't Old Boy make an amazing survival horror romp?
UPDATE: Oh look - Siren is being made into a movie. Shockingly, it appears that Uwe Boll isn't involved...
