Linger in Shadows Review
- Posted October 15th, 2008 at 19:30 EDT by
- 44 Comments
Review Score
- PSU Review Score
- 3.0
- Avg. user review score:
- 8.3
Summary
Gamers need not apply. This one is for the arty folk out there. Add five points to the final score if you fit into that category.
We like
- The sixteen easy Trophies
- The good implementation rumble
- Its incredibly strange style
We dislike
- That it isn't a "game"
- Its incredibly strange style (both a pro and a con)
See PSU's review on Metacritic & GameRankings
The demoscene makes its way to the PS3 in a title that will leave some thoroughly confused and others stroking their goatee as they write a detailed analysis on their Mac, pausing only to fix their beret. And other artist stereotypes.
Linger in Shadows is not a game. Let's just get that out of the way first. It is marketed as interactive 'art' of sorts, although it's more like an interactive tech demo in all fairness. Confused? Wait until you try it out.
This oddity comes from an underground culture of artists that create real time graphical videos (rather then pre-rendered FMV) that tries to utilise hardware to its fullest. Apparently it started in the crazy 80s, where demoscene artists would use their Commodore 64s and ZX Spectrums to make animations. These days they do it on toasters and washing machines and anything with computer chips in it.
The title has two modes, and some more information on the demoscene, although chances are if you bought it, you already know what the demoscene is. The two modes are 'Linger' and 'Watch', and both incorporate five small cutscenes and transitions which basically add up to a very short film.
In both modes, there are points where you can change the perspective of a variety of items/background elements. One bit may want you to twist around the controller, which in turn rotates a stone dog, or you can change the spin of a crazy shadow thing by pressing up or down on the D-Pad. You can pause the game by pressing X at any point, where you can find out which movements (if any) can be used at this particular point. You can also fast forward and rewind using R2 and L2 respectively, and take screenshots which will store on your hard drive with the select button.
The artistry looks good, if a bit random. Floating trees? Flying dogs? A stone octopus? For anyone who doesn't get the demoscene, Linger in Shadows will prove a complete mystery, even if there are some puzzle elements as outlined below.
In the Linger mode, you need to perform certain actions to move on to the next scene. It's not difficult, as the actions you need to perform do show up when you have paused playback. You may need to shake apart a scene to move onto the next, or see the scene unfold through a cat's eye. Did it come up that this title is confusing?
One of the things this title is good for is Trophy whores, erm, aficionados. There are sixteen Trophies to collect, and you can get most of them in the twenty or so minutes it takes to complete the Linger mode. The rest need to be sought out in the watch mode by looking in the right places.
Overall, it's an interesting idea, probably more so if you follow the demoscene. But if you a lack of appreciation for in-game artistry, the only reason to get it is if you want sixteen Trophies in thirty minutes.
Comments
-
zombieking36
- 7:38pm BST - October 15th, 2008
- 1
I always doubted this would be much, I do fear for Heavy Rain too. If it veers too far off from gaminess, it may suffer. Little Big Planet is a massive to new concept, but there is more than an abundance of gameplay, these games lack such and brings doubt...
-
zombieking36
- 7:38pm BST - October 15th, 2008
- 2
I always doubted this would be much, I do fear for Heavy Rain too. If it veers too far off from gaminess, it may suffer. Little Big Planet is a massive to new concept, but there is more than an abundance of gameplay, these games lack such and brings doubt...
-
thekingtut |
thekingtut- 7:43pm BST - October 15th, 2008
- 3
Dane Cook, get ready for all of the disagreements. Why would you review something from a "genre" that you don't like. Maybe you are trying to make up for some past overscored reviews. You should get an "artsy" person to review this, or anyone else. The cons are "not a game" and "freaking weird," really? How about the graphics? There are things that I feel you didn't mention because you felt it wasn't a game. Let us take cgi movies as an example. Just because those are movies it doesn't mean you shouldn't comment on the visual quality. I mean no disrespect.
-
-
Daver |
Berae- 8:02pm BST - October 15th, 2008
- 5
Wtf is this sh!tty review
This should not be reviewed, in my opinion
The cons are ridiculous.... ''Its not a game'' no its NOT a game, was it suppose to be one.. no, its interactive art that is somethign that is not a game. ''Freaking weird'' in the cons? hmmm ok thats what make this so interesting and fun
Lingers in shadows is an amazing art piece that worth the 3$ its not something you will play again and again, it was weird, it was fun, it has trophies for some its important loll
-
SnakeEater89
- 8:04pm BST - October 15th, 2008
- 6
3.0 / 10 ?????
What are you saying???.... Linger in Shadow is a great example of what developers could make...finally something DIFFERENT from all the other games.....bad review...
-
Falanx13 |
Falanx13- 8:14pm BST - October 15th, 2008
- 7
"Freaking weird" is a weak point for a review.
I kinda liked this 'game' (buyer beware!); it did some pretty cool things with the sixaxis, the paint-textured graphics are impressive, and it has some pretty easy trophies to collect. The whole thing played like an acid trip, but I'd still give it about a 7 just because it kept me busy for 2 hours and $3.
-
-
-
-
-
G00ber1993
- 8:41pm BST - October 15th, 2008
- 12
wow how many times does it have to be said this is not a game it is art and i think it was well made i think its a fun experience that is completely unique and is a nice break from the usual sifi or apocalyptic story lines we've all seen before if u ask me the gaming world needs more creative thought like this
-
-
-
-
Alpha2
- 8:51pm BST - October 15th, 2008
- 16
Honestly you guys shouldn't even have reviewed it because it's not a game and therefore dosent fit into the same rules. Do a story on it or something but dont give it a crap score just because it's not a game. If you're going to do this you might as well review every video that enters the PSN store or each and every DLC for RockBand and GH3!
FAIL.
-
-
CSUPSU
- 9:14pm BST - October 15th, 2008
- 18
What's with you people?... This game/demoscene/video/whatever sucked...as an interactive experience altogether...I find it intriguing that you would all down someone for actually paying attention to this NON-game rather than ignoring it altogether...you guys talk as if he spat on your favorite shirt or somethin', or as if you actually PAY these guys to provide you with the news that they do; h3ll, you aren't even required to LOG IN to the site...and for the record, I think a 3.0 out of 10.0 was generous, from either a gamer's perspective OR an art fanatic's...Like he said, add 5 points if you're THAT emotional distressed...
-
Slamori
- 9:30pm BST - October 15th, 2008
- 19
I was happy that you guys didn't review this , but now you post it ...
Why even review this game ? its a DEMOSCENE you people just don't get it do you ?This makes me upset , You guys as professional authors should know that a game like this is special normally we shouldn't be able to play this at all.
People that review this FAIL , sorry.
-
-
iliketehps3
- 9:33pm BST - October 15th, 2008
- 21
This is not a fair review at all. You classify it as not being a game then go on to review it like a game. I loved it personally.
-
LilSciz |
LilSciz- 10:07pm BST - October 15th, 2008
- 22
My friend bought this simply for the trophies and we share accounts so I figured I would give it a try. Well, I wasn't dissapointed. It was a fun interactive demo and nothing more. It would be considered a game merely because you "interact" with it. You have to find hidden things and the rumble is amazing as he said. I would say it's only worth a $1 instead of $3 but it does have easy trophies and awesome graphics. Truly, a lot when into making this "demoscene". A lot more than what people give it credit for.
-
edward_moffet |
edd- 11:05pm BST - October 15th, 2008
- 23
i think this is an unfair review its 3 bucks it's beautiful and its unique this is interactive art not a game so it should be judged as such btw heavy rain is wayy different it has been said that the game is already riveting they made qte's so that they wouldn't have to have set controls allowing for more flexible events also there isnt just one button press there is are multiple options within the qte's sorry i kind of got off topic talking about heavy rain
-
-
Fingal_D |
Fingal_D- 11:45pm BST - October 15th, 2008
- 25
well like you said it isn't a game. Did anybody see the rock octopus? I saw a robotic metal octopus that swam through the air and I moved it's head with the analog stick. It was freaky, but not as freaky as that bio-shock demo. That was nasty! All those EfPSs got people screwed up. Linger reminded me of a picasso in 3D. Oh no don't let mom see Linger in the Shadows! She will probably take away your collection of barry manilow 45's that you keep playing on 35 rpm backwards. what next? "It was freaky" like being entertained by gratuitous games is less freaky
-
onediversekid
- 1:06am BST - October 16th, 2008
- 26
It's kind of silly giving a con to linger of shadows because "it's not a game". I'm pretty sure the guys who created it made it clear it wasn't a game, so why would marks be docked? Also it's supposed to be weird, they were trying something new & different, so giving a con because it's "Freaking weird" seems a little weird in itself. I say for 3 bucks definitely check it out, it's different and unique enough to justify the price.
-
TheRealCarbonfibre |
Carbonfibre- 1:56am BST - October 16th, 2008
- 27
LInger in Shadows is an experience you need to see for yourself, dont let this review put you off. Its something incredibly strange and quirky , but one experience Im glad Ive had on the Ps3.
-
Dassureth
- 2:19am BST - October 16th, 2008
- 28
why the hel are people saying it's a terrible review... 8/10 seems fair to me...
i think people don't read everything and just see, oo look a ty score, he is a gamer and is not artsy so saying its not a game is his opinion. for those that don't mind that and like artsy stuff, then he gave it an 8/10. you're calling him an idiot maybe you should look at yourself.
-
-
-
taurus82 |
taurus82- 5:19am BST - October 16th, 2008
- 31
I've loved this 'experience' since it's announcement and pray there will be more to come, not just from Plastic, I would love to see demos from ASD, Farbrausch, Conspiracy and Keyboarders (Check out the demo called Texas on demoscene.tv). @IONIXX So Into the Pink is coming to PS3, and wasn't just a general announcement (revealed in the 'hidden part' of Linger In Shadows)?
-
Azu |
Azu-san- 5:31am BST - October 16th, 2008
- 32
"I always doubted this would be much, I do fear for Heavy Rain too"
Wow... just Wow. How can you draw in Heavy Rain when talking about Linger in Shadows? Heavy Rain is, by the end of the day, still very much a game. It's just a game that does a lot of new things in how the story is told and how it progresses. Still, you have a lot more control over the characters & what you do in the game than in Linger in Shadows.
Heavy Rain DOES NOT lack gameplay, what the f*** are you talking about?
-
-
-
Paranoimia |
Paranoimia- 8:31am BST - October 16th, 2008
- 35
Classic case of a reviewer not understanding the subject matter. If you're old enough to ever have purchased Public Domain demos for a Commodore 64 or Amiga, chances are you'll love this.
Even if you're not, and look at it cynically, it's £2 for the easiest Tropies you'll ever earn.
Whatever... it's more entertaining than flOw.
-
tic2000 |
tic2000- 9:04am BST - October 16th, 2008
- 36
I missed the part in the review where he sais it deserves an 8 if you are an arty folk. Ah it's in the comments. People are commenting on the game and the review. And even if that was in the review is like giving 4 for a NFL game and then say "This is for footbal or sports folk out there. Add five points to the final score if you fit in that category". And MGS4 deserves a 5, 10 if you are a stealth games folk... LBP will deserve a 0, add 5 if you are a platforming folk and another 5 if you are a creative one.
-
teevanator |
teevanator- 11:41am BST - October 16th, 2008
- 37
demos should be free, and this is just wierd
and a waste of 1.99 i mean wtf control either
-
DantheMan_69
- 11:49am BST - October 16th, 2008
- 38
ok on the cons right no it isn't a game but that doesn't been that it's a con and weird how can that be a con it's like saying the matrix was weird wtf guys.
-
DoctorBaglioni |
Necron- 1:43pm BST - October 16th, 2008
- 39
An unnecessary Review to a great experience...
-
TheWorldEndsWithMe |
DonovanTheICEMAN- 7:22pm BST - October 16th, 2008
- 40
Not gettin my $3, I'm sure its neat, but this Gen is nickel-and-diming me to death.
-
-
-
bobtheduck
- 6:01pm BST - October 19th, 2008
- 43
It's the DEMO SCENE... Maybe some of y'all are too young to know what that means, but they exist to push computers past what people assume they're good for (power wise) and if you've never followed them, they've ALWAYS been weird... It's more like a programming bicep flex than anything else, and it's about giving their friends props and maybe insulting an enemy or two... I mean, don't expect the demo scene to be anything other than what it is.
And zombie king, comparing this to Heavy Rain is absurd... You need a history lesson. Demo scene demos aren't games... They're a show of a hacker's ability, or a group of hackers... Nothing more, nothing less. I'm really happy the demo scene are getting friendly with Sony, because it can only mean good things coming in actual games later on as a result of these non-games.
-
Strudel |
Strudel- 8:35pm BST - October 19th, 2008
- 44
I loved it, the originality of the use of the controls. The interactivity, the style, admitedly the plot was random, but still had enough humor in it to keep it interesting and also had a great ending.
I am an art student so I probably apreciated it more than others but still, this is something to experience, not "play"
Advertisement