Dementium II HD Reviews

I'm a big fan of the Dementium series on the Nintendo DS, so when I found out this port existed, I just had to have it. Unfortunately, this port falls short of the original version in several key areas. One of the main advertised features of the HD version is the upgraded cutscenes. However, these "HD" cutscenes feel jarring compared to the smoother transitions in the DS version. Instead of seamlessly blending into gameplay, the cutscenes feel like abrupt movie segments that pull you out of the experience. The gameplay, in contrast, doesn't live up to the visual expectations set by the cutscenes, making the overall experience feel disjointed. The port’s gameplay suffers from several technical issues. The combat, in particular, feels less responsive. The shank’s three-hit combo doesn’t always register properly, and the flamethrower requires you to be uncomfortably close to enemies to be effective. The nail gun, which was previously a powerful weapon, is somehow weaker than the shank, which makes progression more frustrating than enjoyable. Movement also feels slow, and the jump is not high enough to navigate certain obstacles effectively. Additionally, many of the enemies, especially the Chestmaws, are poorly implemented. Their movement is awkward, animations are out of sync, and they quickly get back up after being knocked down, seeming like they're skipping the recovery animation and going straight for the chasing or even attack animation. This results in frantic, frustrating encounters that break immersion. The sound design in the PC port is another area of concern. While the Chestmaws' unsettling sounds are effective at first, their repetitive nature quickly becomes grating. This is compounded by the fact that the game’s soundtrack, which was more prominent in the DS version, is quieter in the PC port. Some tracks are even missing entirely, leading to long stretches of silence during gameplay. The music that does play is often the loudest track in the game, making sudden transitions into intense moments jarring. I love this game, really, I do. But I can't recommend the Dementium II HD port to those wanting to experience the series. The issues with gameplay, sound design, and overall immersion make it a disappointing experience compared to the original DS version. If you're new to the series or looking to revisit it, you're much better off playing the game on its original hardware.