Torque (the main character) is back and after his stint in the jail from the previous game you would think that he would have had enough carnage and bad dreams to last a lifetime? We actually, no because it seems that the monster mashing hero with a shady past is not quite done with murderous beings from a dark underworld as he is once again thrust into the heart of all things demon and bloody. Torque’s suffering seems never ending and therefore it’s a great excuse for players to assume his role once more and get messy with the program.

Gameplay

Well for those unfamiliar with the workings of the game then let me fill you in. The suffering Ties That Bind is a 3rd or 1st person shooter (you can switch views at anytime). What makes the game stand out from your average shooter is the fact that our leading man is thrust into a world of pain and a living nightmare. Things really aren’t normal here and from the very opening where all hell breaks loose at the jail; players’ senses are stimulated to the maximum. The visual intensity is on an epic scale here and Torque will be confronted by all manner of weird creatures as well as ominous flashbacks and strange apparitions. It really is a freaky experience and one that will either scare you or simply make you laugh as if you are on a ghost train at a fairground.

Actual combat is fairly fluid and with the choices of weapons available means that you can kick demon butt from the offset. The usual suspects are featured including things like Molotov cocktails for heating things up a little. I did find the controls to be a little sluggish in 1st person viewpoint but this was easy bearable. At times you encounter boss type enemies and more often than not it’s more about which weapon you use rather than simply emptying your ammo until they die. I guess you can take on most foes with well aimed, up close dual saw off shotguns!

As mentioned earlier the visual element is full on and this also highlights the mental struggle that Torque faces because one side of him is good and the other not so pleasant shall we say! His wife or ex wife constantly harps on at him to do the right thing whilst a more evil voice (an alter ego called Blackmore) will actually try and steer him to do more unspeakable acts such as killing innocent people. This tug of war means that players can play the game as they choose and depending on what sort of character they want to be means the experiences will be somewhat different to a degree. Torque can also transform into a higher state which visually means he becomes a demon himself; this was in the previous game but this time is a little different as the demon form will change depending on whether you are a good or a bad character. Either way the transformation followed by the ensuing carnage is pretty awesome as he makes mincemeat out of all who get in his way. Sadly this does not last for ever and will need to be charged up again (done by killing enemies).

Graphics

Graphically the game has improved slightly over its predecessor and what I must say is the stars are the incredibly well designed monsters. Coming in all manner of shapes and sizes they really are something to behold and look like creatures lifted from some Hollywood spooky blockbuster. Their movement is unpredictable at times and basically they are animated very well. The general vibe of the game is dark and I think the graphics convey this very well especially with the many flashbacks and visions that appear on screen as you approach certain areas, makes for a highly atmospheric experience indeed. Some of the locales look a little rough around the edges as do the other characters but really one can’t complain when Torque is dripping in blood after shooting some demon at point blank range! There are some frame rate issues at times but I think in general you can over look these.

Sound

Sound here is top quality and while some of the voice acting is pretty mundane the overall aural smack on your ears is simply amazing. There is a lot of atmosphere in the game created with the incredible sound effects that it’s pretty non stop all the way. You begin to fear the sound of clanging metal because you know that some demons are close by. I suggest you turn up the speakers or use some headphones for this game because your ears are going to be highly stimulated!

Longevity

The single player is reasonable length and with some replay options such as playing as a good or dark character means that you will get to experience a slightly different game depending on your actions. There are several levels of difficulty to mess around with and so you should get some reasonable play time from the game. Sadly there are no multiplayer options but the Suffering focuses on bringing you a defined single player game.

Overall

The suffering Ties that Bind is a solid title, although some players have reported bugs such as the game freezing and needing a reboot. I didn’t encounter any thing like this so I guess it depends on your Xbox suffering or not! Some moments of the game can be a little obscure and you could sit and scratch your head for a while until you figure it out; the same can be said of the story itself. The Suffering doesn’t wander too far from the previous game and in that sense is a true sequel offering more of the same which isn’t a bad thing. I would recommend this title for anyone who likes horror laid on thick and fast!