Remember The Thing? Not the cult classic John Carpenter horror movie from 1982, but the video game continuation from 2002? Well, it’s coming back, courtesy of remaster specialist Nightdive Studios.
Announced today at IGN Live, Nightdive, whose revivals of Star Wars: Dark Forces and System Shock have won plaudits from retro video game fans, is now making The Thing: Remastered for PC and consoles in collaboration with Universal Products & Experiences. It’s due out digitally on PC via Steam, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and S, and Nintendo Switch later in 2024.
The Thing video game is a third-person survival horror shooter game that continues the story of the Kurt Russell film. Here’s the official blurb:
In the frozen arctic tundra, a mysterious shape-shifting alien has wiped out the crew of the U.S. Outpost #31 research facility. In The Thing: Remastered, players step into the boots of Captain J.F. Blake, the leader of a United States Army Special Forces rescue team sent to investigate the blood-curdling events that transpired in the original The Thing film. Trapped by the elements and at risk of infection by a horrific entity, Blake must keep his squad together to survive by gaining their trust and ensuring that their fear and paranoia don't get the best of them … or himself.
The remaster is an upgraded version designed to run on current-generation gaming devices (PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X and S) up to a 4K resolution at 120FPS. Nightdive has made improvements to character models, textures, and animations, with the implementation of advanced 3D rendering for updated lighting and atmospheric effects. There are Trophies and Achievements on PC via Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles.
“Many of us at Nightdive Studios are ardent fans of the horror genre, so it’s been an incredible honor to work within the world of the iconic The Thing,” said Larry Kuperman, Nightdive Studios' director of business development.
“The 1982 film is a masterpiece and truly one of the most impactful pieces of art in the horror genre. With The Thing: Remastered, we’re honoring that legacy and Computer Artworks’ incredible game inspired by the story that further expanded the lore.”
The Thing: Remastered key features: Return to U.S. Outpost #31: Continue the story of The Thing and face off against terrifying monsters, from scuttling head-spiders and human-like walkers to gigantic multi-tentacled level bosses
Who Goes There?: Command a squad of up to four NPCs from Soldier, Medic, and Engineer character classes through the game’s 11 frightening levels
The Warmest Place to Hide: Someone in your squad may not be who they appear to be. The shape-shifting alien hides inside an imitation, so keep a watchful eye.
Don’t Lose It: Gain the trust of your squad members and minimize their fear levels lest they become defiant or, worse, succumb to paranoia Ultimate Alien Terror: Upgraded models, textures, and animations hand-crafted by Nightdive, plus enhanced lighting and atmospheric effects
Stunning Visuals: Up to 4K 120FPS visuals on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S It’s a busy time for Nightdive, which released PO'ed Definitive Edition in May. It’s also working on Killing Time: Resurrected, SiN Reloaded, and System Shock 2: Enhanced Edition
Anyone played it? I have it for ps2 but never actually gave it a go. Any good?
It’s not perfect - there’s a mechanic where you can test someone’s blood to determine if they’re a Thing, but sometimes there are scripted moments that override it and just instantly flip someone. So you could literally test someone, find that they’re clean, then walk to the next room and SPLAARBGCHH they turn into a monster.
That said, it still does manage to capture a ton of what made the movie so special: an amazing setting, some terrifying threats, and awesome tension. Plus, if you love the movie, it actually does a good job of expanding the immediate universe of the story without feeling grossly tacked on.
Overall, I’m super psyched to grab this when it comes out. I never completely finished the game so this will be my chance.