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Not every horror movie can be The Ring, and not every survival horror game can be Resident Evil 4. Most don't aspire to those heights, and make due with what they have. Cold Fear, on the other hand, reaches for the brass ring, yet the game screams second-tier almost as much as it screams bloody murder. It's a capable and ambitious thriller, but also has more problems than a vegetarian zombie.

Darkworks is at the developmental helm for Cold Fear. Having worked on the decent Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare, the company knows a thing or two about eliciting scares. The Alone in the Dark series was one of the originators of the genre, yet that series ultimately has become a blatant Resident Evil pretender. Once again, Darkworks is trying to drink Capcom's Kool-Aid in indiscreet fashion. But if a game makes you jump out of your skin once in a while, who cares if it's a little derivative?

Scared Seamen

It was a dark and stormy night. No, really it was. That's when a Coast Guard rescue team boarded a seemingly-stranded Russian whaling ship. The leftover fish parts aren't the only thing that stinks around there, however, and soon main character (and hero has-been) Tom Hansen is left to fend for himself and battle some creepy creatures.

The relatively unique setting allows for some eye-pleasing graphical effects. Rain pours down upon you, waves crash at the bow, and the entire ship pitches to and fro. It's enough to get you seasick, and is unlike any other game out there (Metal Gear Solid 2's ship scene has nothing on this). You must explore both deckside and the annals of the ship, never knowing what's behind each door. Unfortunately, the long load times will give you plenty of opportunity to speculate, and far too many doors are locked, jammed, or sealed.  

Shooting Fish in a Barrel

Much like Resident Evil 4, Hansen is armed with a pistol and other firearms. To fire, you go into an over-the-shoulder view, aiming your laser site/flashlight combo at the intended target. Hit detection means enemies react differently depending on where you strike them, but most require dead-on headshots to be killed (again). It's not nearly as intuitive as Resident Evil, though, and comes off as clunky. The speed of your foes is partially at fault. In RE4, zombies lurch and lumber. Here, they outright sprint--robbing you of time to properly aim for their melons.

The more action-oriented sections of Cold Fear expose the gameplay weaknesses like a basketball player in a limbo contest: it just wasn't made for that frantic pace. The game is at its best when you're roaming around the rooms, and the lights suddenly go out or an unassuming corpse rolls toward you. These are effective scare tactics, much preferred over the quick-firing portions of Cold Fear.

Harsh Seas

Nothing comes easy in Cold Fear, as the targeting is far from your only struggle. The ship is relatively small, but there's still too much backtracking--with no map to boot. You can't manipulate the camera without your weapon drawn (which slows you down), and the angles the game chooses aren't always the best. Save points show up sporadically, yet you're not allowed to take health kits with you.

Most of these hang-ups may have been put into place to challenge gamers, but they really come off as downers that cause you to fight with the game. Why do I need to shoot zombies in the head exclusively, and why do they still get in one or two swipes after they're decapitated? Why does the game need to load before I enter every single room--no matter how tiny? That's not fun!

Going Overboard

As stated above, the nautical setting brings about a treasure trove of eye candy. The lighting effects are well done whether you're on deck or down below. Conversely, Cold Fear has an ugly, drab heads-up display. It almost looks like someone forgot to replace the placeholder before shipping out the game, as there's no personality or style to it at all.

Cold Fear's music and voiceovers are chilly in their lack of emotion. A soundtrack that's meant to be atmospheric ends up either sleep-inducing or needlessly thrashy. Dialogue is sparse, but what exists won't really make you pine for more.

Sink or Swim

As survivor horror games go, Cold Fear is lukewarm. The graphics attempt to mask a mediocre plot and flawed action, but it does succeed in making your skin crawl--in a good way. The little details included almost counteract the annoyances, but the title is still relegated to rental status. If you have access to a GameCube, play Resident Evil 4. If you already have, then play it again. That game is so much better than Cold Fear, it's almost scary.