Dementium II
A survival horror FPS sequel with improved gameplay and a demented reality.
Dementium II is a survival horror first-person shooter for the Nintendo DS, released in 2010. It was developed by Renegade Kid and published by SouthPeak Games, serving as the follow-up to 2007's Dementium: The Ward. A remastered version, created without Renegade Kid's involvement, came out for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X on December 17, 2013.
The gameplay introduces several upgrades over the first game. Players can now jump and crouch, use save points, and hold a flashlight and gun at the same time. The map system is improved, enemies no longer respawn, and health items are stored in the inventory for use at any moment. The weapon selection and enemy types are also more varied.
The story picks up with William Redmoor, the protagonist from the first game, waking up in a hospital bed. He is led to a cell where he finds a postcard from himself, telling him to escape. The world then shifts into a twisted, demented version of reality, and William must fight through it. Reality flips between normal and demented as he progresses, with more postcards appearing to guide him. He confronts the chief doctor, who explains that the demented reality started after surgery on William's brain, suggesting something was released from his head. The doctor transforms into a grotesque version of himself and attacks. Later, William finds his intake form, which claims he murdered his wife and suffers from a schizotypal disorder or unknown mental illness. He escapes through a tunnel in the boiler room.
In a nearby deserted village, William fights monsters and finds notes supposedly from his wife, leading him to his daughter's grave. He digs up a doll and brings it to a church, where his wife is revealed to be a wendigo in disguise. After defeating it, a postcard tells him to return to the hospital. There, the doctor taunts him over the intercom, lamenting his lack of cooperation. William discovers a book page about Malatesta, an ancient serpent trapped in the Plane of Anguish, which infects a host to break free. The doctor is implied to be Malatesta's host. William enters the Plane and defeats the serpent. He then wakes in a normal room, but when he looks in a mirror, he sees the doctor instead of his own reflection. As he moves closer, the doctor reaches out and pulls him in, ending the game.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Renegade Kid / Memetic Games (HD)
- Publisher
- SouthPeak Games / Digital Tribe Games (HD)
- Director
- Jools Watsham
- Released
- Nintendo DS / NA · May 4, 2010 · EU · June 25, 2010Windows, Mac OS X / WW · December 17, 2013
- Genre
- Survival horror, first-person shooter
- Title
- Dementium II
- Platforms
- Nintendo DS / Microsoft Windows / Mac OS X
- Modes
- Single-player
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The game opens with protagonist William Redmoor awakening in a hospital bed, where he is escorted to a cell and finds a postcard from himself urging escape. Reality then shifts between normal and demented versions, with postcards providing direction. William confronts the chief doctor, who claims the demented reality began after brain surgery, implying something was 'let out' of William's head. William later finds an intake form stating he murdered his wife and suffers from a schizotypal disorder or unknown mental illness. He escapes through a tunnel in the boiler room and travels to a deserted village, following notes from his wife that lead to his daughter's grave. He digs up a doll and brings it to a church, where his wife is revealed to be a wendigo. After defeating it, a postcard tells him to return to the hospital. There, the doctor speaks through the intercom, lamenting William's lack of cooperation. William finds a page about Malatesta, an ancient serpent trapped in the Plane of Anguish, which infects a host to break free. William enters the Plane and defeats the serpent. After the fight, William awakens in a normal room but sees the doctor instead of his own reflection; the doctor reaches out and pulls him in, ending the game.
Reader's Guide
Dementium II is notable for its improvements over its predecessor, including different weapons, a larger variety of enemies, the ability to jump and crouch, save points, more environments, the ability to hold the flashlight and gun simultaneously, an improved map system, and the removal of respawning enemies. Health items are saved in the inventory for use at any time. The DS version received generally favorable reviews on Metacritic, while the PC remaster received generally unfavorable reviews. In Japan, Famitsu gave the DS version a score of 30 out of 40. The game was announced via a teaser trailer on May 30, 2009, which acted as a commercial for the Bright Dawn Treatment Center. Renegade Kid's Watsham stated in October 2009 that Dementium II is 'the best game he has ever worked on.' The remastered version, released without Renegade Kid's involvement, was met with negative reviews.
Did You Know?
- Renegade Kid's Watsham called Dementium II 'the best game he has ever worked on.'
- The PC remaster was released on December 17, 2013, without involvement from Renegade Kid.
- Famitsu scored the DS version 30 out of 40.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dementium II?
Dementium II is a survival horror first-person shooter that came out for the Nintendo DS in 2010. It is the direct sequel to 2007's Dementium: The Ward, dropping players into a twisted, demented reality.
What new mechanics does Dementium II add over the first game?
The sequel lets you jump, crouch, and grip both a flashlight and a weapon simultaneously. It also brings save points, a revamped map system, enemies that no longer respawn, and an inventory for stashing health pickups.
Who developed and published Dementium II?
Renegade Kid built the game and SouthPeak Games published it for its 2010 Nintendo DS launch.
Is there a PC or Mac port of Dementium II?
Yes, a remastered edition hit Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X on December 17, 2013. That port was produced without Renegade Kid's involvement.
How did critics receive Dementium II?
The DS version pulled generally favorable scores on Metacritic, with reviewers highlighting its moody horror atmosphere and the tangible gameplay upgrades over the original.
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