Nightmare Creatures II
{{Short description|2000 video game}}
{{more citations needed|date=May 2008}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Nightmare Creatures II
| image = Nightmare Creatures II.jpg
| developer = Kalisto Entertainment
| publisher = Konami
| programmer = Stéphane Le Dorze
| artist = Pascal Barret
| composer = Frédéric Motte
| platforms = PlayStation, Dreamcast
| released = {{vgrelease|NA|23 May 2000 (PS){{cite web |author=IGN staff |date=22 May 2000 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/05/23/the-games-of-mayjune |title=The Games of May/June |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322230136/https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/05/23/the-games-of-mayjune |archivedate=22 March 2023 |url-status=live |accessdate=1 December 2023}}|NA|13 June 2000 (DC){{Cite web |last=Trueman |first=Doug |date=June 13, 2000 |title=Konami's Nightmarish Sequel Arrives |url=http://www.gamespot.com/dreamcast/adventure/nightmarecreatures2/news_2587476.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040419183450/http://www.gamespot.com/dreamcast/adventure/nightmarecreatures2/news_2587476.html |archive-date=April 19, 2004 |access-date=January 26, 2024 |website=GameSpot}}|EU|8 September 2000{{Cite web |date= |title=Nightmare Creatures 2 |url=http://www.chipsworld.co.uk/detProd.asp?ProductCode=2311 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020504151928/http://www.chipsworld.co.uk/detProd.asp?ProductCode=2311 |archive-date=May 4, 2002 |access-date=January 26, 2024 |website=Chipsworld}}{{Cite web |date= |title=Nightmare Creatures 2 |url=http://www.chipsworld.co.uk/detProd.asp?ProductCode=2898 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010528013359/http://www.chipsworld.co.uk/detProd.asp?ProductCode=2898 |archive-date=May 28, 2001 |access-date=January 26, 2024 |website=Chipsworld}}}}
| genre = Survival horror
| modes = Single-player
}}
Nightmare Creatures II is a survival horror video game developed by Kalisto Entertainment and published by Konami for the PlayStation and Dreamcast. It is the sequel to Nightmare Creatures.
Plot
In 1934, exactly one century after the previous game, Adam Crowley, an occultist and antagonist from the previous game, has created a vast race of mutant creatures, which he is using to wipe out a group of monster hunters called the Circle. Meanwhile, Herbert Wallace, a patient at Crowley's genetics hospital, escapes from captivity, armed with an axe. He arrives in London, where he discovers evidence of a picture of Ignatius Blackward who, with Nadia Franciscus, had defeated Crowley in the previous game. Thanks to Rachel, the only surviving member of the Circle, Wallace is rescued from fire. They head their separate ways, with Wallace venturing to Crowley's castle, only to discover that Crowley himself is not there, but in Paris.
He then falls down a chute, which leads to a biplane that he flies to France. Wallace enters a cinema, where he finds a note from Rachel informing him that she knows of Crowley's plans. He then proceeds onwards to a museum to meet up with Rachel, but unknown to Wallace, she has been captured by zombies. Wallace then enters the museum, where he finds a detailed blueprint of the Eiffel Tower, along with some of Crowley's plans. Wallace enters a crypt, but zombies surround him and he plants one head first into a wall, escapes in a car while another zombie attacks him from behind and crashes in an elaborate graveyard, where he finds a part of Rachel's shirt snagged on a tree.
Wallace departs from the graveyard and falls into a sewer, which in turn takes him to the Paris underground, where he finds evidence of documents of ancient cults and a passage that leads to the Eiffel Tower. He then climbs to the top of the structure, where he finds a grotesque monstrosity. Using dynamite, he explodes the creature, only for the explosion to throw him off the top of the spire. However, his fall is cushioned, and he is reunited with Rachel, whereupon they walk away together. Whether Crowley is plotting his next scheme or gone forever remains completely unknown.
Gameplay
The gameplay is similar to the previous installment, seeing the adrenaline bar abandoned and the addition of fatality moves to execute weakened enemies. Unlike the previous game though, Herbert is the only playable character and the unlockable ability to play as a monster is absent.
Music
The North American PlayStation release featured licensed music from Rob Zombie's albums Hellbilly Deluxe and American Made Music to Strip By in the cutscenes, while the original soundtrack was composed by Frédéric Motte.
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| SDC = true
| PS = true
| na = true
| GR_SDC = 49%{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/dreamcast/198199-nightmare-creatures-ii/index.html |title=Nightmare Creatures II for Dreamcast |website=GameRankings |publisher=CBS Interactive |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505074849/https://www.gamerankings.com/dreamcast/198199-nightmare-creatures-ii/index.html |archivedate=5 May 2019 |url-status=dead |accessdate=5 March 2021}}
| Allgame_SDC = {{Rating|2.5|5}}{{cite web |last=Thompson |first=Jon |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=22926&tab=review |title=Nightmare Creatures II (DC) - Review |website=AllGame |publisher=All Media Network |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115075126/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=22926&tab=review |archivedate=15 November 2014 |url-status=dead |accessdate=10 July 2017}}
| CNG_SDC = 3/10{{cite web |last=Young |first=Jeffrey Adam |date=28 June 2000 |url=http://gamecenter.com/Consoles/Dreamcast/Nightmare2/ |title=Nightmare Creatures II (DC) |website=Gamecenter |publisher=CNET |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000824012429/http://gamecenter.com/Consoles/Dreamcast/Nightmare2/ |archivedate=24 August 2000 |url-status=dead |accessdate=5 March 2021}}
| EGM_PS = 4.83/10{{cite magazine |last1=Davison |first1=John |last2=Johnston |first2=Chris |last3=Hager |first3=Dean |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/5/54/EGM_US_132.pdf |title=Nightmare Creatures II (PS) |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=132 |date=July 2000 |page=144 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230710161401/https://retrocdn.net/images/5/54/EGM_US_132.pdf |archivedate=10 July 2023 |url-status=live |accessdate=1 December 2023}}{{efn|Three critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the PlayStation version each a score of 4/10, 4.5/10, and 6/10.}}
| EPD_SDC = 5/10{{cite web |last=Conlin |first=Shaun |date=17 July 2000 |url=http://www.elecplay.com/review.html?article=2729&full=1#mr_toppy |title=Nightmare Creatures II (DC) |website=The Electric Playground |publisher=Greedy Productions Ltd. |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030507125949/http://www.elecplay.com/review.html?article=2729&full=1#mr_toppy |archivedate=7 May 2003 |url-status=dead |accessdate=1 December 2023}}
| GI_SDC = 5/10{{cite magazine |title=Nightmare Creatures II (DC) |magazine=Game Informer |publisher=FuncoLand |issue=89 |date=September 2000}}
| GI_PS = 5.25/10{{cite magazine |title=Nightmare Creatures II (PS) |magazine=Game Informer |publisher=FuncoLand |issue=86 |date=June 2000}}
| GameFan_PS = (MVS) 64%{{cite magazine |last=Van Stone |first=Matt "Kodomo" |url=https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_8_Issue_07/page/n43/mode/2up |title=Nightmare Creatures II (PS) |magazine=GameFan |publisher=Shinno Media |volume=8 |issue=7 |date=July 2000 |pages=42–43 |accessdate=5 March 2021}}
58%{{cite magazine |last1=Mylonas |first1=Eric "ECM" |last2=Ngo |first2=George "Eggo" |last3=Weitzner |first3=Jason "Fury" |url=https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_8_Issue_07/page/n13/mode/2up |title=Nightmare Creatures 2 [sic] (PS) |magazine=GameFan |publisher=Shinno Media |volume=8 |issue=7 |date=July 2000 |page=12 |accessdate=5 March 2021}}{{efn|In GameFan{{'}}s viewpoint of the PlayStation version, three critics gave it each a score of 55, 49, and 71.}}
| GameRev_SDC = F{{cite web |author=G-Wok |date=June 2000 |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/32224-nightmare-creatures-2-review |title=Nightmare Creatures 2 Review (DC) |website=GameRevolution |publisher=CraveOnline |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150913185345/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/nightmare-creatures-2 |archivedate=13 September 2015 |url-status=live |accessdate=1 December 2023}}
| GSpot_SDC = 5.9/10{{cite web |last=Provo |first=Frank |date=20 June 2000 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/nightmare-creatures-2-review/1900-2591371/ |title=Nightmare Creatures II Review (DC) |website=GameSpot |publisher=Fandom |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050118205454/http://www.gamespot.com/dreamcast/adventure/nightmarecreatures2/review.html |archivedate=18 January 2005 |url-status=live |accessdate=1 December 2023}}
| GSpy_SDC = 4/10{{cite web |author=Wheat |date=17 September 2000 |url=http://www.planetdreamcast.com/games/reviews/nightmarecreatures2/ |title=Nightmare Creatures 2 |website=PlanetDreamcast |publisher=IGN Entertainment |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090124054725/http://www.planetdreamcast.com/games/reviews/nightmarecreatures2/ |archivedate=24 January 2009 |url-status=dead |accessdate=10 July 2017}}
| NGen_SDC = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Orlando |first=Greg |url=https://archive.org/details/NextGen67Jul2000/page/n91/mode/2up |title=Nightmare Creatures II (DC) |magazine=NextGen |publisher=Imagine Media |issue=67 |date=July 2000 |page=91 |accessdate=5 March 2021}}
| OPM_PS = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Davison |first=John |url=https://archive.org/details/Official_U.S._Playstation_Magazine_Issue_33_June_2000/page/n99/mode/2up |title=Nightmare Creatures 2 [sic] |magazine=Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine |publisher=Ziff Davis |volume=3 |issue=9 |date=June 2000 |page=103 |accessdate=5 March 2021}}
}}
The PlayStation version of Nightmare Creatures II received "mixed" reviews, while the Dreamcast version received "unfavorable" reviews, according to the review aggregation website GameRankings. Greg Orlando of NextGen quoted a song by Carly Simon, "You're So Vain", in saying of the latter console version, "Konami's 'dream' turns out to be nothing but 'clouds in our coffee.'"
Uncle Dust of GamePro said that the PlayStation version "certainly earns its 'Mature' rating with plenty of blood and severed body parts, so it may not be for everyone. PlayStation horror fans, though, will find it a terrific, sharp-looking and -sounding action/adventure game."{{cite magazine |author=Uncle Dust |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/1/16/GamePro_US_142.pdf |title=Nightmare Creatures II (PS) |magazine=GamePro |publisher=IDG |issue=142 |date=July 2000 |page=80 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813153147/https://retrocdn.net/images/1/16/GamePro_US_142.pdf |archivedate=13 August 2023 |url-status=live |accessdate=1 December 2023}} He also said, "While the visuals are certainly more impressive than the PlayStation version's, the Dreamcast version of Nightmare Creatures II remains otherwise almost identical—which is a good thing, because the PlayStation Nightmare Creatures II is a great game."{{cite magazine |author=Uncle Dust |title=Nightmare Creatures II (DC) |magazine=GamePro |publisher=IDG |issue=142 |date=July 2000 |page=88}}{{efn|GamePro gave both the PlayStation and Dreamcast versions each two 4.5/5 scores for graphics and fun factor, 5/5 for sound, and 3/5 for control.}} However, 2 Barrel Fugue said of the Dreamcast version in another GamePro review, "If you're the type of person who gets a kick out of exercises in futility, then Nightmare Creatures II is for you. If not, back away slowly and, when it's not looking, run like hell."{{cite magazine |author=2 Barrel Fugue |date=30 May 2000 |url=http://gamepro.com/sega/dreamcast/games/reviews/5721.shtml |title=Nightmare Creatures 2 Review for Dreamcast on GamePro.com |magazine=GamePro |publisher=IDG |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20041212231959/http://gamepro.com/sega/dreamcast/games/reviews/5721.shtml |archivedate=12 December 2004 |url-status=dead |accessdate=1 December 2023}}{{efn|GamePro gave the Dreamcast version 4/5 for graphics, and three 2/5 scores for sound, control, and fun factor in another review.}} The Electric Playground gave the PlayStation version a favorable review while it was still in development.
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Notes
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References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://arnaud.maignan.free.fr/ltf/sites/nc2/ Official Website Archive]
- {{moby game|id=/9563/nightmare-creatures-ii/}}
{{Portal bar|2000s|Horror|Fantasy|Video games|France}}
{{Kalisto Entertainment}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nightmare Creatures Ii}}
Category:2000s horror video games
Category:Kalisto Entertainment games
Category:PlayStation (console) games
Category:Single-player video games
Category:Survival horror video games
Category:Video games developed in France
Category:Video games scored by Frédéric Motte
Category:Video games set in 1934