The Thing successfully combines survival horror elements with a straightforward 3D shooter. And unlike most movie-based games, it doesn't suck.
Based on the 1980's cult horror film by John Carpenter, The Thing is an interactive sequel of sorts to the film. Remember the "rescue crew" that MacReady and pals were going to wait for? Well, we all know how that turned out, but alas, you are the leader of that rescue crew, and to say anymore would ruin the game.
The Thing's genre is hard to pin down. If hard pressed to categorize it, I'd say it was 80% shooter and 20% survival horror, with a dash of Rainbow Six. While you spend the majority of your time blasting waves of creatures, you often have to command your engineers to repair power structures, and order your group to follow or stay put. Your squad members don't always follow your orders, however. Your troops think for themselves, and if they think that the organisms you're fighting have infected you, they will trust you less, and possibly even shoot you down if they get really paranoid. Of course, who says that they're not the infected ones? The only way to know for sure who's infected and who's not is by utilizing the scarce supply of blood test kits scattered in the base. This Trust/fear system is the "hook" that really makes the game stand out from mediocre shooters such as MIB II.
Not only does the gameplay manage to be a great deal of fun, the game is true to its source material as well. Along the way, fans of the film will find several "clues" to the fate of the researchers, from RJ's recorded log heard in the film to the frozen body of Chiles in the cabin from the end of the film, complete with liquor bottles. Strangely, MacReady's body is nowhere to be found. While the graphics are average, there's enough creepy imagery to keep you satisfied and on the edge of your seat. The voice work, on the other hand, is great, and really does an excellent job of immersing you in the game universe. Rarely does a licensed game build on the strengths of its source material so effectively.
The Thing is a great game, and is so effectively crafted that the producers of the film would do well to reissue the film on DVD, as any person who plays the game is bound to want to see the origins of their adventure.
-George
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