Prison is hell, this is the slogan that the accompanying documentary flashes before the screen and, once you start playing The Suffering, these three words couldn’t be truer.  Imagine yourself as an inmate in a dimly lit dilapidated prison with cracked walls and corroded drainpipes.  A place that not only screams madness and death but whispers it constantly into your ear.  And now imagine this place giving birth to monstrosities that can’t wait to carve you into pieces.  Survival horror fans, Midway has brought us a game that dares you to play it with the lights off . . . all alone. 

You play Torque; a new prison inmate who is lead down that dimly lit green mile that is death row in Abbott State Penitentiary on Carnate Island.  He was charged with the murder of his wife and two kids, though somehow these appalling murders have been blacked out of his memory.  Suddenly, in the confines of his cell, a violent earthquake rocks the prison and from out of the darkness comes grotesque creatures that begin to rip apart both inmates and prison guards.  Torque’s cell breaks open and he finds himself in a desperate fight for survival as he discovers the secrets of the island itself and the supernatural evil that it has unleashed.  And in this struggle, Torque finds pieces of his memory and the events that lead to the murder of his family.  If this sounds like an interesting premise, just wait and see how things unfold before you.

As far as survival horror games are concerned, The Suffering adds a nice variety of gameplay features that keep the game exciting enough to want to continue diving into its violent universe.  The game is played in a third-person perspective but you can also switch it to first-person mode on the fly--an element that not really necessary but absolutely appreciated (in fact, you’ll come to turn to it often for more precise shots).  And, based on your actions, the game’s direction can change enough that you’ll discover three different endings.  It’s your behavior that dictates twists in the story.  For example, aid prison guards or other inmates who can’t make it on their own and you’ll be treated to quick flashbacks of your wife and children that are positive.  Stab or shoot a prison guard or fellow inmate and all that is evil about the place makes sure you know that they are pleased with your vicious behavior and the flashbacks of your family’s murder becomes more grim.

Another element that keeps the game fresh is the fact that Torque has an animalistic side to him that is completely supernatural.  While it’s not explained fully, Torque can transform into a vicious man-beast that can tear into the game’s creatures like a bloodthirsty hulk when your Insanity Meter is full (although you do have to make sure to transform back because when the meter runs out the beast draws from your life blood).  Yet the human part of your character must rely on his trusty shiv and an assortment of firearms--many of them that date back to the pre-World War II era such as the Tommy gun and classic revolver.  Torque can even fire twin revolvers to pack an even harder blow.

While the game is heavy on the action, there are several puzzles that come up throughout the game.  The great part is that all the puzzles make sense and steer away from the bizarre puzzles often found in games like Resident Evil or Silent Hill: Restless Dreams.  In other words, you won’t be scrambling to insert a Jade Spider into a statue or place the correct color-coded chess pieces into a door that resembles a chessboard.  All the puzzles in the game make sense and aren’t incredibly hard to figure out.  Still, it’s the action that will draw action fans and this game won’t disappoint. 

As far as the controls are concerned, moving Torque couldn’t be any better than this.  Gamers used to the rigid and sometimes unresponsive movements of the characters in a Resident Evil game will find that moving this character around the environment is a treat itself.  Torque performs all the basic movements (jump, run and shoot) but he can also interact with mostly everything around him.  He can pick up phones; shake locked cell doors and he can even toss things at enemies.  This all works nicely since Torque will often find himself surrounded by creatures with sharp blades for feet and hands or even huge hulking monsters with guns sticking out of their backs.

As for the game’s visual treatment, The Suffering doesn’t make full use of the Xbox’s graphical capabilities but its the attention to detail and the macabre atmosphere that is done to perfection.  While the majority of the game takes place in the interior of the prison itself, you do get to see outside locations as well as the creepiest insane asylum ever.  The game is also filled with plenty of visual effects and there are many moments your vision becomes distorted vision and you are constantly bombarded with quick flashes of disturbing images.  The human characters scattered throughout the game are rendered pretty decently, but its the creatures--designed by Hollywood creature creator Stan Winston (who designed the alien hunter in Predator as well as all the dinosaurs of Jurassic Park)--look downright frightening.  This is also a very bloody game.  So bloody, in fact, that the more monsters you stab the more Torque becomes a human sponge.  He’s literally bathed in blood from head to toe. 

The Suffering is also a very audible game, which is a good thing because what we hear in this game is even more frightening than what we see.  A leaky pipe will drip endlessly, but its echo will drive you mad in the silence of an old storage room.  And suddenly, from a dimly lit corner, a scraping sound can be heard and then the gurgling of some unseen creature that lurks nearby.  From above you something hisses and the voices of lingering spirits whisper directly into your ear.  This is the stuff that really works well, especially with a score that is wonderfully cinematic and just as creepy.  Aside from the blood, the other feature that has earned the game its Mature rating is the heavy use of profanity.  In a prison filled with murders and crazed inmates, what else would you expect?

There are a few survival horror games that keep the action fresh throughout the entire experience and I‘m happy to report that this game gladly joins the list of really good survival horror action games.  The Suffering manages to not only hold our complete attention but also makes us gladly surrender to its dark and gruesome world.  Just about the game’s only flaw is that often times story becomes more important than the action at hand but this won’t stop you from enjoying this thrilling game more than once.  This game is strictly for the older crowd so, parents, have your kids stay clear of this one.   

Gameplay: 8.7
The controls couldn’t get any better than this and the mere fact that the controls are so will have gamers deeply involved with the game’s intense battles.  Torque is equally skilled with a crudely designed shank as he is with a pair of revolvers or a trusty pump-action shotgun.  To top things off, you can switch from third-person to first-person view whenever you want.  You’ll swear you’re playing two different games depending on the view.

Graphics: 8.5
There is no exclusive Xbox-only visual treatment but this certainly isn’t a bad thing since the game brilliantly showcases detailed environments and uses light and shadow beautifully.  Your flashlight makes dark corners all the more menacing but things such as light fixtures that are composed of a swinging light bulb just adds to the creepiness.  The character design is not what you‘d call great but its good enough.  It’s the creatures that win the big points here.  The game is also extremely bloody.  I haven’t seen so much blood and lost limbs since Uma Thurman wielded a katana in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill Volume One.

Sound: 9.0
Complimenting the more than decent visuals are the sound effects that capture the essence of the cursed prison and the evil its spirits and demons bring with it.  The prison itself echoes with tapping metal, horrible screams and the guttural noises the creatures make.  Restless spirits phase in and out but you’ll hear their tortured cries or insane ramblings.  The score is also great and fits the supernatural atmosphere wonderfully.  The voice acting is also good, although some performances are a lot better than others are.  You’ll also find profanity throughout the game so those sensitive to bad language should stay clear of this game.

Difficulty: Medium
The game isn't incredibly difficult in its normal setting but it has enough puzzles and battles to keep it considerably challenging.  In fact, there are even some monsters that will make short work of you pretty quickly if you’re not quick on your toes.  Thankfully there are plenty of checkpoints throughout the game and you also have the option to save at any point. The puzzles have a realistic solution and most of them require you to really think about it but its nothing that gamers will be stumped by for a long period of time.  And while you’re not completely forced to follow a given path, you are given creative hints where to go if you aren’t sure.  Your biggest challenge comes from battling against the more husky or quicker enemies.

Concept: 8.5
You have to love a game like The Suffering that pushes the envelope and strays from the repetitive cycle that befalls many survival horror action games.  While its extreme violent nature and constant string of profanity will surely turn off sensitive gamers, there is no denying how creative the enemies, storyline and character interaction truly are in this game.  This is also not the kind of game that you play through only once.  With its multiple endings depending on how you behave in the game, you’ll encounter certain things you haven’t seen the first time around.  There are even two cool documentaries included on the disc. Why can’t all action games be like this?

Overall: 8.7
Who would have thought that being an inmate could be so fun?  The Suffering grabs a firm hold of you and takes you on a tour through a hellish nightmare filled with spirits and demons that can’t wait to jump out and take a bite out of you . . . and you’ll enjoy every minute of it.  Yes it's incredibly violent and yes the story that unravels can sometimes get in the way of slamming heads, but with so much going for it, The Suffering is a sentence we’d gladly accept.