Dementium: The Ward

Dementium: The Ward is a survival horror first-person shooter originally released on the Nintendo DS in 2007, now ported to PC based on its 3DS remaster. The game offers a dark, atmospheric experience set in a spooky hospital, blending elements reminiscent of Silent Hill and Doom 3. Players navigate maze-like corridors, solve puzzles, and combat grotesque monsters while managing limited resources and switching between flashlight and weapons. The port preserves the original's pixelated charm with updated visuals and modern controls, making it accessible on PC and Steam Deck.

Though the game’s graphics and design reflect its handheld origins, it retains a strong nostalgic appeal and a unique minimalist horror vibe. The gameplay is straightforward yet tense, with a focus on exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving. While it may feel repetitive and somewhat dated in places, the game’s atmosphere, sound design, and pacing keep players engaged. Fans appreciate the faithful preservation and hope for a similar treatment for the sequel.

Highlights

Players praise the atmospheric and creepy hospital setting, which effectively creates a psychological horror experience without relying on jump scares. The combat mechanics involving flashlight and weapon switching are well-executed, delivering tense encounters reminiscent of Doom 3. The graphics, though retro, maintain the original DS charm with updated textures and lighting, appealing to both nostalgic fans and new players. The sound design and minimalistic soundtrack complement the eerie atmosphere. The port’s smooth controls and mouse/keyboard support improve playability over the original handheld versions. The game’s concise length and solid pacing make it a satisfying bite-sized horror experience.

Criticisms

Common criticisms include repetitive environments and enemy designs, which can make the latter half of the game feel monotonous. The story is minimal and somewhat predictable, offering little depth beyond basic horror tropes. Some players find the difficulty spikes frustrating, especially on higher settings where enemies can one-shot the player and save points are limited. The port lacks features like ultrawide support, FOV slider, and key remapping, which detract from the PC experience. A few bugs and glitches were reported, such as menu freezes and missing textures. Lastly, the removal of the original DS’s notepad feature is a noted loss for puzzle-solving convenience.