Developer : Deep Silver
Release date : September 4, 2009
Synopsis :
Cursed Mountain is a 2009 video game co-developed for the Wii by Sproing Interactive and Deep Silver Vienna, and published by Deep Silver. A Europe-exclusive port for Microsoft Windows was developed and released by Deep Silver in 2010. The story follows mountaineer Eric Simmons’s trek up Chomolonzo to rescue his brother Frank, who unleashed hostile ghosts and monsters onto the surrounding lands. The gameplay, combining elements of survival horror and action-adventure, follows Eric as he ascends Chomolonzo, collecting items and fighting hostile ghosts.
Including pre-production, development lasted over two years and was shared between multiple external studios; the team included industry veteran Bob Bates as script writer, and former Rockstar Vienna staff. The team wanted to create a game experience unlike others on the market, focusing on open environments and real-world folklore. Pre-production focused on researching Tibetan Buddhist folklore and survival stories from the Himalayas. While motion control-based mechanics were always present, action-based elements were added based on tester feedback.
Announced in 2008, Cursed Mountain saw little marketing support from Deep Silver leading up to release. The game saw a mixed reception. Praise was given to its narrative and atmosphere, but many criticised its use of motion controls. It was the only game created by Deep Silver Vienna before closing down in February 2010.
Set during the late 1980s in the Tibetan Himalayas, the story opens with a log from climber Eric Simmons; his younger brother Frank was hired by wealthy expedition organiser Edward Bennet to retrieve a Turma artefact from the mountain Chomolonzo. The local practitioners of Chöd Buddhism believe that Chomolonzo is the embodiment of the goddess Palden Lhamo. Frank has disappeared, going up the mountain alone after an argument with his climbing partner Paul Ward. Eric goes himself to try and rescue Frank. He finds the city of Lhando completely deserted. Attacked by a ghost, he is narrowly rescued by the monk Thod-pa, who teaches Eric to awaken his third eye and fight the ghosts before vanishing. Reaching Bennet, he learns that Frank did something wrong with the ritual preparations for climbing Chomolonzo, but may still be alive and that Thod-pa can help.
During his ascent, Eric learns that Bennet’s own attempt to get the Terma failed and cost him his leg, so he hired Frank to get it. He is directed by a survivor in Cherku Village to the yogini Jomo Menmo, who reveals that Frank is still alive and was working with her apprentice Mingma to climb the mountain. Menmo speaks with Palden Lhamo, then turns hostile and accuses Frank of angering Palden Lhamo, demanding Eric’s blood as recompense. Back in Cherku, Eric fights a monstrous bird spirit, then a calmed Menmo performs a final ritual that warns of a hard journey and reveals Palden Lhamo is undecided about Frank’s fate, giving Eric hope he can save him. Reaching the monastery and Thod-pa, Eric learns that Frank was summoned by Bennet as he fit a translated prophecy about the Terma’s retrieval. The llama of Derge Gonchen Monastery reveals that Frank used the Terma to attempt physical entry of the Bardo, a transitional realm between life, reincarnation and nirvana. Frank’s spirit is trapped in the Bardo, but can return to his body.
As Eric reaches the base camp, he pieces together what happened. Frank had not completed the necessary twelve ritual walks before the ascent, so went through a series of rituals with Mingma as a shortcut. Mingma and Paul fell in love, invalidating Mingma’s sacred status. Frank climbed the mountain rather than repeat the process, an act that cursed the expedition and unleashed ghosts from the Bardo. Upon reaching the base camp, Eric learns that Bennet killed Mingma in a rage after she attempted to flee. Confronting Bennet and Paul with the evidence, Bennet kills Paul, changing into a demonic monster that Eric destroys. Eric summits Chomolonzo and faces the physical incarnation of his inner demons. Eric then purges the curse with the Terma, pacifying Palden Lhamo and reviving Frank. Frank, having seen his own demons, decides to die and reincarnate. Eric returns down the mountain leaving Frank’s body and the Terma on its summit.
Source : Wikipedia
