50
Rise of Nightmares is an interesting idea, an ambitious project followed by a catastrophic implementation. Walking on 3D locations sounds really promising, but its charm disappears after 10 minutes because of a too twisted control schema: considering this was the first horror hardcore game for Kinect, we can only hope for a brighter future for this genre.
80
While still not a system seller, the fact that a game like this can and has been made for Kinect is a great step, and helps move things forward for the system. The level of immersion is a step in the right direction, and beats the rumble of a controller. You try not to squeal at least a little bit the first time something jumps on your character and you have to push it off of you. I dare you.
62
It's an arse-ugly game to watch, but not without charm. [Dec 2011, p.]
10
A beautiful and engaging experience on Kinect. Great story, excellent controls and suberp graphics ahead of it's time
9
A surprisingly good game. The controls, the story and the gameplay work well together and the many types of interaction let you feel beeing in in the game. One of the most ambitious kinect titles.
7
This is actually a fun kinect game! The story is tolerable, with bits of humour and kinda anime style - it fits well for a brawler game. The same goes with graphics - not a main thing because you're deep in action punching undead asses and just don't care about it, although it's good. The sound is great, providing the pathos horror atmosphere. The game has a nice selection of weapons to decapitate (yes, decapitate) a variety of enemies. The gameplay is probably monotonous (I think you can say it about any game of same genre) but keeps you tense to the very end and really makes you sweat. The controls are good, you just need to get used to them, also there are some nice touches like when you need to cover your ears or shake off flies. A friend of mine successfully completed few first levels, without having much experience with kinect before, and he still enjoyed the game. What I don’t like about this game are lame boss battles. They are really boring because of plain and simple attacking patterns, however, my first, and so far only, playthrough was on the easy setting, so maybe it's not an issue. Overall I think "Rise Of Nightmares" is a must have for a kinect owner – the game gets your ass off the sofa, it's fun to play with friends and it gives you an image about how chopping off zombies' limbs feels)))
Rise of Nightmares
Released On:
Sep 6, 2011
Metascore
Mixed or Average
54
User score
Generally Favorable
7.7
My Score
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All Platforms
Metascore
Mixed or Average
16% Positive
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
59% Mixed
33 Reviews
33 Reviews
25% Negative
14 Reviews
14 Reviews
Sep 9, 2011
84
Rise of Nightmares has been a refreshing experience for me, reminding me that motion gaming can work great when developers put forth a complete effort that encompasses a solid story and smart use of motion control.
Sep 9, 2011
71
Rise of Nightmares is a fun game that harkens back to the House of the Dead series and with the controllerless capabilities, it definitely takes this genre to a new level. This makes it a much more immersive experience. In terms of originality, the gameplay is not the most original content of the year but as a Kinect title, it works quite well.
User score
Generally Favorable
69% Positive
33 Ratings
33 Ratings
21% Mixed
10 Ratings
10 Ratings
10% Negative
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
Dec 7, 2025
10
A beautiful and engaging experience on Kinect. Great story, excellent controls and suberp graphics ahead of it's time
Sep 13, 2011
10
At last akinect game for mature players, overall its An excellent game maximizing the innovative control of character, the graphics is good but not impressive, i was fully immersed barely noticing the time, feeling the character, the scare, the story that's what kinect is all about being the hero himself. i wont compare this to other games like resident evil, this is a new genre of horror, wherein you literally perspire and get tired in order to win, in contrast to other kinect games, in RoN you'll never feel the fatigue because the adrenaline rush is there, i just overslept and woke up with body pains but without the ****. i hope this game is just the beginning and would open the door for other mature oriented and immersing kinect games.
Sep 14, 2011
65
Overall, Sega's Rise of Nightmares makes valiant attempt at a creepy matured rated action horror game for the Kinect.
Sep 6, 2011
55
Awkward motion controls and shallow combat make Rise of Nightmares a frighteningly unremarkable adventure in zombie killing.
Sep 16, 2011
50
Sega shows that they understand exactly how to make interesting Kinect challenges. Unfortunetly, the controls just doesn't cut it when the action get to hectic and in the end, Rise of Nightmares is a letdown.
Sep 27, 2011
40
Rise of Nightmares was supposed to be a great game with excellent Kinect controls that was perfect for the hardcore gamers. However, due to poorly developed controls, Rise of Nightmares is a failed project.
Sep 9, 2011
30
The lobotomised, slash-block combat is the final straw. Rise of Nightmares offers nothing in the way of action, puzzles, intelligence, or maturity. It's a heartbreakingly lame way to kickstart the adult Kinect genre.
Sep 12, 2011
10
Good job Sega an adult kinect game with a control system that actually works . I have to admit the story is laughable at times but its all part of the games charm. I'm actual really disappointed by the critics review for this game as it really should have scored much much higher, especially when games such as rock of ages scores 75 and this has only scored 52 ?????
Jan 20, 2014
7
This is actually a fun kinect game! The story is tolerable, with bits of humour and kinda anime style - it fits well for a brawler game. The same goes with graphics - not a main thing because you're deep in action punching undead asses and just don't care about it, although it's good. The sound is great, providing the pathos horror atmosphere. The game has a nice selection of weapons to decapitate (yes, decapitate) a variety of enemies. The gameplay is probably monotonous (I think you can say it about any game of same genre) but keeps you tense to the very end and really makes you sweat. The controls are good, you just need to get used to them, also there are some nice touches like when you need to cover your ears or shake off flies. A friend of mine successfully completed few first levels, without having much experience with kinect before, and he still enjoyed the game. What I don’t like about this game are lame boss battles. They are really boring because of plain and simple attacking patterns, however, my first, and so far only, playthrough was on the easy setting, so maybe it's not an issue. Overall I think "Rise Of Nightmares" is a must have for a kinect owner – the game gets your ass off the sofa, it's fun to play with friends and it gives you an image about how chopping off zombies' limbs feels)))
Sep 7, 2011
7
Movement: I hate the turn functionality, but in the long trips there is the auto movement which makes you feel like playing on the rails. But sometimes the automatic movement functionality is not available and force you to try to walk (indeed all the game im trying to make a good walk).
A good touch in this games is that there are some QTE that makes you feel more like playing a Saw Game.
An Advice, set the turn sensibility for better experience (better, not best) Attack:
Its fun to attack the enemies with different weapons on the way, the problem is that if you have no weapons the gam (they brake) e turns into a cover/hit game... that ****. But as long as you have a weapon is fun, but not enough as the trailers. Fun/horror
There are some parts that makes you feel tense, but the most of the time you feel like playing house of the dead (the first). Story
Cheap and easy. More tension needed. Graphics
You feel like playing house of the dead... but more blood and darker colors. Final words I you ever wanted to play SAW with your body you will love it.... but if you wanted some horror like in dead space, keep away from this game. I am giving a 7 because it keeps me playing.
Oct 27, 2011
1
It would be a better game with a controller. Either make it on rails or use the controller with Kinect. The inaccuracy of the controls with Kinect kills it. The high scores in these reviews are solely due to White Boys' fascination with vampires, monsters, and anything horror related.
Sep 28, 2011
1
Pass on this one. Sega shipped another half-baked game with clunky and repetitive game-play, grainy graphics, and no replay value. Sega has failed to crack the hard-core gamer market and this is another case in point.
SummaryRise of Nightmares offers a spine-tingling horror experience which uses the innovative new controls of Kinect to give players new encounters filled with fearful anticipation and terror. Using their whole body the player will experience fear and tension as never before in this first person horror adventure.
Rated Mfor Mature
