File:Saw Videogame Screen 3.jpg
The player being prompted to control the in-game character. A close-up camera angle is used to aid the player in completing a task.


Gameplay

edit

Saw is primarily a third-person survival horror game with action elements. The player controls David Tapp, a former detective trapped in the Jigsaw Killer's asylum filled with traps. The primary goal of the game is to traverse the asylum and solve traps placed by Jigsaw in order to escape alive. Tapp has several abilities in the game to fulfill his objectives such as searching places like toilets or corpses to find items such as weapons, health, or clues.[1] Other items, such as case files and cassette tapes are found hidden around the asylum to provide additional information about the asylum and the victims in it.[1]

At certain points in the game, the player will be joined by AI teammates that will help Tapp in certain tests or areas. There are also many points in the game where multiple paths can be taken to avoid certain areas or uncover hidden items. The game can be played at two difficulty settings; normal and hard.[2] Lighting plays a dynamic role in the game. While Tapp begins with a lighter, other light sources such as flashlights or camera flashes become available as he progresses.[3]

Combat

edit

The game's combat system allows the character to block, counter-attack, and perform weak or strong attacks to fend off enemies that are encountered. In addition, Tapp is able to curb-stomp injured enemies or activate their trap if they have one.[4] There are over eighteen different weapons, varying from lead pipes to mop handles that available to him throughout the game. In addition to standard weapons, Tapp may recover firearms or explosives along the way. Certain weapons may also be used for other purposes such as: cutting open a body to search it or breaking down a molding wall to reveal hidden paths. Weapons in the game deplete upon use in real time until they are rendered unusable. Tapp's health bar, once depleted, can only be restored by hypos which can be stored in an inventory, along with other items.[5]

Puzzles

edit

A few minigames have been incorporated into the game. These include a searching game in which an X-ray view is given to avoid dangers like razors or syringes and grabbing a key before a "Pain meter" fills and wounds Tapp.[1] Other puzzle minigames include powering fuse boxes, placing rotating gears in a box, and aligning steam valves, amongst others.[5] Finally, there are doors rigged with shotguns attached to pulleys littered all around the asylum. As soon as opening such a door, the player must press a randomly assigned button before the pulley falls too far to avoid the gun discharging. There are also puzzles called "environmental traps", in which Tapp must use different elements in the environment, the in-game camera, or go to certain locations to accomplish a task.[6][4]


References

edit
  1. ^ a b c "Saw SDCC 09: Kindest Cut Gameplay [HD]". Machine Production. 2009-07-26. Retrieved 2009-08-21.
  2. ^ "Saw Company Line". Gamespot. 08-11-2009. Retrieved 2009-08-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ "We Get Our Hands Bloody With Konami's Saw - Page 1". Game Informer. 2009-08-13. Retrieved 2009-10-01.
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference We Get Our Hands Bloody With Konami's Saw - Page 2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b "Saw - Survival Gameplay". KingzHouse1. 2009-07-27. Retrieved 2009-08-21.
  6. ^ "E3 2009: Five Minutes of Saw Gameplay". BingeGamerDotNet. 06-03-2009. Retrieved 2009-08-21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)