It’s looking increasingly unlikely that I’ll get to be in a John Carpenter movie, but thanks to The Thing Remastered I can at least pretend I’m one of his cooler-than-cool protagonists. This updated version of the survival-horror sequel to Carpenter’s sci-fi classic just shadow dropped on Steam, so you can join in the carnage too.
The horror game, originally made by Computer Artworks in 2002, takes place after the pitch perfect cliffhanger in the 1982 film where RJ Macready and Childs, portrayed by Russell and Keith David, sit as the last survivors of a shapeshifting alien’s tirade in the Antarctic. The US Special Forces have now deployed two teams, one of which is headed up by our character in The Thing Remastered, Captain Blake. We use him to push through the survival game, where all sorts of monstrosities are running rampant across the US base and a neighboring Norwegian outpost. Not only do you’ve to escape, you need to make sure all those things are either dead or left to freeze.
It’s more of an action game than you might expect, but there’s still plenty of tension in creeping around the frozen tomb, knowing anyone or anything could start spouting extra limbs. Taking influence from Resident Evil and Dino Crisis, the movement is more limber and agile, something you’ll be thankful for when you see what’s coming.
Carpenter approved of the project – he’s a longtime enjoyer of videogames – appearing in a cameo role. 22 years after it first came out, Nightdive Studios has lovingly provided a lick of paint and viscera so a new generation can experience the terror and paranoia for themselves.
Although it gradually developed a following among horror and Carpenter enthusiasts over the the years, The Thing wasn’t a massive success at launch. It was also a bit of a technical mess, with one of its core mechanics being totally broken most of the time. Now, thanks to Nightdive’s work updating the game and fixing these broken systems, people can revisit and recognize a proper classic whose influence you can see in Prey, Dead Space, and plenty more.
The Thing is out now on Steam. Have a look through the best zombie games if you’d like more chills from the comfort of your mouse and keyboard. Or, you can take a look at our new PC games guide to see what else has dropped recently.
You can also follow us on Google News for daily PC games news, reviews, and guides, or grab our PCGN deals tracker to net yourself some bargains.