Aside from performing prayers, motion controls also feature strongly in other parts of the game. You’ll use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk to mimic ice climbing, with each controller representing an icepick. The Wii Remote also doubles as a walkie talkie, with communication from base camp coming out of the Wii Remote’s mini-speaker.

While banishing ghosts might be the heart of the gameplay, this cursed mountain’s also home to other spooky things. We caught a glimpse of a giant raven that attacked the main character while he was sidling along a cliff face, as well as maybe a zombie monk or two.

What makes it all effectively creepy is how realistically alien it all is. We’re no experts on Buddhism, but developer Deep Silver seems to have scholarly pretensions. They’ve done a ton of research into Himalayan Buddhist folklore and are quick to assert that everything in Cursed Mountain - from the mountaintop temples to the demon ravens and, of course, the ghosts - is based in real traditions.

With a unique premise and setting, unorthodox “combat” and some seriously spooky environments, Cursed Mountain shows a lot of promise. Whether the motion-controls turn out to be gimmicky or have real meat, we’re not sure. But we’re keeping Cursed Mountain on our radar for 2009 and praying for the best.

Nov 12, 2008