Though Moon and the first Dementium offered excellent mechanics and controls, both games were somewhat lacking in the story department. With a better command of the Renegade game engine, the developers are setting their sights higher for Dementium II in terms of narrative and story structure. The creators hope to offer a more compelling and immersive adventure this time around, though the story will still be told mostly through clues and notes found along the way.

It's impossible to understate just how much of an integral role the presentation played in making the first Dementium an interesting and, ultimately, scary experience on DS. Running at a solid 60 frames per second, the graphics were crisp and detailed, offering a visual experience many handheld gamers were hungry for.

With even more variety and depth than before, Dementium II is looking like another stellar production from this three-man team of technical wizards. Character models are gruesome and grotesque, and fans will be treated to all-new environments that make great use of the game's realistic lighting.

Tying this journey through hell together is a moody selection of themes and sound effects that intensify as the gameplay ramps up. Renegade Kid knows the importance of great audio when attempting to offer a terrifying experience on the handheld, and it's yet another element of Dementium that makes this series a cut above the rest.

Though the first Dementium had a handful of minor issues, the game still managed to awe us with an incredible attention to detail. With a tiny development team and a shoestring budget, Renegade Kid managed to pull off something truly impressive on DS. According to Watsham, the team had been finishing up the fundamental structure of the game last month, readying themselves for fine-tuning and tweaking (joolswatsham.com). With a greater focus on story and solid level design - coupled with the same polished mechanics and audio/visual prowess of the first game - we very much look forward to Dementium II's release sometime in the early part of next year.

By Tony Capri
CCC Freelance Writer