Indie DS game: The Ward

Indie developer Renegade Kid has announced their first project, The Ward for the Nintendo DS. Headed for rated-M territory, The Ward is a First Person Shooter that mixes action, puzzle, and horror elements.

From what I can tell, it has an atmosphere that’s similar to Silent Hill, right down to the derelict hospital environment. The short video clip shows off an impressive monster character model, but enemies shown in the screen shots look a bit mangier. The game still looks impressive for a DS title, though. The Renegade Kid team is made up of industry veterans whose previous work includes games like Turok 2: Seeds of Evil, Stubbs: The Zombie, and NBA Jam, so it’s kind of hard to gauge my expectations here.

While the game currently doesn’t have a publisher, it should be completed and ready to hit retail by November of this year. Full press release with more information after the jump.

AUSTIN, TEXAS – March 5, 2007 – Renegade Kid LLC, today announced The Ward (working title) for the Nintendo DS. The Ward utilizes the Nintendo DS hardware to tell a twisted story with gruesome 3D visuals and First Person Shooter (FPS) gameplay. The game’s interactive narrative reveals the puzzling nature of a strange hospital frozen-in-time, and introduces a cast of peculiar characters.

The Ward tells the tale of a man who awakens to find himself alone in a derelict hospital on a stormy night. Presented with seemingly helpful clues and confronted by the results of grotesque surgical experiments that roam the halls, he must face his deepest fears, unlock the mysteries of the hospital, and escape with his life.

The Ward takes advantage of the unique properties of the Nintendo DS system with touch-screen exploration, puzzles, and Wi-Fi multiplayer gameplay. Using the Nintendo DS touch-screen to look and aim provides the player with an enhanced sensation of freedom and control. The dynamic real-time flashlight immerses the player deep into the game’s eerie atmosphere and allows the player to search the dark corridors of the hospital.

“The Ward offers a completely new experience on the Nintendo DS,” said Jools Watsham, Owner and Creative Director at Renegade Kid. “We’re pushing the Nintendo DS to its’ limits, with chilling environments, demented enemy characters, and real-world weapons all realized in 3D,” added Gregg Hargrove, Owner and Art Director at Renegade Kid.

Renegade Kid is actively seeking a publisher for The Ward. Scheduled to launch this Fall, The Ward is Renegade Kid’s debut title and will be presented to interested publishers at GDC 2007. For more information on Renegade Kid, please visit: www.renegadekid.com.