Disney's The Haunted Mansion [PS2]

Graphics
The Haunted Mansion doesn't overwhelm with detail or advanced graphic engine effects, but it's not ugly either. The title features adequate character models, varied and with stylized designs very reminiscent of the exaggerated ghouls in the Disney ride. Zeke lacks the fluid movement of some motion-captured heroes, and yet he does run about the environments realistically. Some of the spirits are made all the more spooky thanks to similarly well-implemented animation sequences.

The locales themselves are dark, eerie and made all the more believable with background lighting effects like flashes of lightning and foreground niceties like illuminated ghosts. The texture work in the game gets the job done. However, because textures don't appear overly crisp, many of the rooms Zeke visits have a decidedly blurrier look about them, especially when the lights are turned on. Meanwhile, the lighting is overall impressive. The Beacon of Souls illuminates Zeke's face and the immediate area and his blasts temporarily light up environments. Particle effects are fairly standard.

The camera is usually tame, but can get in the way in tight areas. Thankfully the game generally runs at 60 frames per second with very little slowdown.

Sound
Haunted Mansion features a fitting selection of soft, chilling music and eerie sound effects. You'll hear background whispers and thunder as you walk through the dark and mysterious location. The voice work is very limited, but occasionally ghosts will call Zeke by name. There are screams, gasps, howls and growls, and they mix well with the subdued, but ambient tracks. The only problem is that much of the sound effects are overused throughout the game.

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