One of the most impressive early games on the Gamecube, successful because it offered a genuinely scary alternative to Resident Evil, but has sadly been overlooked. Graphically the game is not so impressive, as it was originally intended for the N64 and has in places just been adapted to suit the Gamecube. If you are a fan of horror games, Silent Hill perhaps more than Res Evil, then you should try this out as it has a brilliant atmosphere throughout, and is unique in a few ways. Blending survival horror with RPG and action, Eternal Darkness is a very big game with a great plot and style.
Alex hears that her Grandfather has died, and visits his huge mansion. There are still a few servants about, many mumblings odd things about death, monsters and insanity. Alex soon finds a book which recounts the past events of her family and its involvement with an interstellar and apocalyptic evil. We are sucked back and forward through time as the story unfolds, playing as different characters, each with individual powers. By the end Alex must face the evil herself.
The insanity meter is the main piece of ingenuity here: when you encounter a bad guy, your insanity level drops. This leads to strange things happening in the game such as flies appearing on the screen, and limbs falling off to name two out of many. To mention more would spoil it. Rather than being distracting, it works brilliantly, adding greatly to the atmosphere. Some of the average bad guys are not great, but the ones which appear out of your servants are pure evil, and will leave you cursing at the screen. The boss fights are good, although the final seems a little underwhelming. But the tension never lets up, and even small things like loud knocks and floating books will get jumps out of you. The voice acting is the best i have heard, the music is extremely good, and the use of weapons and magic is well-executed. This is not an easy game, and not one for kids. Anyone who sees games as childish should play this alone at night- it will change their minds. The WWI, church level is one of the best 'levels' or parts of a game i have ever played. For real shocks at, now, a cheap price, this is ideal.
8 out of 10
Alex hears that her Grandfather has died, and visits his huge mansion. There are still a few servants about, many mumblings odd things about death, monsters and insanity. Alex soon finds a book which recounts the past events of her family and its involvement with an interstellar and apocalyptic evil. We are sucked back and forward through time as the story unfolds, playing as different characters, each with individual powers. By the end Alex must face the evil herself.
The insanity meter is the main piece of ingenuity here: when you encounter a bad guy, your insanity level drops. This leads to strange things happening in the game such as flies appearing on the screen, and limbs falling off to name two out of many. To mention more would spoil it. Rather than being distracting, it works brilliantly, adding greatly to the atmosphere. Some of the average bad guys are not great, but the ones which appear out of your servants are pure evil, and will leave you cursing at the screen. The boss fights are good, although the final seems a little underwhelming. But the tension never lets up, and even small things like loud knocks and floating books will get jumps out of you. The voice acting is the best i have heard, the music is extremely good, and the use of weapons and magic is well-executed. This is not an easy game, and not one for kids. Anyone who sees games as childish should play this alone at night- it will change their minds. The WWI, church level is one of the best 'levels' or parts of a game i have ever played. For real shocks at, now, a cheap price, this is ideal.
8 out of 10