Get this; this is a psychological horror game published by Nintendo. You heard right, PUBLISHED by Nintendo. If you're a fan of Silent Hill, then this game is a must-have, but may be hard to find in game stores. The game plays similar to Silent Hill, with some RPG elements and an... interesting new mechanic I'll save for later. Alexandra Roivas, your protagonist, must investigate her home for information concerning Pious Augustus, a Roman warrior and servant of the Ancients, to stop him from taking over the world. A world of visceral graphics, tormented characters, intimidating monsters, some puzzle solving, and amazing visuals. As you progress, you'll witness the history of torment committed by Pious. The mechanic that makes this game infamous is the effects the intimidating environments have on you. Indicated by the signature Sanity Meter, it determines how long you can survive without the game messing with you. And when I say you, I mean YOU! Not just the player character, no. You and your TV. These "Sanity Effects" go over the top trying to shock you. Creepy crawlies seemingly appear from out of nowhere, the ambiance gets worse, and the illusions become extreme, ranging from your character's head exploding to him walking through the floor. The most unusual illusions are the ones that screw with you personally, and essentially break the fourth wall. Its like Pious himself is possessing your console. The game's camera becomes unstable, says your controller is disconnected, turns its own volume down, and even crashes itself, only to flash back to the previous room or the entrance of the room you're in, as if nothing happened. This game is pure nightmare fuel, but art-like gaming at its finest. Play at your own risk. (Evil Laugh!) 9 out of 10
Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem
(2002 Video Game)
The Silent Hill of Nintendo
9 May 2014
Warning: Spoilers