Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth Review (no fat)

Game Description

After a wait of six years, Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth is finally here. A first person shooter based on the dark and mysterious world created by renowned horror writer H.P. Lovecraft, you can expect a very solid and interesting storyline… which, of course, is very important for a horror game.

Unlike most FPS games though, it also involves a large portion of adventure and puzzle solving. You are Jack Walters, a detective with mental sanity problems caused by a very shocking experience from your past. The action takes place in the early 1920’s in the small town of Innsmouth. Jack travels there in order to solve a missing person case and soon finds out that Innsmouth is no ordinary town. With a very unfriendly welcome, soon enough you'll be desperately fighting for survival

Call of Cthulhu Gameplay

As things start to go wrong in the town of Innsmouth you will soon realize that you stand before a very immersive gameplay experience. The feeling given by the interesting storyline is heightened by the unique game interface, which in fact is almost nonexistent. There is absolutely no healthbar, map or other HUD elements FPS gamers are so used to. However this is mostly a very positive side of the game because the gameplay is much more realistic this way and more involving.

Jack’s state of health can only be monitored through well designed visual and audio effects. If you get injured you will see spurts of blood at the edge of the screen. Injuries will also have realistic effects. With a broken leg you will slow down and also your accuracy or stamina drops as your state of health degrades.

There are many intense moments in the game. The most horrifying is the fact that you’ll be unarmed for quite a while and you will have to run away from the numerous attackers. You can sense the heartbeat of Jack in such moments from the shaking of the controller. The screen will also blur during the view of gruesome scenes or even after heavy injuries.

Injuries can be cured with medical kits, bandages or drugs. You will have to administer these to the injured body part. All this, combined with the fact that you’re unarmed and having to run for survival, add up to a truly immersive and terrifying experience. Therefore Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth is definitely for adults only.

As you advance through the game you will find various weapons like a knife, pistol or Tommy gun, all characteristic to that time and you will be able to fight back. They also look and handle realistically. The gunfights don’t live up to the quality of today’s shooters but they’re decently realized. Enemies aren’t very intelligent but they can give you trouble sometimes. Interestingly there is also a stealth side to the game. Many times you have the option to sneak past enemies or strike them down from behind.

The game is also full with adventure elements. You will find many journals, papers and storyline hints during the game. These are usually connected to the puzzles you’ll have to solve sometimes in order to advance. The puzzles aren’t particularly hard but for some you’ll have to dig into the storyline pieces you’ve gathered in order to solve them. This is an inspired way of keeping the gamer focused on the story.

Call of Cthulhu Graphics

The development of Call of Cthulhu took a long time. If it would have been ready when it was planned the graphics would have been certainly great for that time. Things have evolved though and by today’s standards this game’s graphics are mostly average. The game is filled with dark and sinister environments, and this means that it’s best to be played in darkness and you’ll have to play around with your monitors brightness settings for optimal visual experience.

The sanity effects are very impressive and unique. The weapons look realistic too and the monster models are detailed and imaginative. However, the character models are of only average detail.

Call of Cthulhu Sound

The sound effects live up to what we can expect from an excellent horror game. The screams of pain or moans in the night give you shivers. Also the injuries are accompanied too by convincing sound effects. In dialogues many lines are accompanied by good voice acting.

Ironically, the only voice that lacks depth is Jack’s own. The main problem is that his voice is quite emotionless, regardless of the situation, and he is very prone to repetition of his limited array of lines. Sometimes, you’ll hate yourself for checking a locked door ‘cause it will make Jack repeat his oft repeated, rundown, line… again. All in all, these are just small annoyances and overall the quality of the sound is good.

Call of Cthulhu Summing up

This game is not a standard shooter, so those who just like mindless monster slaughter should probably steer clear of it. But it’s a truly unique experience for H.P. Lovecraft fans or horror lovers in general. If you are up for an intense horror adventure then try Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth.

Call of Cthulhu Cost

Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth retails for $39.99US at the time of this review.