Call of Cthulhu
 

I just picked this proggy up - http://www.callofcthulhu.com/

I have to say, even though the graphics are probably of that from a year or two ago (Think better than Return to Castle Wolfenstien, but less than Doom 3 or so), the errieness is a welcome change for the moment! I always loved HP Lovecraft's twisted view on reality here and there, and this game pretty much captures it.

One thing that most review sites don't like apparently is the lack of a save ability except at certain points - ala Operation Flashpoint in a way. To me, this makes it a bit more tense and adds to the atmosphere greatly. It is not a big deal anyway since they will allow you to save prior to anything bad happening anyway.

Another cool thing - no health bars or mental bars on screen - if you are going insane, you know it because you can't see striaght! Or your heart starts to race. It is very sound oriented. Broke your leg? You'll know it!

If anyone is missing a 'story' driven type game with action elements, I think they should take a look at this one - especially if they like HP Lovecraft!

I think this should hold me over till STALKER is actually in my hands. And STALKER should hold me over till Bioshock is actually in my hands. This year is shaping up to be a damn good year for PC gaming! Did I mention SHIV?

-S

http://www.callofcthulhu.com/images/..._pcscrn_01.jpg

http://www.callofcthulhu.com/images/...rid640x480.jpg

Its a fun game ,picked it up and played through it last year - scared the crap out of me in places :cry: ,definately fun if you like Lovecraft.

It is a very good game. Scary as hell at times, too.

Yeah, I'm not too thrilled about being able to read the Hotel guys thoughts. I think he wants to tie me up and dismember me slowly with a cleaver!

-S

Reviews say the cut scenes are unskipable.

I hated it, I'm afraid. felt that it went for a sort of slightly creepy shock-horror movie feel than anything Lovecraftian and didn't even do that very well. I'm a big 'Cosmic Horror' fan and was just expecting more from it I suppose.

It has it's good points. The insanity thing is interesting but got annoying eventually.

Did they ever patch up all the bugs? i heard that it was pretty bug ridden at release.

I think they went bust before then. Most of them moved on to other projects. I seem to remember a community effort to patch it but I don't know much about it.

I've seen only one bug so far - The ambient sound quit for about 5 seconds, but all other sond worked.

-S

I don't feel quite that same way. I kind of like it! The insanity thing pops up as a factor only rarely though, but it is a change from the norm, that's for sure.

Anyway, I can tell there will probably never be a game based on HP Lovecraft that you will enjoy. Am i right?

Did you heck out Eternal Darkness? It is more story driven, and does not include as much in the way of shock / horror outside of the occasional zombie. And, you really have to play through it 3 times to really complete it - representing parallel universes.

http://www.eternaldarkness.com/

-S

There are people who don't like Lovecraft?

Yes ,there are poor misguided people out there that dont love Lovecraft or have had their eyes opened to the existance of the Great Old Ones :cry:;):lol::lol:

I don't think so. I did get quite excited when I first heard of this game but felt that the end product was badly executed. I can't help feeling that an RPG would have been a better choice than a shooter. It felt more like it took its cues from Silent Hill (nothing wrong in that - I really liked Silent Hill,) than Lovecraft.

I seem to recall a text based game based on Lovecraft that I played years ago that I really enjoyed but I can't for the life of me remember what it was called..

Thanks for the link to Eternal Darkness. it sounds interesting. I'll have a look at it when I get a moment.

Not true. THat would make me question the reviewer too. You can skip any cut scene you want.

-S

Bugs? What bugs?