Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth
- June 15, 2009
- Headfirst Productions
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam"Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth" is a single-player horror shooter game with an intriguing story and excellent music. The game offers diverse levels, dynamic sanity system, and Lovecraft-inspired monsters and locations. However, it suffers from optimization issues, bugs, and requires lots of grinding. Overall, it creates a unique atmosphere with its detailed graphics and intelligent gameplay, including puzzle-solving and combat.
PC
Windows
Xbox
Reviews
- The game captures the eerie atmosphere and themes of Lovecraft's works, particularly 'The Shadow Over Innsmouth'.
- The story is engaging and offers a unique blend of horror, detective work, and puzzle-solving.
- The game features an interesting health and sanity system that adds depth to the gameplay.
- The game is plagued by numerous bugs and crashes, making it nearly unplayable on modern systems without extensive patching.
- The combat mechanics are clunky and the AI is often unintelligent, detracting from the horror experience.
- The save system is frustrating, with infrequent checkpoints that can lead to significant replaying of sections after crashes.
- story536 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of "Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth" is widely praised for its engaging narrative, which draws heavily from H.P. Lovecraft's works, particularly "The Shadow Over Innsmouth." Players appreciate the atmospheric and immersive storytelling, though many note that the game's numerous bugs and technical issues can detract from the experience. While the plot is compelling and filled with intriguing lore, some players feel that the pacing can be slow and that the gameplay mechanics often hinder the narrative flow.
“The game exudes a captivating Lovecraftian vibe, immersing you in Jack's story, which is full of intriguing threads and never dull.”
“The story is amazing, but I stopped playing it at some point due to a bug that practically broke my playthrough when I got to the ship.”
“The story, the game mechanics, and the atmosphere are unparalleled, but unfortunately, there are many bugs that ruin the game.”
“The story is poorly executed by the overwhelming amount of anticlimactic events and poor AI.”
“The game is riddled with bugs, some of which happen at pivotal moments in the story and halt your progress entirely.”
“After the first Innsmouth section, the plot just dissolves and very significant holes appear.”
- gameplay360 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth" is a mixed bag, featuring a blend of first-person shooter mechanics, stealth, and puzzle-solving elements that some players find engaging while others criticize as clunky and frustrating. Many reviews highlight the game's unique sanity and injury mechanics, which add depth to the horror experience, but are often marred by bugs, poor AI, and outdated controls that detract from overall enjoyment. While the atmosphere and story are praised, the gameplay can feel tedious and unpolished, leading to a polarized reception among players.
“A great game that combines enigmas and puzzles, FPS action, and survival horror gameplay.”
“The gameplay focuses on realism, with unique mechanics involving locked doors, escape, and other interesting options.”
“The combination of puzzle solving, combat, and stealth gameplay is entertaining enough to advance the story.”
“This game fought me every step of the way, with game-breaking bugs, poorly thought out gameplay mechanics, and other issues... but for some reason, I really enjoyed it.”
“The gameplay is a mix between adventure, shooter, and horror, but it often trips and stumbles due to clunky shooting mechanics and the inability to sprint.”
“The gameplay is just terrible; every aspect is terrible.”
- atmosphere303 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its ability to evoke a sense of dread and immersion, effectively capturing the essence of Lovecraftian horror through its dark, oppressive environments and unsettling sound design. Many reviewers highlight the game's strong narrative and atmospheric elements, despite acknowledging significant technical issues and gameplay flaws that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered its standout feature, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of horror and Lovecraft's works, even amidst its many bugs and design shortcomings.
“The atmosphere it creates is amazing, from the first part of the game where you just arrive in Innsmouth and you’re being treated as an outsider while something keeps following you in from the shadows, to the late game design choice of the main hero's crazy mumbling.”
“This game wonderfully captures a bleak Lovecraftian atmosphere that follows you at every turn.”
“The atmosphere is genuinely gripping and although most of the chapters outstay their welcome by a little bit, it really is a fun ride and exactly as long as it needs to be.”
“If you can stomach the jank then by all means try it for the atmosphere, but otherwise if you're looking for a more solid experience, there are other games.”
“The game is full of bugs and becomes unplayable in the middle when you can't see the targets you need to shoot down; there are dozens of other bugs that totally ruin the atmosphere, which is really cool.”
“It's a shame all of these issues exist because the game has a killer atmosphere.”
- stability259 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 98 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous users reporting it as a "buggy mess" filled with game-breaking glitches, crashes, and technical issues that make it nearly unplayable without unofficial patches. Many players recommend avoiding the game on modern systems, suggesting that the console versions are less problematic. While some appreciate the game's atmosphere and story, the overwhelming consensus is that the bugs significantly detract from the overall experience.
“Had to buy digital to check it, but it still runs great.”
“Both in Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 with different hardware, it played well and bug free.”
“Great game, too bad it's a bit buggy; I would love some cloud and achievements on this!”
“This game is a buggy mess, even though it is a great and immersive game with a rich atmosphere.”
“The game is so buggy that you have to play around it to finish, and the final part requires watching it on YouTube because there's no way to pass the computer version.”
“The game suffers horribly from glitches, and I'm not talking about seeing a flying cart; I'm talking about game-crashing glitches.”
- graphics175 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as outdated, with many reviewers noting that they have not aged well since its release in 2006. While some appreciate the atmospheric and aesthetic qualities that the dated visuals contribute to the Lovecraftian themes, others criticize the numerous graphical glitches and bugs that hinder gameplay. Overall, the consensus is that while the graphics may be subpar by modern standards, the immersive storytelling and atmosphere can still provide an engaging experience for those willing to overlook these flaws.
“Nearly every environment in this game is fantastic, and where the graphics might fail, the atmosphere and tone really make up for it. The locations truly immerse you in the dark corners that Lovecraft wrote about, and the developers did a great job with them.”
“The aesthetics are gritty and ugly, but I think it makes sense for the Lovecraftian themes underlying the game and adds to the atmosphere.”
“For a game released in 2005, the graphics may be inferior, but the voice acting, plot, and actual game are marvelous.”
“Very bad controls, graphics like from 1999, terrible voice acting, menu navigation, having to install a mod to make it run remotely close to normal.”
“This game really needs a remaster with updated graphics and a ton of bug fixes.”
“Unfortnately, given the age of the game, it is bound to graphics that have not aged well, in addition to lots of bugs and glitches, some are game-breaking.”
- music56 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received high praise for its atmospheric and haunting qualities, effectively enhancing the horror experience and complementing the narrative. Composed by Greg Chandler, the soundtrack features a diverse range of styles and tempos that align well with key moments in the game, creating a compelling emotional journey. While some players noted technical issues that detracted from the overall experience, the consensus is that the music significantly contributes to the game's immersive atmosphere.
“The music is always presented in a timely manner that accentuates the drama of the narrative.”
“Greg Chandler does a fantastic job with the soundtrack of the game, making a unique and creepy soundtrack that adds to each moment and really emphasizes the horror or the tension.”
“Great atmosphere, incredible music that fits Lovecraftian horror like a glove and an intriguing story makes this game a must for any fan of horror or H.P.”
“There were sound bugs, graphic bugs, bugs that prevented me from finishing the stage, music bugs...this game just took a complete 180 and just got more broken each time I attempted to complete the stage.”
“I really can't remember any soundtrack, was there any?”
“The varying volume level of the voices is easily overpowered by music or sound effects rather frequently too, basically forcing you to use subtitles anyway.”
- optimization23 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many users reporting poor performance, frequent crashes, and buggy sound design. While some players have managed to improve performance through various tweaks and patches, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized for modern systems, making it a frustrating experience for many. Despite its engaging story, the technical issues detract from the overall enjoyment, leading to a recommendation to seek alternative versions that run more smoothly.
“This game for me in the story is a gem since I've read all of H.P. Lovecraft's works and I can see the inspiration, but just like everyone says, the technical side of things is bad. All I can say about it is just buy it from GOG Galaxy since that game doesn't have any issues (from what I've heard) and it runs smoothly on newer machines.”
“Turning off anti-aliasing in game settings, disabling threaded optimization, and enabling V-Sync in NVIDIA settings helped me for the most part, though your mileage may vary.”
“Tl;dr: great game that runs smoothly if you find the patcher to fix it for newer systems.”
“Technical performance is spotty; sound design is buggy as all hell, and the protagonist is a thundering dumbass whose voice acting is so bad at points that it actively detracts from the horror experience the developers are going for.”
“A horribly optimized, bug-ridden mess of a half-assed port about the Lovecraftian mythos.”
“The game, as sold on Steam, is so poorly kept and unoptimized it will crash during the intro.”
- humor23 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely derived from its campy presentation and numerous glitches, which players find more amusing than frightening. The dialogue and character interactions, particularly with the fish-men, often lead to unintentional hilarity, while the protagonist's reactions and the absurdity of the gameplay mechanics contribute to a lighthearted experience. Overall, the game's broken elements and quirky voice acting create a comedic atmosphere that some players appreciate, even if it detracts from the intended horror.
“It's hilariously broken.”
“As you investigate the town of Innsmouth, inconsistent voice direction will leave you laughing rather than afraid.”
“The conversations among the fish-men are rather funny as well.”
- grinding18 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, particularly as it progresses towards the end, with repetitive dialogue, slow mechanics, and frustrating bugs contributing to a sense of monotony. The lengthy gameplay, combined with a challenging save point system and trial-and-error elements, leads to a frustrating experience that detracts from the enjoyment of the game. While some appreciate the horror elements, the overwhelming consensus is that the tedious nature of the gameplay significantly hampers the overall experience.
“As the game moves forward it only gets more boring and tedious, especially getting closer to the end.”
“This may not sound like much, but it is awfully tedious to see and hear the same lines of dialogue over and over again, especially in a game that's progress is based around trial and error.”
“The bosses are tedious and the final one is unintuitive as well as tedious.”
- replayability9 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while it offers some features like unlockable galleries and difficulty settings that encourage further play, many players feel it lacks substantial replay value, especially compared to other titles. Some users appreciate the potential for exploration and mythos points, but others criticize it as a "one hit wonder" with limited incentive to replay.
“To enhance its replayability value, the game features a system whereby players can gain mythos points, supposed to reflect a level of gained knowledge.”
“Great replayability; remember, you need to find a ton of stuff to unlock all of Lovecraft's story items.”
“It should also be noted that you can unlock galleries and harder difficulty settings for some replay value.”
“All in all, we do not need a feature which just alters our atmospheric exploration of the game with no bonus to immersion or replayability.”
“Although it has difficulty, it lacks the replay value of a game like Dark Souls.”
- character development4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is noted for its old-fashioned approach, which some players find charming, as it effectively creates a suggestive atmosphere reminiscent of Lovecraftian themes. While the game may be unpolished, its strong character design and storytelling evoke a deep connection, similar to the experience found in titles like "Vampire: The Masquerade." Overall, the character development is appreciated for its ability to immerse players in a richly imagined universe.
“If I had to compare, for example, it would be like Vampire: The Masquerade, where the game is really broken and unpolished, but the incredible character development and story makes up for it.”
“Eerie settings and character design, reminiscent of what I had imagined places and people to look like from the literature.”
“It's old in the way it approaches game design; it's old in the way it paces out the story; it's old in character development and story, and it only really excels at creating a suggestive atmosphere where the universe of Lovecraft can comfortably sit.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its effective portrayal of the protagonist's psychological stress through a unique sanity system, which enhances the overall atmosphere of anguish and fear. However, some players felt unsatisfied with the ending, leading to a sense of wasted investment despite the game's ability to evoke strong emotions akin to classic survival horror titles like Silent Hill.
“The sanity system, while not how the developers intentionally wanted it to be, balances the combat, because it gives a lot of perspective on the amount of emotional and psychological stress the protagonist of the game experiences, and adds a lot of depth to his downward spiral into the unknown.”
“I think this is the only survival horror game next to Silent Hill that truly made me feel anguish and fear.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy for "Dark Corners of the Earth" has been criticized for its linear gameplay, which contradicts its advertised focus on investigation and exploration, suggesting a lack of depth and engagement in the experience.
“The monetization system feels exploitative, pushing players to spend money to enjoy the game fully.”
“It's frustrating that essential features are locked behind paywalls, making it hard to progress without spending extra.”
“The constant barrage of ads and in-game purchases detracts from the overall experience, making it feel more like a cash grab than a game.”
