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
- Captivating Lovecraftian atmosphere that immerses players in a world of horror and mystery.
- Engaging story that combines elements from multiple Lovecraft works, particularly 'The Shadow Over Innsmouth'.
- Unique gameplay mechanics, including a detailed health and sanity system that enhances the horror experience.
- Severely buggy and prone to crashes, making it nearly unplayable on modern systems without extensive patching.
- Frustrating save system with limited checkpoints, leading to repetitive gameplay after crashes.
- Combat mechanics are clunky and unrefined, detracting from the overall experience.
- story1,062 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of "Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth" is a captivating adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft's "The Shadow Over Innsmouth," featuring a rich narrative that immerses players in a dark, atmospheric world filled with cosmic horror. While the plot is engaging and filled with intriguing twists, many players note that it suffers from pacing issues and is often hindered by technical bugs that disrupt the experience. Overall, the story is praised for its depth and connection to Lovecraft's mythos, making it a worthwhile journey for fans of horror and narrative-driven games, despite its gameplay shortcomings.
“The game exudes a captivating Lovecraftian vibe, immersing you in Jack's story, which is full of intriguing threads and never dull.”
“The plot is incredibly mysterious and thrilling, smoothly ramping up the tension at all points, and simultaneously surprising you at every turn but gradually tying everything in horrifying ways.”
“The story is great -- by far the best Lovecraft adaptation ever, although the source material helps a great deal.”
“The game is riddled with bugs, some of which happen at pivotal moments in the story and halt your progress entirely.”
“The story is poorly executed by the overwhelming amount of anticlimactic events and poor AI.”
“After the first Innsmouth section, the plot just dissolves and very significant holes appear.”
- gameplay717 mentions
- 20 % 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 it for being clunky and riddled with bugs. Many reviews highlight the game's unique sanity and injury mechanics, which add tension but can also frustrate players due to their execution. Overall, while the atmosphere and story are praised, the gameplay often suffers from dated mechanics and technical issues, leading to a divisive experience among players.
“A great game that combines enigmas and puzzles, FPS action, and survival horror gameplay.”
“The gameplay consists of a combination of different types of gameplay, including investigating for hidden items or information, solving puzzles, desperately fighting back against far more powerful enemies, sneaking and parkouring across dangerous areas, and running away from monsters, all done through the same first-person perspective.”
“The atmosphere is fantastic, the writing is interesting, the combination of first-person action with almost adventure-game puzzle solving is engaging, and both the insanity system and the healing mechanics are unique and add tension.”
“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 just terrible; every aspect is terrible.”
“The game itself is plagued with known bugs that ruin the gameplay experience, especially the boat cannon bug and the final escape bug.”
- atmosphere604 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth" is widely praised for its immersive and oppressive qualities, effectively capturing the essence of Lovecraftian horror. Many players appreciate the game's ability to create a sense of dread and unease, particularly in its early chapters, despite acknowledging significant technical issues and bugs that detract from the overall experience. Overall, while the gameplay may falter, the atmospheric design and storytelling resonate strongly with fans of the genre.
“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 fantastic, the writing is interesting, the combination of first-person action with almost adventure-game puzzle solving is engaging, and both the insanity system and the healing mechanics are unique and add tension.”
“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.”
- stability517 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 98 % negative mentions
The game is widely criticized for its severe stability issues, with numerous players reporting game-breaking glitches, crashes, and bugs that significantly hinder gameplay. Many recommend using unofficial patches to mitigate some of these problems, but even with fixes, the game remains frustratingly unstable and often unplayable on modern systems. Overall, while the game has potential and an engaging atmosphere, its technical shortcomings make it a challenging experience for players.
“Both in Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 with different hardware, it played well and bug free.”
“If the product is still put for sale, then it should be bug free.”
“Great game, too bad it's a bit buggy; I would love some cloud and achievements on this!”
“The game is unbearably buggy.”
“However, like many people are saying, it can often be unplayable as system compatibility and glitches litter the game.”
“This game is a buggy mess, even though, this is a great and immersive game, with a rich atmosphere.”
- graphics351 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely criticized for being outdated, with many reviewers noting they resemble visuals from the late 1990s or early 2000s, which detracts from the overall experience. While some players appreciate the atmospheric qualities that the dated graphics contribute to the Lovecraftian themes, others find them frustrating and riddled with bugs that can hinder gameplay. Overall, the consensus is that while the graphics may not meet modern standards, they can still evoke a certain charm and immersion if players are willing to overlook their flaws.
“Nearly every environment in this game is fantastic, and where the graphics might fail, the atmosphere and tone really make up for it. So many of the locations and environments really make you feel like you are in the dark corners that Lovecraft wrote about, and the developers did a great job with them.”
“The graphics have aged really well, and the music and sound design is spectacular.”
“Graphics are surprisingly good for a game released in 2005 that had been in development for six years beforehand.”
“This game really needs a remaster with updated graphics and a ton of bug fixes.”
“The graphics are horribly outdated, with a washed-out, greenish hue dominant in the color palette.”
“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.”
- music112 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim 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 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 shakes us, grabs us by force, and drags us, until realization of the tragic conclusion of the game.”
“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.”
- optimization46 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with many players reporting poor performance, frequent crashes, and buggy sound design, particularly on modern systems. While some users have found workarounds and patches to improve stability, the overall experience remains marred by technical issues, making it difficult to recommend without significant adjustments. Players suggest seeking alternative versions, such as those available on GOG, for a smoother experience.
“Get an old Xbox disc or grab it from GOG, who at least optimized it a bit.”
“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.”
“Tl;dr: great game that runs smoothly if you find the patcher to fix it for newer systems.”
“The game, as sold on Steam, is so poorly kept and unoptimized it will crash during the intro.”
“A horribly optimized, bug-ridden mess of a half-assed port about the Lovecraftian mythos.”
“I'm coming to the conclusion that this game is only semi-playable; it works, but due to its very poor performance, poor gameplay, annoying overpowered enemies, bugs, and crashing, this game is a huge mess and isn't playable with game-breaking bugs.”
- humor46 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely derived from its numerous glitches and campy design, which often leads to unintentionally funny moments rather than genuine scares. Players find the absurdity of the mechanics, quirky character interactions, and inconsistent voice acting to be entertaining, with some even debating whether the humor is intentional. Overall, the game is described as a hilariously broken experience that can evoke laughter amidst its horror themes.
“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.”
- grinding36 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight a pervasive sense of tedium throughout the game, particularly as players progress towards the end, with repetitive dialogue, slow mechanics, and frustrating bugs contributing to a tedious experience. Many players found the lengthy gameplay (approximately 12 hours) and the need for troubleshooting to be particularly off-putting, leading to a loss of immersion and enjoyment. While some appreciated the game's horror elements, the overall sentiment suggests that the grinding nature of the gameplay significantly detracts from its potential.
“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.”
“I was sad to give up on it, but it was just too tedious to progress while reloading from crashes every few minutes.”
- replayability18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is mixed, with some players appreciating the ability to unlock galleries and harder difficulty settings, while others feel it lacks depth and immersion, making it less engaging for multiple playthroughs. Although there are systems in place to encourage replay, such as mythos points and collectible items, many reviewers suggest that the overall experience does not support sustained replayability, likening it unfavorably to more replayable titles like Dark Souls.
“It should also be noted that you can unlock galleries and harder difficulty settings for some replay value.”
“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.”
“Although it has difficulty, it lacks the replay value of a game like Dark Souls.”
“But it is a one hit wonder, and has little to no 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.”
- character development8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is described as outdated, with a pacing and storytelling approach that feels old-fashioned. However, it excels in creating a rich atmosphere and evokes strong imagery reminiscent of Lovecraftian literature, similar to the character-driven narrative found in "Vampire: The Masquerade." Despite its flaws, the depth of character development and design leaves a lasting impression on players.
“If I had to compare, 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.”
- emotional8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its effective use of a sanity system that reflects the protagonist's psychological turmoil, enhancing the overall sense of dread and fear. While some players found the experience deeply affecting, akin to classic survival horror titles like Silent Hill, others felt let down by the game's ending, leading to feelings of dissatisfaction and regret over their investment. Overall, the game successfully evokes a range of intense emotions, from anguish to fear, despite some technical issues.
“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.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of "Dark Corners of the Earth" has been criticized for its linear gameplay, which contradicts the advertised features of investigation and exploration, suggesting a lack of depth and engagement in the game's design.
