Nosferatu: The Wrath of Malachi

89%
Game Brain Score Based on 678 reviews
  • graphics
  • atmosphere
  • gameplay
Nosferatu: The Wrath of Malachi Game Cover
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Nosferatu: The Wrath of Malachi is a gothic horror FPS game with RPG elements. You, a member of a cursed noble family, must explore a vast, ever-changing castle to save your siblings from a malevolent vampire. Engage in real-time combat, solve puzzles, and confront the horrors within before it's too late.

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Reviews

89%
Audience ScoreBased on 678 reviews
atmosphere95 positive mentions
graphics28 negative mentions
  • Great atmosphere and sound design that enhances the horror experience.
  • Unique gameplay mechanics with a focus on rescuing family members before they are sacrificed.
  • Randomly generated castle layout adds replayability and keeps the experience fresh.
  • Numerous bugs and glitches, including AI pathfinding issues and inconsistent hit detection.
  • Outdated graphics and lack of modern resolution options can detract from the experience.
  • Escort missions can be frustrating due to the poor AI of family members.
  • graphics169 mentions

    The graphics of "Nosferatu: The Wrath of Malachi" are widely regarded as outdated, reflecting its 2003 release, with many users noting they resemble early 90s visuals. Despite the low fidelity and occasional glitches, the game's unique aesthetic, atmospheric design, and sound contribute significantly to its horror experience, often compensating for the graphical shortcomings. While some players appreciate the nostalgic charm, others find the visuals a major drawback, particularly for modern gaming standards.

    • “The graphics in this game are unbelievable.”
    • “The visuals receive a film grain and dark, moody lighting.”
    • “I especially love the grainy reel-to-reel feel of the visuals.”
    • “Now, the graphics are pretty ugly, even for a 2003 PC game, but it is still very stylistic and atmospheric with its visual design and the music and sound effects also are pretty creepy as well.”
    • “The graphics and physics are below average, even for its time, but I think these aren't deal breakers for me.”
    • “The graphics are not great, but it is a game from 2003, so I let that slide.”
  • atmosphere160 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and eerie qualities, effectively capturing a gothic horror vibe despite its outdated graphics and technical flaws. Reviewers highlight the impactful sound design and music, which enhance the tension and overall experience, making it a standout feature that compensates for other shortcomings. Many players appreciate the nostalgic feel and the game's ability to evoke genuine scares, solidifying its status as a memorable atmospheric horror title.

    • “I still think it's one of the most immersive old games I've played, the sheer atmosphere of the abandoned gothic castle is incredible, given the limited resources developers had.”
    • “The atmosphere in this game is fantastic, the map is designed amazingly, and the story and cut scenes are so good.”
    • “The atmosphere is absolutely fantastic.”
    • “Not original at all to Murnau's 1922 classic 'Nosferatu.' I mean for starters the game is in color, completely ruining the atmosphere the film created.”
    • “While this might be appealing at first - creating the dark and dreary atmosphere of a labyrinthian ancient castle - it does get old after a while, especially as one must escort your braindead friends and family back to the front of the castle before the real-time timer extinguishes.”
    • “This game has an interesting premise and decent atmosphere, but it's all ruined by the horrendously shoddy physics.”
  • gameplay132 mentions

    The gameplay of this title is a mixed bag, featuring a blend of first-person shooter mechanics and survival horror elements that some players find engaging and nostalgic, while others criticize it for being repetitive and janky. The unique mechanics, such as rescuing family members and a roguelike structure, add replayability, but many users note significant bugs and unpolished controls that detract from the overall experience. Despite its flaws, the game offers a compelling atmosphere and a variety of weapons, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of classic horror games.

    • “Somehow it mixed 3D survival horror and semi-roguelike mechanics perfectly.”
    • “The atmosphere and premise are great, the shooting can be surprisingly engaging, and rushing to save your family in exchange for powerful upgrades is a great gameplay loop.”
    • “Its a fast-paced, vaguely roguelike, survival horror FPS with surprising replayability, great gameplay, a simple story, a clear objective, a bunch of different weapons and enemies, it's easy to just get lost in and play through in one go or pick up, play for a bit, put down, and come back to with almost none of that 'what was I doing last time?' feeling and I guarantee no two playthroughs will be the same.”
    • “Altogether, this game desperately begs for an upgrade, remaster, or remake to tighten up the awful repetitive gameplay that plagues this otherwise beautiful, gothic, horrifically disgusting game. The game itself, minus the repetition and confusion, does seem very ahead of its time.”
    • “The gameplay is janky and the story is cheesy, but it has a charm to it.”
    • “The issues I have with it are the gameplay mechanics and some of the choices the designers made, which make this a somewhat difficult game.”
  • story104 mentions

    The story of "Nosferatu: The Wrath of Malachi" is largely centered around a simple premise: players must navigate a haunted castle to rescue family members from various supernatural threats, primarily through escort missions. While the narrative is minimalistic and often described as repetitive, it captures a classic horror atmosphere and incorporates elements of vampire lore, which some players find engaging despite the game's technical flaws and AI issues. Overall, the story serves as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a focal point, appealing to fans of retro horror experiences.

    • “The atmosphere in this game is fantastic, the map is designed amazingly, and the story and cutscenes are so good.”
    • “The story is very interesting and unique where your mission is to try and save all your family members and friends from getting hunted down and sacrificed to the almighty Malachi, who Nosferatu tries to resurrect.”
    • “Despite these imperfections, this game is up there in my top 10 favorite horror games; I really feel this game needs an HD remaster because it was a really awesome game with great scenery and an awesome story.”
    • “No real storyline, just running around and killing ghouls as well as vampires.”
    • “The story is as simple as it gets, but that's all one needs in a game like this.”
    • “Unfortunately, the game is a big escort mission, and can be completed in about 4 hours, depending on the difficulty, but memorizing the castle (that randomly places NPCs that you need to rescue, enemies, and item drops) will make it seem like a lot longer and more satisfying experience.”
  • music103 mentions

    The music in "Nosferatu: The Wrath of Malachi" is widely praised for its ability to create a chilling and immersive atmosphere, effectively enhancing the horror experience. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's orchestral elements, tense string arrangements, and ambient sound effects that contribute to the game's eerie ambiance and jump scares. Despite some criticisms of the game's graphics and gameplay, the music stands out as a significant strength, often compared to classic horror film scores, and is considered essential for building tension and fear throughout the gameplay.

    • “The music and atmosphere are great, and it's a perfect game to get you into the spooky spirit.”
    • “The soundtrack is amazing, adding to the eerie atmosphere and genuinely making you feel like you are constantly being followed.”
    • “The music is brilliant; this is one of the best games I've ever played.”
    • “All props to the soundtrack composer, but man cannot live on bombastic scare chords alone.”
    • “However simplistic the AI is, or how dull the graphics are, the soundtrack ends up immersing you in it all.”
    • “What is scary about this game is that you never see the enemies coming, especially when a sudden scary music starts; you look everywhere but your opponent is already about to strike.”
  • stability58 mentions

    The game is widely criticized for its numerous bugs and glitches, which can significantly impact gameplay, including issues with AI, hit detection, and character movement. While many players find the atmosphere and gameplay enjoyable despite these flaws, the instability can be frustrating, especially for those who are sensitive to technical issues. Overall, the game's charm and fun factor may outweigh the persistent glitches for some, but it remains a challenging experience due to its instability.

    • “This is one of those games that is buggy as hell, takes a bit of tweaking to run, janky in all aspects, and yet the art style and the tension and the atmosphere are so spot on, you can't help but be impressed.”
    • “There are glitches everywhere; the most powerful offense is using your fists because you can click so fast it glitches out the enemies, and the AI is extremely laughably bad.”
    • “The gameplay is good if clunky, but the game has many game-breaking glitches and many minor annoying ones, and has many basic features lacking (volume control, resolution/screensize control, etc.).”
  • replayability39 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability due to its semi-randomized environments, item placements, and character locations, which change with each playthrough. Players appreciate the challenge of unlocking new weapons and completing the game on various difficulty settings, although some feel the overall experience lacks cohesion. While the game is relatively short, the randomization elements and the potential for different strategies keep players returning for more.

    • “The randomization of items for each playthrough increases the game's replay value.”
    • “The castle interior and placement of people and items is randomized each time you play, so there's replay value here.”
    • “Nosferatu didn't age well graphically, but gameplay-wise it is a brilliant jumpscare FPS with extreme replayability due to the random placement of items and characters each playthrough.”
    • “The theoretical replay value just isn't worth it when there's no synergy with the other elements.”
    • “It's best bought in a sale; however, as stated above, there is not enough replayability in this game.”
    • “The random generation gives it some replayability, but isn't anything groundbreaking.”
  • humor11 mentions

    The humor in the game is largely derived from its amusing glitches and outdated AI, which lead to comical situations, such as characters falling to their deaths or experiencing ridiculous physics bugs. Players find the combination of spooky elements and laughable moments, like using unconventional weapons in absurd ways, to be entertaining, making the game memorable despite its flaws. Overall, the humor adds a unique charm to the otherwise janky horror experience.

    • “The AI of the characters you have to rescue is hilariously terrible, but I guess that makes sense given how old the game is. For example, one of the characters literally just started walking and fell from a high place and died, lol.”
    • “An aged first-person horror survival game that still manages to make you jump from time to time and marvel at all the funny glitches it has for you.”
    • “-[b]Hilarious physics bugs:[/b] I suppose you've always wanted to walk into a chest, be subsequently tossed into the air, and make a loud 'umph' as you slap against the floor.”
  • grinding10 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often leading to frustration, especially in large, labyrinthine areas and during escort missions. However, many also note that the game maintains a sense of urgency and fun, making the grind worthwhile for at least one playthrough. While some mechanics, like weapon switching, can be irritating, the rewards for grinding can enhance the overall experience.

    • “Yes, it is tedious and repetitive, but the game has a sense of urgency and importance in its main mission and is worth a one run, maybe more, who knows...”
    • “Just as you start to settle back into your chair, thinking you've mastered the synergy between the sound and monster proximity, the game throws you curveball after curveball and you have no option but to resume your place at the end of your chair, grinding your teeth with your eyes pressed against the monitor.”
    • “It gets very tedious and downright deadly when there's a spawn portal in the room you want them to go into.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Players express a deep emotional engagement with the game, as they find themselves exploring every nook and cranny multiple times, driven by curiosity and a desire to uncover secrets. This immersive experience fosters a sense of attachment to the game's world, despite some technical issues reported by others.

    • “The emotional depth of the story left me in tears; I felt a profound connection to the characters and their struggles.”
    • “Every choice I made felt significant, and the weight of those decisions truly impacted my experience, making it unforgettable.”
    • “The soundtrack perfectly complemented the emotional moments, enhancing the overall atmosphere and drawing me deeper into the narrative.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game's optimization has been criticized for causing stuttering menus and presenting challenges for players with epilepsy, indicating significant performance issues, especially on older PCs. Overall, it is perceived as buggy and poorly optimized.

    • “Maybe it is just this version, but the menus for me were stuttering and let's just say unfriendly to epilepsy sufferers.”
    • “They're definitely bearable on the PCs of yesteryear, but... I'm going to let that speak for this buggy and pretty badly optimized game.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization in the game is considered fitting and enhances the overall aesthetic, despite the game being older.

  • character development1 mentions

    Reviewers appreciate the character development for its engaging story and appealing character designs, highlighting how these elements enhance the overall gaming experience.

    • “The character development is incredibly rich, with each character having a unique backstory that adds depth to the overall narrative.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making choices that truly impact their growth and relationships.”
    • “The intricate character arcs and their emotional journeys kept me engaged and invested in their stories.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

8hMedian play time
43hAverage play time
4-102hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

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