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Unique, and overall satisfying

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: July 29, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Eternal Darkness is a definite "one of a kind" game. And that's got to be the best thing going for it. The idea that your character can actually lose their sanity puts an interesting twist on what could have been just another "good" game. The whole idea and implementation of the sanity effects pushes ED into a class of it's own.

The game itself kind of feels like a cross between Resident Evil and Silent Hill. With similar control and the 3-D environments. It's not as freaky as Silent Hill, but I did at times get some goose bumps from the screams that were in the background when my character was losing it. And there are a variety of different effects that can happen when your character does lose their sanity. But don't let anyone tell you what they are if you plan on playing it yourself, it is better to experience them for yourself and be surprised.

After while of losing your sanity and seeing what happens, you don't trust the game anymore. An interesting idea. I have never seen a game where I didn't trust what it was showing me. This effect of the sanity is the main selling point I believe in Eternal Darkness. It's a good game, even if that wasn't present, but it would lose a lot of its "punch" without it.

After a while though you pretty much know when the game is showing you some hallucination and while it's neat to watch, sometimes you just want it to be over and get on with playing. So you have to heal your Sanity Levels up quite often. The monsters you encounter drain your sanity by just looking at you, and you sanity goes down so fast that you could lose a lot of sanity in a short period of time. This is most likely what the producers had in mind, so that your character go insane faster, but sometimes you wish that you could just get through an area without losing so much sanity.

The story, while not ground breaking is pretty interesting. How they tie together 12 different character from different points in time to one flowing storyline is quite well done. The characters that you play as play very similar to each other, except with some small variances, like a heavy person running out of breath sooner than someone who is in better shape. Again, while this is neat, after a while it seems like that all the characters are pretty much the same with no real advantages to anyone in particular. There are small differences but not enough to feel like you are playing as someone totally different and unique.

The graphics are very good. The character models are a bit clunky on some of the characters, but most of them are at least adequate. They aren't gong to amaze you like Resident Evil, but they aren't the worst either. The environments are where the graphical power of ED is shown. The backgrounds and environments are great to behold. To light reflecting in mirrors, to mist rolling across the floor, the environments are a sight to see. The only problem is, you keep going over the same environments throughout the game. While you play with 12 different characters, you are pretty much covering the same areas with most of them. There are some differences, but a lot of it seems to be about in the same places. They are a few different "main" areas that the characters seem to cover. One may go to one of the "main" areas while another character may go to the other one. But that's one thing that could have been better, to see different areas instead of just a few.

Overall though I would say that ED is worth getting and adding to your GameCube collection. I won't say it's the best game ever, because it's not, but it is a very good game with some minor flaws, but most games do have them right? I know I sound a bit critical of the game, but I really did like it. I just didn't find it nearly as fun to play as the Resident Evil for the GameCube. And I don't see myself going through the game again anytime soon, I didn't see any replay value there.

Great Horror game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: December 03, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I think that this was one of the best games i have ever played. The gameplay is great. The story Line (I love good, deep ones) is awsome. This was the first and the best Gamecube game that I have ever played and I think that any one that likes to get spooked or juat likes a good horror game should buy or rent this game. It reminds me alot of Resident Evil in the zombies. The models are different but the idea of the enimies are the same. I gave this game 5 out of 5 stars for itss gameplay, graphics, and storyline. They are THE most important elements in the game and this one fullfills them all.

(sorry for the spelling)

A Triumph

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: July 26, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Let me start by saying that I am an avid gamer and it is seldom that I am so pleasantly surprised by a game. From the second I flipped the switch on my Gamecube, I was enthralled. Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem started out with a quote from Poe (My favorite author) and kept me creeping around corners for hours.

There are many high points in this game but the thing that sticks out in my mind the most is the incredibly creepy sound effects and music. The gameplay is solid with about an hour or two learning curve and for those of you who are a fan of the macabre, you will find a myriad of refrences and tidbits from Bosch to Lovecraft. I would highly recommend this game to anyone who wants a good scare and the sanity meter is will drive you quite mad. I haven't had this much fun with a horror game since Seventh Guest. Go get it now!

Eh...

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 4 / 8
Date: September 15, 2003
Author: Amazon User

The game started out really great. The insanity effects are definately cool and the magick system is well done too. The environments were nicely done and the characters were well varied. The big problem is that the game gets very tedious about half way through and then just boring at the end. The repetive ending levels are a drag and the lack of any real difficulty in the game makes it a snoozer. I say rent it or buy it used if your curious, but dont pay full price.

Saving the World (and Your Sanity) Over 2000 Years

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: September 21, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I LOVED this game. A real gaming milestone in every sense of the word. One of the best and most complex, immersive, satisfying gaming experiences of my life -- I've been obsessed with it for THREE WEEKS. I played it three times through, and was never bored once.

ETERNAL DARKNESS: SANITY'S REQUIEM offers everything gamers hope for in a game (and far too often, are disappointed): a strong heroine, great and interesting and very varied characters (you will play for more than 12 -- young, old, male, female, fat, thin, etc, throughout history), a fantastic storyline, superb rendering for the GC with no visible load times or slowdowns.

Absolutely not for kids (it's violent and really, really scary), ETERNAL DARKNESS is a smart, violent, atmospheric -- and an unbelievably great combination of adventure and combat. The visuals, puzzles, and powers just get better and better as the game progresses, and the finale is moving and unexpectedly intelligent (the whole game is beautifully written and as satisfying as finishing a great novel).

NON-SPOILERY ADVICE: Save often, experiment with spells as soon as you have enough runes, and target the heads (R-targeting in combo with stick allows you to choose which body parts of enemies to go after). I would also suggest that -- if you get stuck -- you use hint systems versus walkthroughs (which in this case especially can spoil the game).

NOTE: It is very important when you are playing KARIM (Ch4), ROBERTO (Ch8), and MICHAEL EDWARDS (Ch11) that you fully explore the levels. You should come away with something important here that will affect gameplay in the finale. There is also an extra and very important magical item discovery to be made when playing DR. LINDSEY (Chapter 6) that will affect gameplay enormously (and it's just loads of fun) so be aware you should complete this level with yet another magical weapon of sorts.

However, please note that you can skip all of the above and still finish the game, it's just harder (and not as much fun, as the extra spellcasting is part of the coolness).

STARTING UP: I would suggest playing the Ulyaoth (BLUE, magical) alignment first (have Pious pick the blue artifact in the beginning), then if you replay (and the game offers wonderful replay incentives with different monsters, key moments, and levels of difficulty for each of three different levels), you can play Chatturgha (RED, health) which is a bit tougher combatwise but with slightly easier boss battles. If you play a third time for the secret ending (and it was a lot of fun), play Xelotath (GREEN, sanity) last. It's hardest of the three but at that point you'll have the experience to know what to do, and can (...)and enjoy the gameplay. Completing the game a second time gives you more illuminating final dialogue and the chance to skip to the sections of your choice, while completing a third time offers a secret (and vital) extended epilogue covering all three of the games you just finished -- and what they really mean.

And ED:SR isn't just about health or magical powers like most games, but also requires that you maintain your character's sanity. I would therefore totally recommend allowing your character's sanity levels to drop deliberately from time to time, just because the insanity stuff is so inventive and is so much fun. And be warned -- if the game suddenly does some strange things to you, or you find your controls acting strangely, don't be too hasty to restart or check your console, as ED:SR likes to play with your head as well as your character's!

Ultimately this is a brilliant and worthy title for the Gamecube -- one I wish they would continue with in a sequel or follow-up (I'd buy it without even reading a review).

So if you're at all adventurous, buy it, try it, and by the time you're through, you won't be disappointed. Although you may not be all that sane, either... ;-)

One of the best ever.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: October 05, 2004
Author: Amazon User

When nintendo seemed to be doing everything wrong, in comes eternal darkness. Easily one of the best games for the cube, not to mention one of the best games around. Eternal Darkness has a very well done backstory to it. All aspects of this game are great.

The controls are easy to learn, as are the tactics in the game. Although things were easy to learn in this game, they are challenging to be good at. The cut scenes move the story along nicely, and effectively change depending on which of the three ancients you picked at the beginning. The insanity cut scenes are a very pleasant addition.

Another thing the games did well was being scary or creepy. The insanity cut scenes have no warning, and will give you a good scare. An insantiy cut scene happens when your insantiy meter runs out.

You also have a health and magic meter in the game. The magic meter is there because as you progress through the game you'll learn new spells from the three ancients. Each ancient can defeat an ancient, but is defeated by an ancient also. That is an important thing to remember in the game.

All the playable characters are brillanty done. Weapons that reflect the time that they are in. Not to mention they move according to their attributes, which makes it realistic. Like when you play Maxillion Rovias, he's fat and slow. So when you play him, you can't out run enemies. That's where your skill comes in.

There is no doubt that this is a 5 star game, also there is no doubt that this game is a classic.

Lovecraft is Smiling Down on (or up at) Us

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: June 23, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I happened apon this little gem by mistake, getting it free in a pawn shop deal. I began playing at 11:30 at night, with all the lights down, becuase I have had to work to get a horror feeling in the last games. Yet from the beginning, H.P. Lovecraft's influence guides this powerful epic to an almost mythical proportion.

The preface itself is unusual, where you play as 13 characters, over a span of two millinnia, each having absolutely nothing in common with the other. These include a firefighter during Desert Storm, a Camodian temple dancer, and an aging Victorian era doctor. They are all bound together by the Tome of Eternal Darkness, and combat an enemy that the player actually chooses.

The technical aspects of the game are done well. The control are fluid and respond well, and combat can be an enjoyable (and sometimes humerous) experience. Each of your characters will behave and handle differently, depending on their weight, physical build, ect. in a completely realistic fashion.

The creature designs are a bit of a let down, as they don't quite shock the player as much as they could. The designers instead made the beasts' kinetics the source of fright (the movement of the zombies, a monster exploding from another's chest)and they do this well.

The Sanity Meter is the selling point of the game, and it should be easy to see why. The Sanity Effect are varied and plentiful, and the developers took the extra step in breakijng the fourth wall: with some effects, you will not know if your television is malfunctioning, if the game is scratched, or if you yourself are losing your sanity along with your character.

This is a magnificent game, filled with frights that could make even the most devoted Poe aficionado turn off the console, flip on the lights, and mutter quietly "It's only a game . . .it's only a game." Five out of five overall, four out of five fun, only because I broke two controllers due to Sanity Effects.

Great sound, atmosphere and story but extremely flawed.

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 4 / 8
Date: July 26, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Eternal Darkness is definitely on the list of over rated games of the game cube. Let me show you why.

Graphics: These are easily some of the shoddiest graphics seen on the gamecube this generation. The game was originally developed for the N64 and released in 2002 and it definitely shows. But the characters are extremely flawed graphically, and the entire polish of the game is unquestionably rough. Games like Super Smash Brothers Melee and Metroid Prime were released before or right around the same time and are still some of the best looking games around, but Eternal Darkness certainly fails here and it's one of the reasons why it loses in the scary factor. 6/10

Sound: The sound is terrific. From the voice acting to the various effects, this game has it nailed. Nuff said. 10/10

Gameplay: Terrible is the best way to put it. One major focus of this game is exploration, but it mainly consists of running by objects and seeing if you can press the B button. Placing objects is even more archaic since you constantly have to return to the menu. Easily the weakest element of this game is the combat. Absolutely horrific. Each character gets one decent melee weapon to use and it uses the same A-A-A button combination attack. The finishing move hardly differs, and combat gets old very quickly due to the weak targeting and the lack of enemies. The only enemy you will be fighting is a skeleton in 5 different colors. Mars the entire game. 4/10

Story: Superb. The story unrolls through 11 different characters through different time periods. It's very engrossing, but they should have shortened the number of characters and made it so that the game's best ending could be seen in one playthrough. Only the most dedicated will sit through 3 playthroughs of this game. 8/10

Scariness: Eternal Darkness, contrary to what many would have you believe really isn't that scary. If skeletons are scary then you might actually be scared. If not, you'll probably laugh. 6/10

Overall: A pretty big disappointment and not worth your time. Average: 6.8.

Lovecraft would be pleased...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 5
Date: July 02, 2002
Author: Amazon User

This the best implementation of Lovecraftian themes I've ever seen in a video game. There are endless references to Lovecraft's mythos - both his own, and the mythos that has grown up around the man. One chapter in the game is titled "The Lurking Horror" - which if you'll recall, was the title of an old Infocom text adventure game that paid homage to H.P. Lovecraft's works (Lovecraft's story "The Lurking Fear" is well-known). There are also additional references buried in the details of the game - for instance, the name "Jefferson Combs" appears in one of the chapters - and we all known and love Jeffrey Combs as Herbert West from the film Reanimator (based on Lovecraft's story "Herbert West - Reanimator") as well as From Beyond - another film based on Lovecraft's story of the same name. As a game, this title has little wrong with it. It is damn near perfect. And if you adore H.P. Lovecraft's work, you simply MUST own this game.

Far from being great.

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 6 / 17
Date: January 31, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Eternal Darkness, despite any aspirations to be a horror/puzzle solving game, basically boils down to being an H.P. Lovecraft inspired dungeon crawl with mediocre combat with an insanity system thrown on.

The gameplay consists of running around and hacking things up with whatever weapon you happen to have at the time and some magic to back you up. The combat is very unrefined (The fact that you very rarely use the same weapon for more than one chapter doesn't help; you can never even get used to the clumsy combat there is), and is just good enough to not become frustrating or tiresome.

The 'puzzles' in the game are just there for show. They are only two or three of them over the course of the entire game that you will have to think about for even the briefest of time. Mostly, when you find yourself stuck, it'll be because there is an item on the floor somewhere that you need to pick up that you didn't see.

The game's story and atmosphere are aimed at delivering H.P. Lovecraft-style horror. Unfortunately, they don't do a particularly good job of it. The game reveals secrets far too early to keep players in suspense, there are too few surprises to keep them on their toes, and the game's environments and graphics simply fail to add anything to the effect. The insanity system should be the key, but has too limited of an effect on gameplay to do much. You can also regain your sanity any time you want by casting a spell, making the whole system even more inconsequential.

As the sum of all it's parts, Eternal Darkness is a moderately amusing game, but suffers from not having any major element of the game being good enough to be considered it's main draw.

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