Barrow Hill: Curse of the Ancient Circle

 PC
Barrow Hill: Curse of the Ancient Circle Image
Metascore
65

Mixed or average reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 20 Ratings

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  • Summary: Somewhere deep within the woods a timeless force is stirring. Beneath the ancient burial mound, known locally as Barrow Hill, a forgotten myth awakes. Join the adventure, and uncover the secrets of the past. The legends of the Cornish world will live again; renewed, refreshed and hungry.Somewhere deep within the woods a timeless force is stirring. Beneath the ancient burial mound, known locally as Barrow Hill, a forgotten myth awakes. Join the adventure, and uncover the secrets of the past. The legends of the Cornish world will live again; renewed, refreshed and hungry. Time has no meaning, as the sun sets low across the landscape. Stranded on the lonely road, which leads up to the Barrow, you must make your way through the trees, and darkening landscape, and out onto the Barrow itself. Following in the footsteps of the well-known archaeologist, Conrad Morse, you will discover that the barrow is more than just a mound of earth and a collection of forgotten standing stones. However, not all archaeology is constructive, for some things should be left buried and undisturbed. Perhaps it is too late for that... [Shadow Tor]… Expand
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 21
  3. Negative: 2 out of 21
  1. Four Fat Chicks
    100
    It's the realism that makes the supernatural elements seem so menacing, the beautifully designed, multi-layered puzzles with their much-appreciated clues, the dark atmosphere, lovely graphics, and the restrained, perfectly pitched sounds that make this game an experience.
  2. Worth Playing
    91
    Absolutely "worth playing." Pick up a copy, turn out the lights, and get yourself some quality heeby-jeeby time.
  3. IGN
    81
    Despite the rewarding journey, the destination is rather disappointing. If the journey, and not the destination, is what is important to you, then Barrow Hill might be worthy of a pick-up.
  4. PC Gamer
    62
    Beautifully detailed and atmospheric environments. [Holiday 2006, p.114]
    All this publication's reviews
  5. VideoGamer
    60
    Despite some charming touches, and the slightly amateurish but strangely appealing voice cast, it's an inescapable fact that Barrow Hill adds very little new to the genre.
  6. PC Gamer UK
    51
    An impressive endeavor for a small group of first-time devs with a shoestring budget, but as much as it feels like kicking puppies to say so, not a product worth your money. [June 2006, p.82]
    All this publication's reviews
  7. GameSpot
    26
    In Barrow Hill, nobody can hear you yawn.

See all 21 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 10
  3. Negative: 2 out of 10
  1. Freddy
    May 27, 2006
    10
    Great stuff!
  2. Jeff
    May 27, 2006
    10
    I had a wonderful time (although that
  4. KarlN.
    Jul 24, 2006
    9
    A great adventure thriller for those who love the genre, puzzle solving and glitch free gaming. I wish the big budget blasting games could A great adventure thriller for those who love the genre, puzzle solving and glitch free gaming. I wish the big budget blasting games could boast that they are bug free and will run on all systems. They can't. Also, why do rags like PC Gamer and Strategy informer play these games when they obviously hate them so much? They even state that they dislike 'these kind of games'. Morons. The annoying reviews they write are very easy to ignore when indie adventure games are this good.… Expand
  5. VictorC.
    May 26, 2006
    8
    I'm not a fan of this kind of game, but an interest in the subject matter inspired a purchase. I was more than surprised to find the I'm not a fan of this kind of game, but an interest in the subject matter inspired a purchase. I was more than surprised to find the game was an old fashioned treat. I'm used to painfully linear adventure games with too much pixel hunting, but Barrow Hill offers a non-linear story and a completely open game world. How you approach the story, the puzzles and the pace is entirely up to you. That has to be worth an '8' out of 10 to me. A great effort from a new group of enthusiasts.… Expand
  6. FrankH.
    May 26, 2006
    8
    A small but perfectly formed thriller/adventure game for fans of the genre, anyone else might wonder where all the polygons have gone.
  7. DavidM.
    May 26, 2006
    6
    For the price, and 25+ hours of gameplay, I feel mean giving Barrow Hill a 6. I found the game very good, with some lovely narrative twists For the price, and 25+ hours of gameplay, I feel mean giving Barrow Hill a 6. I found the game very good, with some lovely narrative twists and arty touches, but wanted more character interaction. I'm hoping Shadow Tor Studios carry on making games of this quality, with a few extra NPC's to stop the gameplay seeming so lonely. I know the npc's vs lonely exloration argument is one that will run, and run, but I personally prefer some characters to share an adventure with.… Expand
  8. Moggeh
    Dec 24, 2010
    1
    This is one of the worst games I have ever played. It has menial graphics, a lackluster storyline, and some of the most irritating andThis is one of the worst games I have ever played. It has menial graphics, a lackluster storyline, and some of the most irritating and grinding gameplay I've ever experienced. The only credit to the game was that occasionally the surroundings would get a bit creepy... until they would play one of the horrible taped clips that made the entire thing a joke. As a huge fan of adventure games, this left me severely confused at to how people managed to scrape joy from this empty barrel.… Expand

See all 10 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

98
#98 Most Discussed PC Game of 2006

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