Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth

 PC
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
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  1. Pelit (Finland)
    88
    Thanks to PC controls, shooting is no longer a source of constant irritation and the game can really shine. CoC in an excellent horror adventure. Fear and loss of sanity can really be seen and felt. The game is faithful to Cthulhu mythos, full of memorable scenes and has the only ending there can be. [Apr 2006]
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  2. Cheat Code Central
    88
    A fun game that is full of twists, turns and incredibly wonderful scary surprises. It's got a great atmosphere which is sustained by dark and grainy graphics, chilling sound effects and an incredibly improbable storyline that is treated properly as to suspend reality from creeping in and ruining your experience.
  3. PC Gamer UK
    83
    Despite the obvious flaws, the many subtler achievements make this compelling. You'll find better shooting elsewhere, but if you fancy getting more than bullet holes for once, this is for you. [May 2006, p.84]
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  5. PC Format
    82
    When a game is this gripping, who cares about a slightly cranky engine? [May 2006, p.91]
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  6. Four Fat Chicks
    80
    The overall quality of the game far outweighs every one of its shortcomings. In my humble opinion, this game represents a labor of love from people who wanted to pay homage to Lovecraft.
  7. GameSpot
    79
    A thick, unsettling atmosphere fills this ambitious first-person action adventure, which makes up for some frustrating moments and dated graphics with plenty of chills, variety, and originality.
  8. GameZone
    79
    If you’re looking for a true survival-horror title that will literally force you to try and survive in the face of horror, a game that will leave you on the edge of your seat more than once, and a game that provides a solid story with some gore and disturbing images, this is one you should definitely check out.
  9. IGN
    78
    The game wants to challenge you more entertain you.
  10. Game Over Online
    77
    If you’re a Lovecraft fan, you’ll want Dark Corners of the Earth because it’s great service to a fanbase that’s rarely treated this well. Any of the game’s problems can be overlooked considering what’s being given in return.
  11. Gamer 2.0
    74
    An undeniable effort. It can be fulfilling and mightily rewarding, but there are too many frustrating moments to say it’s a classic.
  12. ActionTrip
    73
    The distinctive setting and novel gameplay mechanics are definitely the strongest points of this title. It's a unique experience, to be sure.
  13. PC Zone UK
    73
    Dark Corners is at its best when you can immerse yourself in the story and get to work solving the biting mysteries on offer. Unfortunately, by the end of the game everything succumbs to a bit of FPS butchery, putting you in shotgun shootouts rather than mysterious crime scenes.
  14. GameSpy
    70
    Despite the occasional missteps, Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth is a more than fitting tribute to its literary inspiration. It's also a great way for fans of real horror to give themselves the heebie-jeebies for a dozen hours or so. Just don't play it late at night, alone.
  15. Computer Games Online RO
    70
    Since we’re in need of good games right now, I’d rather be playing an original episodic game than one of the sequels flooding the market these days.
  16. Computer Games Magazine
    70
    If you can stomach the difficulty and the middle-of-the-road graphics, Dark Corners of the Earth offers a lot of suspense-filled gameplay in the 10 or so hours it takes to complete the adventure. [Sept. 2006, p.70]
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  17. GameShark
    67
    Despite offering an assortment of weapons and a nifty “iron sights” aiming system to boot, Call of Cthulhu is clearly not a combat-oriented game.
  18. PC Gamer
    55
    Fans of the Cthulhu Mythos may go straight to heaven with such a faithful adaptation of Lovecraft's spine-chilling years. Others may find that Call of Cthulhu drives them to the mountains of madness. [July 2006, p.55]
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Awards & Rankings

67
#67 Best PC Game of 2006
26
#26 Most Discussed PC Game of 2006
11
#11 Most Shared PC Game of 2006

User Reviews

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User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 246 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 166 out of 246
  2. Mixed: 49 out of 246
  3. Negative: 31 out of 246
  1. Adyman
    Mar 16, 2013
    10
    this is my favourite game ever, a very atmospheric game with great story that gives u chills on your spine.i feel so sorry that the companythis is my favourite game ever, a very atmospheric game with great story that gives u chills on your spine.i feel so sorry that the company who made this game is no more, i wanted more great horror… Full Review »
  2. Crimsonking58
    Dec 26, 2011
    0
    I despise giving a game based on Lovecraft works a 0, but that's all I can do for this miserable pile of bugs and nonsense. Usually I canI despise giving a game based on Lovecraft works a 0, but that's all I can do for this miserable pile of bugs and nonsense. Usually I can ignore bugs and compensate to deal with tiny issues, but this game was full of (as much as I hate this term) game breaking bugs. First off: CRASHES GALORE! I have never seen a game crash this much, even when it was patched. You can't alt+tab and come back or it crashes. I know this because of the many times I had to (regrettably) look at a guide for the game because what you were supposed to do was so incredibly unclear and ridiculous that I had no other option. A random crowbar the same color as the texture it's sitting on in a random location that is necessary to progress? Check. A conveniently carved out hole in the middle of a solid wooden crate for you to crawl through to get behind an enemy gunner? Check. The final blow for me was at the first appearance of a real monster: a Shoggoth. Straight out of Lovecraft, terrifying as hell, aaaaand bugged. To pass it, the monster must attack you with it's tendril, which is supposed to stick in place so you can run past the spot it was blocking. Instead, half of the time it will one shot you, the other half it won't stick, it'll just go back to the default position instantly and get you stuck. After 3 days of constant frustration, this is where I quit. The shooting is also absolutely horrendous (I felt like I was playing the first Medal of Honor game, but worse), and unfair (instant death by headshot is incredibly common and unpreventable). The only good thing about this game was the horror elements; The sanity effects, the eerie mood, the sounds, everything was pure Lovecraft and it was fantastic. Sadly, I never got to experience it in full, because between every 5 minute horror sequence was 2 hours of frustrating, buggy shooting and nonsense. So disappointing.… Full Review »
  3. MosstheBoss
    Apr 17, 2008
    7
    Good ambiance and mood all over. Story is well based on Lovecraft's literature with interesting additions. Voice acting and dialogs are Good ambiance and mood all over. Story is well based on Lovecraft's literature with interesting additions. Voice acting and dialogs are good and reinforce the atmosphere and time setting in the early 20's. Concept is quite unique blending 3 or 4 major genres, and it is one of a very scant group of games based on the Cthulhu mythos. The "however" is that, at least once along the game, all of these genres perform ifalteringly when compared to the average of games using as their core one these styles. Puzzles unintuitive or strangely easy (you are done and do not realize it); shooter erratic and with an infinite amount of respawns; stealth with unreadable patrols to almost render this nice possibility unfeseable; etc. Anyway in most cases the game pulls through and no matter how frustrating it could become, and how close to real insanity it may push you towards, you very soon forget and forgive, since it has the virtue of truly making you curious of what is yonder the next, very dark, corner.… Full Review »
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