Call of Cthulhu

With a terrific plot and setting but simplistic mechanics, Call of Cthulhu is still a very competent mystery game, and probably the best Lovecraft adaptation to video games till now. Starts good, somewhat loses direction in the middle and ends superbly.

If you’re a fan of H.P. Lovecraft’s work then I feel this is one of the best experiences out there, simply because it loves its source material.

Call of Cthulhu is such a dark game that if you turned off the lights while playing it, you might get sucked into the void.

Call of Cthulhu won't set new standards or be recalled like one of the greatest Lovecraftian games, but it manages to deliver an interesting story (even if with a bit too many plot holes) and a very atmospheric investigative adventure.

Call of Cthulu is one of the better games based on the works of H.P. Lovecraft, and despite its visual shortcomings does a great job at commanding your attention from start to finish.

Your enjoyment of Call of Cthulhu will depend entirely on what you’re expecting. If you want to be scared, look elsewhere, because this game will just come off as boring. If, however, you want a decent mystery, and don’t mind sitting through a few dumb attempts at stealth and scares, then this might just be up your alley.

After very good first hours of play, Call of Cthulhu dries itself with few interactions and poor stealth sequences. The Lovecraftian atmosphere is here though, which may appeal to whomever can indulge the game’s many flaws.

If you’re in the market for a first person horror game, you can go much worse than Call of Cthulhu, but be prepared for a lack of any real scares. The game leans heavily on the story and exploration of environments, so much so that when it does attempt the creepy stuff, it mostly comes off underdeveloped and a bit out of place. Go along with it though, and there’s something strangely compelling within.

Fans of H.P. Lovecraft are going to enjoy this game more than most as it brings to life his weird and memorable world to an extent few games, if any, have ever done. Every character and setting feels pulled from the pages in a way that is definitely admirable. It's just too bad much else that surrounds it doesn't impress as much. With a lack of polish in every way, diluted investigations, and rigid stealth sections, Call of Cthulhu isn't the investigative adventure-RPG most will want it to be. If you adore the author, this adaptation is worth a look. Otherwise, you can toss it back into the ocean.

Dwelling on these few low points may seem overly harsh--they account for no more than a small portion of the whole game, after all. But they are not merely poor moments in an otherwise solid game; they're awful pieces of game design utterly inconsistent with the rest of the game.