Difficulty:

Just Right

Time Spent:

10 to 20 Hours

The Bottom Line:

"Masterpiece"

Some say the GameCube was the least favorable gaming console of the last generation. Sure, it had better capabilities than the competition, but it lacked the rich library of games both the PS2 and the Xbox possessed. Until recently I was one of those people, who dismissed the GameCube as nothing more than a little purple toy box, filled with childish and recycled games. Then came "Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem", with its gripping plot and unique gameplay innovations, to prove me wrong; and boy, was I.

You play, among others, as Alexandra Roivas, who've just been informed that her grandfather (and only living relative) was found dead in his mansion. Alex, being a strong independent woman, decides to move into her family mansion and investigate her grandpa's mysterious death, and along the way uncover the Roivas's family dark past. From this point on, the mansion serves as a sort of hub in between levels (or chapters) for Alex to explore. In it, she searches for the missing pages of an old weird book she finds in a hidden room. Every page unlocks a new chapter and tells a different story, starring a cast of various characters from various time periods in history, all tied up together by an ancient evil, threatening mankind's existence. While every chapter plays similarly, its settings, plot and atmosphere are completely different. The playable characters range from a Persian swordsman, searching the desert for treasure, to a Canadian firefighter sent to extinguish oil fires ignited by Iraqi troops in the Middle East after the Gulf War. Every character feels unique, if not gameplay-wise, than in its adventures and narrative.

Speaking of gameplay, Eternal Darkness doesn't reinvent the survival horror genre, but adds some really cool ideas to the mix. The game still plays out like a lot of classic survival horror games, with fixed camera angles and clunky controls, but unlike many other games in the genre, the combat is actually quite easy to master. When holding down a certain button, your character will lock on an enemy, and a simple flick of the analog stick will cycle between its body parts (arms, torso or head). While it is still possible to just hack away at the nearest zombie, certain enemies are more vulnerable to attacks on a certain body part, and learning every enemy's weak spot can turn the combat into a breeze. Aiding you in fending off the various monsters (apart from the assorted arsenal of close and long range weapons) is your characters' abilities to use magic (or Magick, as written in game manual). Sure, most of the time it is easier to just clubber monsters to death with a staff than to cast a spell, since every spell requires the character to stand still for a short period of time (moving or taking damage breaks the spell), but after a short learning curve it is easy to integrate them into the combat.

Outside of battle, Magick spells can also be used to restore health or even solve the many puzzles throughout the game. There are three main alignments, each corresponding to a certain aspect of the character: red Magick is for health, green Magick is for sanity and blue Magick is for, well, Magick. Each colour also represents one of the ancient beings threatening the human race. It soon becomes vital to learn which ancient being overpowers which, in order to use the right alignment against the right type of enemies and magical barriers. For example, if red overpowers green, than red attack spell will be more useful against green zombies, while doing little to no damage to blue zombies, since blue overpowers red.

As you progress through the game, you'll be able to unlock more and more spells by either finding a spell scroll, or experimenting with magical runes you acquire when defeating certain enemies. While experimenting can be challenging, it isn't exactly necessary since it is impossible to know what the effect of the new spell is before obtaining its scroll; it is still possible to cast the spell, but not knowing what it does, it can sometimes be completely useless.

The biggest new addition to the survival horror genre Eternal Darkness offers is its brilliant use of in-game insanity. Your character's sanity is represented by a green bar on the top left corner of the screen, and whenever your character is exposed to horrific sites, such as mutilated bodies or gruesome enemies, this bar will slowly decrease. When it reaches its lower levels, strange things will begin to occur, not only to the video game characters, but also to the player itself (and thus breaking the forth wall). It may be anything from a swarm of enemies materializing out of thin air to an error message appearing on the screen warning you there is something wrong with your console. This "Video Game Insanity" works very well when you don't expect it; there is nothing more terrifying than to be told your saved files are corrupted.

Having a pretty decent combat system (for a survival horror game), and some innovative ways of creating atmosphere, gameplay is definitely Eternal Darkness' strength. Coming close second is the sound. Every different character is well dubbed, and although it is sometimes possible to hear the same voice actor acting two different characters, each still sounds believable and authentic. Sound effects are good for the most part, excluding the weird thump you get when hitting an enemy with a short range weapon. The creepy chanting of the Magick spells, either yours or an enemy's, combined with the moaning of zombies and other creatures, can turn a stroll down a quiet, harmless corridor to a terrifying journey into the unknown. As for the background music, all there is to say is that it does a great job conveying the game's dark vibes and atmosphere; there are no masterpieces in the soundtrack, but it sets the mood perfectly.

Eternal Darkness' graphics are pretty standard for a GameCube game, with varied, detailed environments, and decent character models. Considering that this game was released in the year 2002, it does look better than its competition, and there are some moments, especially later in the game, that can give newer games a run for their money. The most noticeable graphical feature is the game's imaginative monster design, particularly the ancient beings themselves. Although there is a bit of a repetition towards the end, most enemies look unique, mesmerizing and terrifying all at the same time. Each ancient being has its own ensemble of monstrous enemies to sic upon the player, with different abilities and weaknesses, making every time you play the game an almost completely new visual experience. Some locations can seem a bit bland, but others are a delight to explore; the attention to details in some chapters is worthy of admiration. Every environment looks like one would expect it to look, from fractured, mildew covered, walls in forgotten temples, to the depressing hallways of the Roivas mansion.

In a nutshell, Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem is one of the best survival horror games on the GameCube, and on any other platform for that matter. It does almost everything right, starting from story and gameplay and ending in design and presentation. Its graphics may have aged a bit, but a good story is timeless, and this is exactly what Eternal Darkness offers. This game is a must-play for every horror fan or GameCube owner out there, yearning for some good old fashion survival horror, with enough innovation and excitement to remain fresh years after its release. Eternal Darkness is truly an unforgettable and eternal gaming experience.