Occasionally you get to play the sort of game that makes you realize how long it's been since the last time you experienced anything quite so good. Inspired by the work of a noted horror-fiction author, Clive Barker's Undying is a horror-themed first-person shooter--a straightforward-enough concept, and yet one that's never been executed as well as it was in id Software's revolutionary 1993 shooter, Doom. It's true that Undying doesn't ship with the one feature that gave Doom its longevity--a multiplayer mode--but Undying does manage to evoke much of Doom's suspense and high intensity. That's because Undying has superb graphics, truly impressive sound effects, and fast-paced, enjoyable action sequences. The entire game is very atmospheric and a lot of fun to play.

This ruined cathedral is one of the many impressive areas in Undying

Most of Undying takes place in a huge, haunted mansion on the coast of Ireland during the 1920s. It's a rich, colorful, and often beautiful setting. The game uses the powerful Unreal 3D graphics engine to render its strikingly detailed locations and realistic-looking characters. The mansion itself is filled with flickering torchlight and ominous shadows, thick wooden doors, ornate decorations, spiraling stairways, and, of course, many hidden dangers. In particular, besides the architecture itself, the game's lighting and shadow effects are what make Undying look so convincing. The colored lighting in the game is subtle and realistic, while the shadows cast by objects and characters are equally well done. As you explore the darker recesses of the mansion, you'll be struck by just how effectively the game manages to portray these foreboding areas. And when you venture outside the confines of the mansion, you'll be equally impressed. In general, the scenery in Undying looks so good that you'll enjoy simply being in it and taking it in.

Other aspects of Undying, such as its characters and special effects, look nearly as good. You play as Patrick Galloway, an explorer and occultist who owes his life to an ailing man named Jeremiah Covenant, the owner of the mansion. Covenant fears his family bears an evil curse and that his four siblings have already fallen victim to it, and he summons Galloway to investigate the matter. Galloway, Jeremiah, and his two brothers and two sisters all look great. These fully articulated 3D characters look realistic, but they are also memorably stylized. In addition, the various supernatural creatures that Galloway faces during his dangerous mission also look very good. They're fluidly animated, armed with razorlike claws and teeth, and look more frightening and ferocious the closer they get--and most every one of them will do its worst to get as close as possible, all the better to put a quick and painful end to Galloway's life. You'll also face off against some more-conventional foes, such as a band of wicked pirates--but these too are exciting to fight, because of their lifelike movements and their variety of attacks.

Though Undying looks excellent, its use of sound is what really makes the game seem to come alive. Simply put, the sound in Undying is phenomenal. It's true that some of the voice acting can seem a bit forced, but, more importantly, the atmospheric and environmental sounds used throughout the game are varied, realistic, and extremely effective. As you explore the mansion, you might hear the dull roar of a thunderstorm outside of the building, and the effect will change depending on where you are. For instance, in the greenhouse, suddenly the sound of the rain becomes almost deafening as it hammers the glass canopy high overhead. Meanwhile, you'll hear dangerous creatures lurking in the darkness. The various weapons in the game also sound great: You can hear each round quickly being loaded into your trusty revolver, which lets out a very loud bang each time it unloads a chamber. When you connect with a ferocious strike from the powerful melee weapon you find later on, you'll actually hear the sickening sound of flesh being torn, followed by blood spilling to the ground. The sound really serves to enhance every aspect of the game; it's so good that an actual soundtrack isn't used throughout most of Undying, though at the key instances when that game's symphonic music does cue in, it's well suited to the particular scene.

Galloway confronts the lighthouse man

Except during occasional noninteractive cinematic sequences, you'll see everything in Undying from Galloway's perspective. He moves quickly, and during the course of the game he will gather more than eight different weapons and eight miscellaneous magic spells. Generally, the game plays like any recent shooter: You use the keyboard to run in different directions and the mouse to look around and attack. You restore your health by collecting and using health packs or similar items. However, there are some key differences in the gameplay that--together with Undying's great atmosphere--effectively distinguish the game from most other shooters to date.

Specifically, the game features an interesting two-handed combat system: Galloway wields his various weapons in his left hand and can simultaneously cast his spells with his right hand. This allows for some great combinations: Early on, when ammunition for your revolver is very limited, you'll need to take precise, calculated shots at your foes as they close in on you, and then you'll finish them off with the swirling energy bolts of your ectoplasm spell. Later, you'll have more options available. Galloway will find weapons such as the Tibetan war cannon, an enchanted ice-throwing device in the shape of a snarling dragon; fiery Molotov cocktails; a powerful double-barreled shotgun; and, best of all, the exceptionally deadly scythe of the Celts.