Stylish, cinematic and creepily atmospheric, D would be a good example to show your friends of what 3-D graphics animators can do on the computer these days. From the perspectives, lighting, and direction to the incredible sound effects (you can hear a key slapping into your character's palm) and attention to detail (you can occasionally track your character's movements in the mirror), D is one of the most impressive and professional games yet.
The gameplay here is of the seek-and-find variety, with puzzles thrown in for a little extra challenge. These puzzles mostly involve process of elimination and can be a bit tedious; success depends on equal parts of skill, luck, and patience (with a little knowledge of astrology thrown in). Your character, Laura, moves efficiently, if slowly, through the hospital, only pausing when there is an interactivity or something of note. This keeps the game from bogging down too deeply in the larger areas of the hospital, which is helpful because the game, with its two-hour time limit, is challenging enough as it is.
The real stars of D, though, are the graphics and sound. While Laura is not always quite as expressive as you might expect her to be (Hey, Laura, that's a huge boulder chasing you down the stairs! Why do you look like you're about to doze off?), the designers have plunged her into a dark, ominous world, full of eerie sounds, floating apparitions, and gruesome sights. I'll even admit to getting a little shiver now and then.
One warning: the story line is pretty macabre, and I'm certain a lot of mothers out there don't want their kids getting any ideas from this game. In general, though, if you can handle a little animated blood and some general weirdness, turn down the lights, turn up the volume, and prepare to be wowed
