If you are looking for a game with a great plot and a haunting atmosphere check this little gem.
I believe that this was the first horror game I ever played. I got it from a friend who wasn't that much into the genre. Having seen and thoroughly enjoyed the film "The Blair Witch Project" upon whose plot the game is based I remember being very excited. I hoped to get a creepy action-adventure game with a dark story. The first thing I can say is that my expectations have been absolutely exceeded.
The story of BW vol.1 concentrates on the murder investigation lead by Doctor Elisabeth Holiday an employee of a secret government organization called The Spookhouse. This mysterious institution reminds, speaking at a glance, of the all known X-files. Anyway - at the turn of the 1930's and 40's a man called Rustin Parr murdered six children and declared that he was forced to do it by the ghost of a woman. He was soon found insane and imprisoned. Was he in fact only a lonely madman or could it be that his mind had been possessed by some ancient evil forces? Our mission is to uncover the truth.
The game starts with a training which takes place in a special section of the Spookhouse where agents raise their skills mainly in combat. You get to know the controls and overall gameplay techniques. I must admit that this was by far the most stylish training I have ever seen in a game. Firstly it fits the story perfectly. Secondly you get quickly introduced to the mood of the game. You venture through dark corridors with a lousy flashlight in one hand and an old gun in the other. From every corner come monstrous sounds, in seconds you feel threatened. Not long after you've started you get attacked by bloodthirsty monsters and if you miss you have to simply run for your life. What a brilliant beginning. I mean I wasn't ever before, from the very first minutes of a game, already accompanied by such a strong feeling of tension and nervousness. And this was only the foretaste of the real horror.
After the training it is time to pack the equipment and travel to the Maryland's Black Hills. Having reached the God-forgotten town of Burkittsville you make yourself comfortable in a hotel room and the adventure part begins. In the town you get to know lots of characters. Most of them will have some interesting information about Parr but they tell you also local myths, legends and other thrilling stories. It is very hard to follow the storyline without listening carefully to what they have to say. There are also many puzzles that require the knowledge of Elisabeth's journal. The investigation within the town isn't only about running around and chattering with the locals, you get something to shoot as well (argh... must.. not… spoil…). As the story unfolds Elspeth enters the dark forest surrounding Burkittsville where she becomes witness of some shocking events and wins an unexpected ally.
Ok - no more about the plot. Let's just say that there are a few amazing twists awaiting and an open, but satisfying, ending. Now let's focus on the technical aspects of the game. BW vol.1 runs on the Nocturne engine that was quite efficient and had huge possibilities back in 2001. I think that this engine was actually a perfect basis for horror games. It allowed the use of realistic shadow rendering and dynamic light effects. Games based on this engine featured pre-rendered backgrounds superimposed with real-time 3D characters. The huge color palette available was used to create in BW vol.1 graphics which can be best described as "dirty". It added of course much to the mood of the story. The soundtrack contained some songs from the 40's, some tribal, indian music and some other various tracks. The detail of the sound effects was quite impressive. The only letdown were the weak sounding guns.
As you have surely noticed, this is not an objective review but it wasn't supposed to be one. I fell in love with BW vol.1 from the moment I pressed "New Game";) . But it wouldn't be professional (lol) to show a game only on the good side. I'll stay pro and list some aspects that you may consider as problematic. Some reviewers reported that they disliked the camera angles in the game. They said they made it very uneasy to aim. Fortunately for those who have trouble with camera work, there is an auto-aiming option. The second flaw could be the map of the forest which is quite confusing. I read one review of someone claiming that the game should be called "Blair Witch vol.1: Lost in the woods":) Also Elsbeth's journal can be viewed only in a small res. and if you choose to play in a high one, the stubborn game will continue to switch between those resolutions. It can be annoying for some and it is surely not healthy for our pc.
Reassuming I thoroughly enjoyed the first episode of the Blair Witch game series (unfortunately I cannot say the same about the rest of the trilogy). It was an incredible adventure with an unforgettable, spooky atmosphere. If you are a horror fan and a patient player, I strongly recommend you to play this game. Believe me, you'll be awarded. If not, try it anyway, maybe you will like the story at least (there is a Twin Peaks reference;) ).
It wonders me why this game has been so quickly forgotten. In fact there is only a small group of players who know the joy of fear and unease that come from BW vol.1. What a shame.
NOTE: If you decide to give this game a try, choose to play on a high difficulty level as it features some puzzles that you won't see in "easy mode".