Welcome to Innsmouth Outsider! The location that the game, Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth, is set. Based on an RPG System based upon the written works of H.P. Lovecraft, Horror Writer from the last century, the earlier part of it, famous for that Icon popular all over the Internet, Cthulhu! Whom is the focus of this game, though we never actually meet him, much to many people's disappointment, though it is obvious why. One, you would go instantly mad. Two, it's the end of the World when he wakes up again. Anyway, now to tell you, Outsider, about the game.

Now when I said welcome to you, I didn't really mean it. As you, Jack Walters- Um I mean, Outsider, are very much Not welcome here in Innsmouth. See, we worship Cthulhu and his Deep Ones, and we figure you're going to try and stop us. Don't worry, you'll feel the same towards us very soon.
The first thing you should notice, it that appart from the first/last little cutscenes, all the game is in first person perspective. This also includes Jack's ability to see from the eyes of others, often giving him clues about the positions and actions of enemies, and sometimes other key characters. The Menu scene isn't really first person either, but how exactly would you do that anyway? So you see your actions from Jack's own two eyes, including all the cutscenes. Unlike HL, that also does this, for most cutscenes, you are held in place, unable to move your head the way you want to, completely under the game's control. That's a bit of a mark down, but fully forgivable.

The Game Starts off slowly. You don't get a weapons for ages into the game, and the majority of the first part of the game has No combat at all. You're just going around, figuring things out. Don't worry, these early puzzles are not too bad. Yet. It's a tad slow, but despite it saying "20%" complete, it is not a fifth of the game in reality. It can be a little boring, with a few frights and stuff. Almost like a First Person RPG. With no combat.

Then you go to sleep in a hotel room, get a creepy dream that is explained by reading Shadow Out of Time apparently, and then you live a scene right out of Shadow Over Innsmouth. Basically, the Innsmouth Tainted have decided acting hostilely when you talk to them is not enough. They're going to take up arms, and try to kill you. Thus begins an epic chase from room to room, bolting the doors after your, jumping between buildings, running past creepy sleeping fish women, etc etc. It is done really well, and really does frighten you, you'll blood will be pumping to point of giving you a heart attack, even on the 15th try. Believe me, you will have at least that many tries, as this is very very difficult.

Indeed, the game has insanity enducing difficulty all through the game, in the combat/stealth situations And puzzles, which get real frustrating after a while. GameFAQ has no walkthrough yet, but the forum for the game is full of people seeking tips, and sometimes receiving them. It helps me though. Another thing that makes it difficult is the fact not everything works perfectly. Bolting a door can often lead to opening it by mistake, meaning you let in those chasing you, rather than locking them out. And do not get me started on the stealth. It is just plain awful and rather contrived. You have some weird sneaking mode, but I did not find it them most helpful thing in the world. These bits serve mostly to make you dislike the Innsmouth tainted even more.

Which means, when you get a weapon, Oh Happy Days, it's time for some payback! But it is still not plain sailing, as you're meant to use stealth to creep up on them and stuff. Not the nicest experience. In fact, when I first got a weapon, I just danced around getting everyone's attention, then ducked into a corner with a special save point that repels the servents of cthulhu. While they are stunned, I then smashed them to heck with the Crowbar that is the first weapon you'll lay hands on.

You'll soon get a gun. Now they have some something really rather clever with the gun system. See, any normal person does not go around Aiming all the time, I mean, your hand will get tired for one thing. In this game, you can have a gun out, and fire madly, but you'll have to be real lucky to hit something like that. By holding a button, you go into Aim mode, where Jack holds the gun in the centre of the scene, and actually aims. However, hold it there for too long, and his aim worses as his arm tires. I think this is a ingenious idea, and hope some other games pick it up too some time.

Another impressive thing about this game is some of the showcase enemies and situations. Normal enemies are pretty horrid to look at, but not enitrely scary. However there are a couple bosses, including one that becomes a level unto itself. The Shoggoth. It looks really ugly and does look like it would induce panic and insanity if I ever saw it in real life. Then there's a chase scene with it, that really does bring the blood pressure up. It's great. However, the inbetween parts are less so, with much of that damn bloody stealth.

Another thing of note is the characters. You really do get some real and intense feelings towards some of them, Mostly Hatred and Loathing. Take the head of the FBI. How I wish he had died in the game somewhere. His boys pick you up, them force you to help you on a "investigation" into Innsmouth. After you just managed to escape that hellhole. Then, you just had your first encounter with the Shoggoth, dropping it down an to the dark depths of the building. Meanwhile, he's found a key, that he thinks opens up the bottom level, so tells you to go down there. You may try, but no, you can't put a bullet into his head. Fortunately some of these characters do get violent ends. However, so do some of the more likable people. Anyway, at least you do develop feelings towards the characters, which is a good plus.

The Locations are also well made, though mostly dark and dire. They do fit the mood very well, and as well as Innsmouth Streets and the Marsh Refinery, you also visit Devil's Reef, and even Cthulhu's Sunken city of R'lyeh. Each part of the game is very different, but generally the same Lovecraft mood of doom and gloom...

The Insanity and other like effects are well done. Not as classic as Eternal Darkness, but much more realistic. They do make the game a lot more difficult to play, but there are not there to give you Super Strength and such after all. It really does make you the player feel like you're slowly losing it. Puts the jitters into you even the next day after a night of playing the game.

Another thing of note is the health system. Each body part receives its own damage, and has varing effects. Leg wounds, and even Broken legs, make your speed drop accordingly. As you approach death, everything goes slow, and the screen slowly darkens and loses colour. Get used to this, it happens a lot. As you can't take much damage before you die, making the game very frustrating again.

Now the really bad thing. There are also bugs. Big Bugs. You will Not play the game without encountering at least one of these.

The game is also very linear. That is not so bad, but it does feel a little forced at times. So remember, investigate everything before going "What do I do!??!?!?!?!?!" in every forum you can find.

So this game has a lot of good and bad. I still recommend it, but be ready for much trial and error, and some really frustrating puzzles that will drive you insane. Just be sure to Use Multiple Save at all Times, as there are some spots where you either wish you had some more health and such from a previous point in the game, or you are well and truely stuck to some mistake you made earlier.

-A great game, but Seriously brought down by Bugs, Frustation, AND THOSE GOD-FORSAKEN STEALTH BITS!!:: 7/10