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THE CALL OF CTHULHU
PS4 OX PC
Platform: PS4, XBOX ONE, PC Genre: RPG-Mystery ESRB: Mature Publisher: Focus Home Interactive Developer: Cyanide Studios
Despite the games need for more graphical polish, Call of Cthulhu lands on its feet
as one of the years best investigative tales.
With Call of Cthulhu, developer
Cyanide has set out to draw
gamers into a frightening horror
tale of famed writer H.P.
Lovecraft. While this
supernatural interactive
approach does lend itself well in
many cases, ultimately what you
discovered under the surface is a
satisfying and entertaining
detective tale, with far less scare
than advertised.
Call of Cthulhu follows the
investigative efforts of Edward
Pierce, a war veteran turned
detective who from the outset
you learn suffers from an
existential crisis. Unfortunately
for Pierce there is a shortage of
cases to work causing our
protagonist to resort to the
bottle for comfort. However,
with a shimmer of hope Pierce is
employed to investigate an old
case left relatively unsolved. The
case of the Hawkins family and
their untimely death.
Arriving at Darkwater Island,
where the game takes shape is
depicted somewhere near
Boston, Massachusetts. Off the
boat and off you go from one
investigative discovery to the
next. Darkwater Island is a dreary
location with it inhabitants who
are far from hostile, yet as you
continue down this rabbit hole
of clues the early island
pleasantries are soon forgotten.
Consisting of fishermen,
unintelligent law enforcement
officers, bootleggers and the
like, initially there is a feeling of
hopelessness amidst the islands
inhabitants, who seem most
content reliving the past, which
is associated with what is known
as ‘The Great Catch’. I will let you
discover its meaning on your
own.
The Call of Cthulhu is layered
with impressive detection
analysis features. From
interviewing potential suspects
which is supported with courses
of narrative points as options of
truth via the games attractive
skill tree and engaging voice
acting, to metaphysically
breaking down a crime-scene.
Similar to the likes of Detroit
Become Human, with a more
simple approach to discovering
the truth, Pierce has the ability
to visit a crime-scene and
supernaturally analyze the
events leading to important
clues which move the story
forward. Upon utilizing the
mastery of persuasion while
interviewing NPC’s, coupled with
the profound new discoveries of
retracing key events, the game
keeps you glued to the screen.
Moving the narrative forward,
players are also introduced to
brain-teasing puzzles, which
always have more than one way
of being deciphered. Simply put,
the more truth disclosed to
Pierce by way of his relentless
pursuits, the harder it becomes
putting the controller down.
While it has been mentioned
that Call of Cthulhu is less scare
than its previews may imply, the
scare approach taken here
seems constructed through the
games literature and art. The
tone of manuscripts, the weighty
impressions of Ms. Hawkins
occultic paintings, the mood of
the setting, all seems to perfectly
compliment the investigative
tension of the gameplay.
Where Call of Cthulhu shows
its mortality is in its
presentation, mainly due to
poorly rendered and lazy
designed character models and
muddy environmental designs.
All too often many NPC’s were
literally the same exact model.
Of course, for the games main
characters who played key roles
in your encounters and or new
discoveries developer Cyanide
managed to clearly draw model
distinctions. However, there was
no escaping stumbling upon he
same model at almost every
turn. In addition, while the game
offered a somewhat option to
stealth when trying to evade
captures it truly felt half-baked
in execution.
For the most part, while
dangers does become a real
thing throughout this 12 hour
journey, players are actually
never in direct lines of dangers.
Pierce being the investigative
nerd that he is, never uses
traditional weapons to gain the
advantage, instead he utilizes his
intellect and clever dexterity to
outwit foes and progress to the
games end, which may lead our
detective into madness.
However, that will be for you to
decide.
Call of Cthulhu is a
paranormal detective experience
offering disconcerting,
sometimes daunting and
incessant engagements of
discovery. Even if you never read
the Lovecraftian tales, you will
certainly appreciate what
Cyanide has developed here.
Despite the games need for
more graphical polish, Call of
Cthulhu lands on its feet as one
of the years best investigative
tales.
7.0