Game Statistics

• Play has 12 different characters with a storyline spanning over 2 millennia.
• Saving requires 15 data blocks.
• 12 different chapters.
• 3 game paths.
• Single disk 1.35 gigabytes.

Game Design
If there is one thing that I am sure of, it is that the game play style of Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem is unique to itself. When Eternal Darkness was in development, several individuals classified it as a "Resident Evil" type game. While Eternal Darkness has some similarities to the Resident Evil series, it is a different type of game. In fact, the only real way to explain the game play style of Eternal Darkness, is to compare it to several other video games.

Eternal Darkness is primarily an action game with a great deal of adventure elements. In each of the twelve levels, you play as a different character, each from a different era. You attack enemies with your fists, melee weapons (swords, knives, etc.) or ranged weapons (pea shooters, revolvers, etc.) Fighting with melee weapons feels a lot like those hack and slash type games (Gauntlet Legends) while using ranged weapons feels a lot like Resident Evil. When in combat, pressing R will target enemies. When the targeting system is activated, combat feels somewhat like the Zelda series on the Nintendo 64.

Often in 3-D action adventure games, the camera angles hinder game play and are often cumbersome. In Eternal Darkness, camera angles cannot be adjusted. One might think that not having a free camera system would make for some bad camera angles. In fact, it does not. In every single room in the game, the camera angle is fixed to benefit that specific room. That means that in every area of the game, the camera angle is set to get the best possible view. Fantastic. While the camera system is fantastic, it is not perfect. Sometimes you may find it hard to locate and attack an enemy. Luckily, most enemies in the game are not fast. Plus, one can simply use the targeting system to lock on to an enemy's location.

The most innovative aspect of this game is the sanity meter. When your character sees an enemy, he/she will lose some sanity. If a great deal of sanity is lost, many different sanity effects will occur that mix game reality with fantasy. There are several different sanity effects, but none of them will be mentioned so as not to spoil the game. Sanity effects are most effective the first time the gamer sees them. Reactions will range from, "What was that?" to "Cool, they got me there." As you progress through the game, you get to the point where you expect sanity effects and you begin to think, "That was a cool sanity effect." In addition, sanity effects have less of a freighting impact and more of a physiological impact. As your sanity meter begins to decrease, you begin to think, "This game is going to try and freak me out!" or you think "Look at this game, filling my mind with paranoid thoughts."

Adventure elements in this game are very reminiscent to Zelda games as well. While the puzzles are not as elaborate or as over-the-top as the ones found in Zelda games, each puzzle is unique and will always keep you thinking.

When it all boils down, you quickly realize that Eternal Darkness is one of the best-designed games released this year. This game has been in development for a long time (it was originally an Nintendo 64 title) and it shows.

Graphics
Eternal Darkness has some of the best graphics on the Nintendo GameCube. All of the characters and enemies are extremely well detailed. The facial expressions are top notch. The environments are very detailed as well. The levels are very dark as well; the darkness does a great job setting the mood, but one might have trouble seeing enemies at certain points in the game. All of the magickal special effects are excellent. The full-motion video sequences are fantastic as well. With all the excellent graphical detail, the frame rate stays constant and amazing.

Sound
The audio in this game does a fantastic job of setting mood. You can hear creeps, screams and various other sounds designed to scare you. There is excellent audio detail all over the place. Take footsteps for example. If you are walking, footsteps sound quiet while they are much louder if you are running; each substance you can step on has its own sound effect. Sound detail like this can be found everywhere. Furthermore, sound effects will be louder if they occur closer to the camera. The music in this game does a great job setting the mood, but the soundtracks aren't the greatest thing out there. There definitely aren't any tracks that you will be humming at work or school. Also, Eternal Darkness supports Dolby Pro Logic II surround sound for excellent 3-dimentional positional sound.

Control
Eternal Darkness has a control scheme that is unique and fits itself nicely. The control stick is used to move your character and to navigate through menus. The A button is the main attack button. Holding down X will make your character sneak around. Holding L will allow your character to run. Pressing R starts the targeting regiment. When holding R, you can use the control stick to attack different parts of an enemy's body (head, arms, torso). Y and the control pad buttons are used as spell hotkeys. Finally, the B button, which is a context sensitive button. It is used for various things, such as opening doors, picking up items or finishing off enemies.

Satisfaction
Gamers looking for a great horror game are going to find it in Eternal Darkness. Gamers looking for an excellent action/adventure game are going to find it in Eternal Darkness. Eternal Darkness is not the hardest game out there. The puzzles in this game are pretty straightforward. Some may consider the puzzles in this too easy. However, in Eternal Darkness, the main challenge is not the puzzles but fighting off the enemies, surviving and controlling your sanity meter. If you control your sanity meter, you control your character and you control the game.

Replay Value/Game Length
While most single player games don't get as great marks in this sector as multiplayer games do, Eternal Darkness contains three different paths to complete the game. Each of the three paths varies slightly but the game is only truly complete when you beat all of the three paths. It will take approximately 20 to 30 hours to complete one path and therefore the game is approximately 60 to 90 hours long if you decide to finish all three paths. A very long game indeed.

Overall
Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem is one of those rare gems that only comes along every 5 years or so. A tremendous game. I don't think anyone should be saying that there aren't any good mature games on the GameCube anymore.

Game Design	9.4
Mechanics	9.0
Innovation	10
Originality	10
Extras	8.0
Depth	10
Graphics	9.8
Character/Animation	10
Environment	9.5
Framerate	10
Sound	9.3
Music	8.5
Sound FX/Voice	10
Control	9.3
During Play	9.0
Menus	10
Functionality	9.0
Satisfaction	9.0
Challenge	9.0
Fun-Factor	9.0
Replay Value/Game Length	9.0
FINAL SCORE	9.4

Review by Player Guy Forever

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