Inspired by the fictional writings of H.P. Lovecraft and a well-followed D20 fantasy RPG epic, the highly anticipated Call of Cthulhu will thrust gamers into the darkest realms of modern horror-adventure. Cloaked in the weathered mercantile period of the early 20th century, players assume the role of private-eye Jack Walters. Like most detectives Jack isn't all peaches and pecan pie and suffers from an acute absence of past -which amusingly is the same period of time that this game was in development for, six years. Even more worrying is that at any moment Jack may lapse into his previous state of insanity and collect his ticket into the afterlife.

The opening story of Call of Cthulhu will share Jack's desperation as he tries to reclaim what remains of his sanity and serviceable future. To this end, Call of Cthulhu begins with Jack accepting what initially appears to be a straightforward missing person's case; which leads him to the remote seaside town of Innsmouth. Before long, Jack is pushed along a twisted thread of deadly encounters, setting in motion a gripping death hunt and race against the malevolent Order of Dagon. His every move relentlessly pursued, you must help Jack evade the almost mutant-like towns folk and unravel the darker mysteries of a desolate fishing town, which has traded its soul for a tainted Midas touch.

Call of Cthulhu is predominantly a horror-adventure game that emphasizes secret exploration over full-frontal conflict. You're a detective after all, so while you will be able to shoot 'em up with revolvers, shotguns, and the like, it's always better to evaluate your environment and simply follow the trail of incidents. Also, Jack's fragile state and relative lack of firepower really aims to direct gamers into a more resourceful mindset, and it works. Mind you, this is not to say Cthulhu is a slouch when it comes to action, on the contrary. The game features many riveting moments of conflict and some of its chase sequences will fill gamers with absolute fear.

In one example Jack is woken during a restless nights slumber at the local Innsmouth hotel by a group of aggressive citizens. As their fists pound upon the timber frame, the game's insanity system (clearly inspired by its D20 heritage) simulates Jack's mind racing with dizzying visual fluctuation. Progressively, the controller also begins to pound and lax. In any situation that involves shock or anxiety the game will actually simulate these effects using visual, aural, and tactile cues. With Jack in a state of complete panic you will literally have to stumble and sway Jack to safety. When chased throughout Innsmouth it is also possible to interact with the game environment, such as bolting doors and shifting furniture to fortify your position. Elements like these really help to make Call of Cthulhu an exhilarating game. For a moment you forget about the artificial context and become devoted to one exceptional objective; survival.

However, for a game that claims not to revolve around combat Call of Cthulhu certainly makes level progression a dicey concern. To simply state, combat often feels inevitable and the game's FPS shooting mechanics can be a little testing. Furthermore, enemies take unusual amounts of damage before expiring, which makes a shootout against the town's hordes almost impossible. Still, the game's combat difficulty is understandable considering that Call of Cthulhu is all about traversing the darkness that resides in the world around and not confronting it head-on.

Not only that, but Jack is a gumshoe PI and not your stereotypical 'badass mofo' from the forbidden corners of a developers Id. It is just unfortunate that the stealth system is somewhat marred, as you will frequently be required to wander into the open with little alternative. Even if you hug the shadows and painstakingly creep through the near pitch-black labyrinths and city warrens, enemies will frequently identify you with their uncanny big-bad senses. The result of such occurrence is momentary pantaloon filling panic, as you endlessly play dope-on-a-rope with the not so lovely locals. Needless to say death is frequent and repetition just as probable.

A great addition to Call of Cthulhu's realism is that Jack doesn't take fondly to any form of body damage. Get yourself shot in the leg and it's Limp City for you. Endure a terminal injury and you better patch yourself up before draining yourself of bodily claret -you'll notice this occurring as the screen dims to a greyer shade of pale. There is no HUD or reticule in Call of Cthulhu so you will have to rely on what Jack cries, mumbles, sees, or does in order to determine how you are faring. However, you can also access the game's body management system, which is a novel component helping you to identify the locations of Jack's injuries and with the right medical supplies treat wounds accordingly. Also, if you happen to be out of bandages, sutures, or splints, why not try a blissful dose of morphine; but don't become too indulgent as you are likely to suffer from delusions and even 'can you believe it- addiction. Just remember to be vigilant of Jack's condition, otherwise it's lights out.

On a lower note it must be stated that Call of Cthulhu is not free of bugs and glitches. During my time with Cthulhu I encountered several strange phenomenon, which ranged from the unusual to the down-right infuriating. One broken issue occurred during a perilous escape from Innsmouth, where a befriended Ruth finds herself held captive by the local community of Dagonites. It was up to Jack to come to her aid and to do such I was required to: a) retrieving a key to an inconsiderately locked door; and b) navigate a set of ceiling rafters to reach and free Ruth (before her untimely fall as it turns out).

Everything was going to plan. I had the key and I had successfully backtracked to save my progress. However, it was unknown to me that I had triggered a timed event from the moment I collected the key. Unfortunately, my saving of the game had left me with little time to reach Ruth and stop her less-than-elegant fall from grace. With my last usable gamesave several chapters prior, I was unable to do anything other than eject the game disk, insert expletives, and start all over again' from the very beginning.

Regardless of Cthulhu's breakdown with Ruth the game still manages to be a captivating triumph from start to finish. Not only is the perilous hunt gripping, but it is also showcased in a visually pleasing soir'e. The game drips of dank, dark atmosphere, and during your time at Innsmouth you really get the sense you are an outsider fringing on a seal of cataclysm. It must be acknowledged that the game's engine does look less than cutting edge; however this seems to be a common occurrence with games that have been in extended periods of development (i.e. Galleon). The town, dockyard wharfs, gold processing factory, and many other locations look very authentic and exude a lovely sense of chilling decay. The numerous cinematic portions of the game are also quite gripping and bring the milieu of the Cthulhu universe to life.

Additional mention must also be given to Cthulhu's tremendous insanity system, which may frequently churn your stomach and possibly your very wits. Without a doubt the ability to visually experience oscillating vertigo, blurred vision from intolerable panic, and a host of other emotional states that twists and contort the screen, will plunge gamers into a heightened state of realism. Witness one too many dead bodies and Jack will start to hear voices, or panic as his teeth chatter and the walls around him meander in and out of reality. Take a gun shot blast to any part of your body and you immediately experience Jack's pain and incapacitated paradox. It is a lovely system and certainly adds a deeper level of immersion than has previously been explored in the horror genre (i.e. Fahrenheit XBW: 83%).

Call of Cthulhu's audio also exuberates a rich tenor, which was only reduced by the repetitive howl of enemies -'I SEE HIM!!' yells the guttural oaf for the umpteenth time. Otherwise Call of Cthulhu has an outstanding collection of ambient sounds and musical scores that consistently enrich the game-world and evoke a sense of impending threat. Voice acting for Cthulhu has also been produced with great results and Jack's voice accurately authenticates the role of a derelict gumshoe to great ends. As with the often frantic pace of Cthulhu the rupture of braking doors, chasing hordes, emotional quips, and ethereal voices each contribute to making Call of Cthulhu an engaging ride.