Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth

 Xbox
  • Publisher: 2K Games
  • Release Date: Oct 24, 2005
  • Also On: PC
Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth Image
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 51 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 46 Ratings

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  • Summary: It's time for you to draw upon your skills in exploration, investigation, and combat as you battle the evil incarnate. Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth combines both action and adventure elements into a first-person horror experience. You'll combat enemies using the environment,It's time for you to draw upon your skills in exploration, investigation, and combat as you battle the evil incarnate. Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth combines both action and adventure elements into a first-person horror experience. You'll combat enemies using the environment, powerful and evil artifacts, Alien technology, and authentic 1920s weaponry. Cthulhu enemies can roam freely around the environment--opening doors and tracking you down single-handedly or in groups. A detailed damage and healing system breaks down the healing process into conditions and treatments. … Expand
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 40 out of 51
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 51
  3. Negative: 1 out of 51
  1. eToychest
    95
    The gameplay here is a truly unique and realistic experience, seamlessly blending elements of adventure, stealth, and first-person shooter games into an intriguing and coherent package.
  2. BonusStage
    88
    Eerie, deeply disturbing and wonderfully designed for maximum emotional effectiveness, the game has a way of getting under your skin and taking root, drawing on your own fears and putting forth leaves and fruit that amplify the experience.
  3. Console Gameworld
    85
    Its challenging difficulty and immersive design will keep players on the edge of their seat from start to finish.
  4. Computer and Video Games
    80
    The game draws on the rich material inspired by Lovecraft's twisted world, and actually recreates its creeping, claustrophobic horror surprisingly well. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]
  5. Armchair Empire
    79
    Offers a great (mature) story, some heart-stopping moments, and some great evolution of the first-person shooter genre, even if it does have some warts.
  6. DailyGame
    75
    One of those games that has a solid mix of gameplay elements and takes its source material seriously, ensuring plenty of scary moments and schoolgirl-shrieks from players.
  7. Edge Magazine
    40
    Once guns are acquired you feel less helpless, but the combat is awkward with enemies reacting poorly to hits and a compulsory manual reload that is ponderous beyond belief. In trying to make the game realistic, Headfirst has grievously shot itself in the foot. [Dec 2005, p.112]
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See all 51 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 26
  3. Negative: 5 out of 26
  1. A.
    Dec 28, 2007
    10
    I love it. I took the time to write down all the quotes from each loading screen by recording the loading screens with my vcr. lol The I love it. I took the time to write down all the quotes from each loading screen by recording the loading screens with my vcr. lol The struggle with the controls and glitches is worth it..don't give up. All the way to the end!… Expand
  2. JamesW.
    Oct 27, 2005
    10
    The most enthralling, frightening, and deeply immersive survival horror -- make that videogame -- I've ever had the pleasure to The most enthralling, frightening, and deeply immersive survival horror -- make that videogame -- I've ever had the pleasure to experience. Well done to Headfirst!!! Do yourself a favor and pick this up.… Expand
  4. WillD.
    Nov 1, 2005
    10
    Horror as horror should be. Excellent pacing, beautiful visuals. Scary as hell.
  5. JoseQ.
    Nov 21, 2005
    9
    This is an amazing game! What it lacks in graphics, it more than makes up for with an increadible story, a unique and scary as hell This is an amazing game! What it lacks in graphics, it more than makes up for with an increadible story, a unique and scary as hell atmosphere, and total immersion of the player into the story. This is not your typical enter-the-room-with-guns-blazing FPS, but a perfect combination of an horror movie/adventure game viewed in the first person. The first 1/3 of the game you don't even have a weapon, which not only adds to the feeling of dread and appearant doom, but it teaches you what kind of exploring and puzzle solving you will be required to do in order to advance the story. Once weapons are acquired, the puzzle solving and exploring still needs to be done and actually gets a little harder, so it never becomes a mindless shooting fest. Players who want to be challenged and are looking for something different, this game is a must play. The story might be linear, but finding the way and keeping your sanity are not.… Expand
  6. RaffaeleL.
    May 12, 2006
    9
    One of the best horror games i ever played.. dynamic, balanced puzzles... i read all of the text and dialogues of the game and found noone ofOne of the best horror games i ever played.. dynamic, balanced puzzles... i read all of the text and dialogues of the game and found noone of those to be boring; many jumps off the chair assured.… Expand
  7. Salk
    Jul 24, 2014
    8
    An overall very interesting and worth being played game. Especially for H.P. Lovecraft fans.

    What works: - A number of ideas: the sanity    An overall very interesting and worth being played game. Especially for H.P. Lovecraft fans.

    What works:

    - A number of ideas: the sanity factor, the screen without HUD
    - The use of Lovecraft material for creating the game
    - The overall atmosphere of dread and isolation
    - The puzzles: they are often very well made and fairly engaging
    - The decision of relying on aiming down the sight (no in game crosshair)
    - The damage system being divided into 3 categories (bandage, splint, suture, antidote)

    What doesn't work:

    - The graphic is sometimes too blurry and muddy, making difficult to not only spot some items but even simple orientation
    - Respawn (I loathe it as game concept)
    - Lack of polish (it is obvious that corners have been cut and the ambition of the project reduced greatly from how originally anticipated)

    What is so-so:

    - The level design is most of the times very good and well focused (best chapters: Chapter 2 - Attack Of The Fuccing Fishmen, Chapter 3 - Jail Break and Chapter 7 - Dangerous Voyage) but sometimes there is an annoying lack of feedback about the need of backtracking (without much of a valid reason) while some other levels are much less spot on (Chapter 5 and Chapter 11 come to mind)
    - The AI: sometimes the enemies are in front of me but don't see me for some strange reason
    - Voice acting (some are good, wrong choice of tone for the protagonist who sounds too matter-of-face in most situations)    … Expand
  8. RicochetPhoenix
    May 14, 2011
    0
    The idea of a horror game based around HP Lovecraft's "Shadow Over Innsmouth" short story is awesome, and it's a real shame that this gameThe idea of a horror game based around HP Lovecraft's "Shadow Over Innsmouth" short story is awesome, and it's a real shame that this game fails to deliver in every way other than the storytelling aspect. The game is way too dark and grey/brown to ever tell what is going on and you can easily overlook elements in the environment. The game doesn't give you an actual weapon until nearly 3 hours into it when you find your first guns. No ability to use melee? C'mon. The AI is annoying, the cutscenes are unskippable, the insanity factor comes into play way too easily and makes things blurry (things are hard enough to see in this game as it is), and the stealth doesn't really work at all. This is just a complete waste of time and utter disappointment. I tried very hard to enjoy this game but it just doesn't have what it takes to be called a good game. Other horror games over the years ranging from Silent Hill to Resident Evil Remake to Eternal Darkness to Dead Space 2 are all vastly superior in every way. Avoid this one, even if you are a Lovecraft fan like me.… Expand

See all 26 User Reviews

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Awards & Rankings

63
#63 Best Xbox Game of 2005
21
#21 Most Discussed Xbox Game of 2005
47
#47 Most Shared Xbox Game of 2005