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Idol FX is a Swedish developer firm which provides principally
Xbox games. However, this PC game is an atmospheric horror FPS. Set in
1912 in a castle in the Carpathians, a wedding is about to take place
between the sister of the protagonist and the count Malachi. Rebecca and
the family Patterson are already in the castle when the latecomer and
protagonist James Patterson arrives. However, the count is a vampire and
has imprisoned the family (spread in different areas of the whole castle).
Now it is a matter of releasing them from their evil clutchesn and to
bring them to a consecrated chamber at the entrance to the castle where
some some helpful equipment from her suitcases can be produced. There
is a cup which one can fill with holy water, garlic, different drinks
which bring more speed, stamina or life for 6 minutes. The game is effective
in its horror elements. The music is eventful and atmospheric; the graphics
are state-of-the-art, but it is not also free from problems. They use
intentionally coarse textures and generate with the scanty light in the
castle a mood like in the old black-and-white horror films of the 30s.
This is underlined by some cutscenes which were inspired quite unambiguously
by these films, even if Max Murnau's Nosferatu (classic silent film from
the early 20s) the real foundation-stone of the game it might be. As weapons:
a sword, revolver, old pistols and guns, wooden stakes (only for vampires
suitably), a cross, submachine gun and a cup which one can fill with holy
water to splash the opponents with it. As an opponent there are farmers
(with old pistol, gun or scythe), dogs, Zombies, Ghouls, rats (only rarely)
and of course vampires (which although one comes shortly after 22 o'clock
and is it night, mostly in their coffins are sleeping). To rescue the
members of the family (and lead them for an irritating time back to the
consecrated chamber at the entrance) one must look principally for keys.
Also, the castle is newly regenerated at the start of the game (some important
points remain the same), amounts of things like opponents vary with every
loading process. The regeneration does not change the game so much that
one could not recognize the elements easily. But thereby it is not possible
to tell a real story. The found members always ask the same vague questions.
Maybe it would be better to remove the variations and to tell one story
more intensely... Nosferatu is therefore certainly a shooter not in the
top ranks, but the horror elements are well done and more numerous than
with Undying. Whoever likes horror games should play this in any case,
the playing time amounts to only 5-6 hours. |
