Clive Barker's Undying

Still as good as when it came out. Great levels, great characters, great story. I am still discovering new uses for some of the spells, each time I replay it. (For those who haven’t played it before: spells aren’t your only means of attack; there’s also firearms and mystical weapons.) I should mention, there are a handful of places where this game is genuinely scary, and I don’t mean jump scares. I remember reading that there was talk of a sequel, shortly after this came out, but the plans fell apart. Quite a shame, because this will leave you wanting more.

So System Shock 2 was basically the start of modern first person horror PC games. Unfortunately it was kind of clunky and the RPG system (breaking weapon!) really detracted from the experience. Undying was basically the first post-SS2 game that made the focus all on traditional action FPS gameplay. It half succeeded. For the first half of the game, it was pretty good. A spooky intro before any enemies appear. Weird stuff happening. The early ghoul/wolf enemies (howlers) were the first melee enemies in an FPS game to actually be a threat (SS2 and Doom monsters could be endlessly back stepped). The weapon/magic system was innovative at the time. Then, shortly after you dispatch the first sibling, it starts unraveling. You go from spooky gothic monsters to fighting human monks (snooze), unscary pirates, and finally cavemen(!) in a level that seems like it was taken out of a Turok game. They obviously ran out of time making the game and you're rushed straight to the last boss. So you had half a good game...for the time. It has NOT aged well at all. The action is clunky and the enemies are just annoying after 15 years of advancements. And that's while you're still in the first half! Once the boring 2nd half kicks in, all but the most hardcore nostalgia players will most likely quit. For the super nostalgic and game historians only.

Clive Barker's Undying was a game both ahead of its time, and a product of its time. How is this juxtaposition possible? Well, listen, and find out. Undying is an atmospheric, story-line-driven FPS made with the Unreal Tournament engine, based in the 1920s in a fictional place, with mixed themes of both classic Gothic horror and a slight tinge of the cosmic horror brought about by HP Lovecraft. With all that said, you play as Patrick Galloway, a veteran of WWI and paranormal investigator, going back to his war-buddy's (Jeremiah Covenant's) estate to help with strange happenings... The gameplay is a product of its era: You kill monsters, fight bosses, and solve level-based puzzles in a way that is very akin to the classic "key-fetching" genre of FPS games, although this key-fetching in its highest form, with the puzzles fitting to the levels. What is different is the inclusion of upgradable spells, and ammo types for weapons. Furthermore, some design choices, like an in-game journal, and radial-dial menus for weapon and spell selection really add quality of life and mark the game as ahead of its time - these are game design aspects which wouldn't be fully capitalized on or popularized in gaming for another five years. That said, where the game really shines is the atmosphere - it feels that you are running around on a creepy estate where the fabric of reality is wearing thin and strange things are afoot. Major kudos to the sound designer! You can tell they put a lot of work in that area. If you are looking for an action-shooter with weird and interesting things, this is the game for you. There are a variety of enemies and ways to kill them that it'll warrant a couple playthroughs. If you're a casual gamer, you may become frustrated with juggling your inventory and switching between weapons/spells, especially in the heat of combat. If that sounds like something you might get angry with, I recommend playing the game on easy - but still give it a shot!

I really enjoyed this game, it is extremely underrated. I was only exposed to Clive Barker's work in film, but he has constructed great lore with an interesting setting here. The powers and abilities were so much fun to use. I highly recommend this overlooked masterpiece.

From the mind of horror master Clive Barker comes the game before the much ill fated "Jericho". It is an excellent horror FPS with a great story and some pretty solid voice acting. I personally enjoy this game and it is one of my favorites from the era. Sadly, we no longer get games of this ilk.