Just like I said I am quite into this game, but I just don't feel that it has same kind of huge immerssion than the third one. I do like the level of detail but sometimes quantity matters more than quality. Maps are relatively small and there is less room for tactics - especially the campaing time to time playes more like modern Kingäs Bounty games expect there is day cycle and turns. Although I have had much fun with the game, which seems to be rather challening time to time. Alas, I never have felt being drawn to it, that has happened with HoMM III - the time has just flown with that one. This again feels time to time bit dragging, but the charm of HoMM still lives high. Good, but not the best!
On 2001 I was little to young to play games like these and was more acquinted with Harry Potter games and oddly this kinda reminds me of those games and I have felt time to time playing some adult version of it. I knew partly what I had coming for I know Clive Barker's productions both in movies and in later games. Jericho is underrated piece of art! This game however felt even more unique and oddly compelling having really witty mechanics and wide areas reminding that the game is almost 25 years old! The mixture of using both magic and weapons must have been really brave move on that time and it works quite nicely - it ain't even close to perfection but runs quite smoothly and knowing how the games actually were in early 2000s the controls work more than adequetly! I also admired how open the areas are - the first mansion is huge followed by monastery and its vicinity area. There is a lot to be explored and there is some secret areas and bonuses in the game that are easily to be missed if you dont keep your eyes open. They ain't usually necessery but can provide you heavier weaponry or magic in the earlyhand - it is actually a shame that achievements ain't added for it could motivate to search even more. I applaude also to the feature that I surely remember from Fran Bow 10 years later. The spell you get in the beginning lets you literally see dead people or some dark visions on most unsettling and sinister ways. I have had a couple of really good scares although some of them have been for cheap tricks like monsters ambushing you by spawning just behind you. However features like this make the game so appealing and it is just mesmerizing to see such an really open minded ideas on every aspect and even if everything might not be excellent the entirety is much much more than welcoming. How the game has aged is a harsh question and for it has such many features that are surely out of fashion nowadays, but nevertheless it is a delicious pinacle from the past!!
One of the best first person shooters ever that doesn't need facelift or remake. The gog outdid themselves with this one! The mixture of Horror and FPS is incredibly strong in this one and together with another classic Condemned: Criminal Origins they crowned Monolith Productions kings of new wave of first person horror. That promised kingdom has been long gone but nevertheless it has been more than terrific to see how well this has stood the test of time in tensive and horrifying atmosphere and smooth combat. Usually games as old as this turn minorily dissappointing for memories grow sweeter with time, but this one has exceededs all the exceptions and more, making it a triumph and a game that everyone should play through once in their lifetime!
I have a theory that group of devs wanted to make a game like Max Payne, but did not want to use a lot of money. Action, guns, sounds and gameplay are terrifiengly close to MP:s but everything else is way off. Story could be a rip off from a film script made by 10 year old - you play El Matador a DEA cop who busts whole cartel eliminting its members one by one filling up every single cliche there could be. Even the fewest of twists are so ridilulously set that I thought almost that it was comedy but did not find myself laughing too much. The plot is rambling nonsense and all what matters is that you go guns blazing and fight around the world. I almost would like to take 1 more star away for El Matador's only pro is the copied gameplay, but yet again bullet time is not patented feature and it surely is entertaining even when everything else is not much more than crap. I'd buy that for a dollar, but not spent a single penny more!
My apologizes but I must say express that I got so mad in other review about the game by memeber who thinks that they can give 5 stars for the game that they have not even played. That's absolute dim-witted and hoax! Just for the fact that one can't stay in their pants that the game been released doesn't mean that they can't praise it just for this only thing. No! This leads in the false status and false expectations of the game! Let's keep our reviews honest and rational. I yield for now..
