I loved Clive Barker's Undying when I played it soon after its release. The atmosphere was great and it had a good story with a likeable main character in Patrick. The graphical presentation of the game was very good for its day, so much so that it wouldn't detract at all from replaying it again today. The unique weapons that grow more powerful over time and the excellent interface to the game really add something special to an outstanding atmospheric and at times scary adventure. The music and sound effects are quite good. In one particular section, a very unexpected event happened that genuinely scared me the first time. Rare is the game that pulls that off in my experience. I would highly recommend Undying to anyone who enjoys shooters and horror themed games.
It's rare that a game impresses me to the extent this one has. It's one of those rare gems that gets it all right in every way. The action and the story that lends purpose to it are excellent. The game manages to incorporate everything from stealth action to melee combat to run and gun shooting to wreaking havoc in a nearly invincible (but not completely) mech and more. It's an action lover's dream to play. This title is living proof that it is possible to take a movie franchise and make a great game from that source material. A lot of developers could learn plenty by playing through Riddick. The fantastic gameplay of Chronicles of Riddick is greatly enhanced by excellent visuals that recreate the gritty prison and other environments of Butcher Bay. It's also helped by superb music and sound that highlight the tense action and sometimes creepy sequences as you play. I liked the voice acting too with cutscenes that were interesting and kept the story flowing. You meet a good variety of interesting characters in your travels and the ultimate conclusion to the game is very satisfying but I won't say anymore about that so as not to spoil it for you. It's hard to think of anything to criticize here and that's a rarity itself. This is just one of those special, memorable gaming experiences that no action gamer should miss. Yes, it really is that good. The consistency with which user reviewers have highly ranked this game should tell you something about its quality. I just wanted to add one more recent review to the many accolades this game so richly deserves. If this one slipped under the radar for you and you love these kinds of games you owe it to yourself to buy it and enjoy it now. Play this. You won't be sorry. It's among the better games I have ever played and I don't toss that kind of praise around lightly. It really is. Who knew a game based on a film could be so incredibly good? Well, this one is. As for the sequel also included here, consider that a bonus even though it is universally regarded as a lukewarm followup to Butcher Bay. It was tough to follow an act that good in this case.
I played this game in its entirety when it was new and was eagerly awaiting its release on GOG following the releases of the other Ultimas so far. While many Ultima fans would say Ultima VII Parts I and II marked the high point of the series and I would not disagree with them, this is a good and very fun game too. As you can see on this page, the game's graphics look amazingly good considering its age. Like Ultima VII, this is an oldie that has aged well I would say. The gameplay is a departure from Ultima VII in that you as the Avatar are alone in the world, continuing the Guardian saga. The much maligned jumping puzzles are not nearly so prevalent as the hoopla over them in the past might cause one to think and I never had a lot of trouble with them anyway. I do not have good Mario skills either. It just wasn't a big deal and really didn't detract from the experience in any way significant enough that I even recall it. I would not let stories of jumping put you off from enjoying another great Ultima game. It's a little bit more action RPG which is a nice change of pace from the previous installments. Yet, there is still a large and interesting world to explore with plenty of monsters to meet and defeat. And of course, it is fun to see where the story of you and the Guardian continues to take you. If you enjoyed Ultima VII, I would urge you to give this one a fair shot. I don't think you'll be disappointed. It is in many ways more of the same special Ultima goodness. I know I am sure looking forward to a replay now that I can again after so many years thanks to GOG and EA. You are the Avatar! You must go forth to save Britannia yet again and you shall fear no jumping!
