This is the most fun and interesting game I played in a very long time. It looks like a highly polished 16-bit RPG, likes of which you could see on the early 90s Commodore Amiga and PC machines. The atmosphere is great, but if you are not into Lovecraft's stories (and well acquainted with the Lovecraftian lore), you will miss much. The game-play is solid and once you get the hang of it, really entertaining. There are five characters that you gradually unlock, as the story progresses, each one with unique abilities and fighting mechanics. There is no typical RPG leveling, but you discover more and more powerful items and artifacts that can drastically increase your character's stats. Level layout is randomized on each playthrough. However, be aware that it is a very challenging game, that doesn't cater to habits of the average modern player. It has a difficulty curve, but after first few chapters of the first story the threat level goes up dramatically, even on easy difficulty. Input on what you are expected to do is minimal. You need to explore each level (they are full of traps and secrets), collect important items and solve puzzles - on your own. It is possible to miss a quest item or an entire additional level. Luckily you can always restart any of the previous stories and finish it properly the second time. Most of the negative reviews are, I strongly suspect, based on unwillingness to invest time and effort. This game belongs in spirit to another era, when players were expected to try again and again, until they mastered the game. Players nowadays will often walkaway if the challenge is higher that they are used to. That is fine, you do whatever you like, but do not say that the game is bad because it demands effort.
