October 23rd, 2007

Darkness Within: In Pursuit of Loath Nolder preview

Developer Zoetrope Interactive and publisher Lighthouse Entertainment just released a demo version for Darkness Within: In Pursuit of Loath Nolder, their upcoming quest/adventure thriller due for retail by Halloween 2007. With a short yet powerful introduction by the words of horror master H. P. Lovecraft, I wonder who can resist the temptation of a quick sneak peek. “Men of broader intellect know that there is no sharp distinction betwixt the real and the unreal.”

Read on for an abyssal journey at the edges of human comprehension.

Story

The story unfolds as you take up the job of a police detective investigating the murder of a wealthy man involved in the occult. Highly experienced private eye Loath Nolder is the prime suspect and it’s your to confront your idol and learn the truth. It seems Loath Nolder abandoned his last case five years ago and mysteriously disappeared. Some say he was seen on several exotic locations, pursuing shamans and sorcerers when suddenly he makes another appearance here. Your quest begins in an old mansion shrouded in the rumors of old. There is talk about its elder inhabitants, things that linger in the depths of nightmares, as the nearby building predates the rest of the village by several hundred years.

Concept and Gameplay

Darkness Within: In Pursuit of Loath Nolder is a 360 degree point and click photographic experience that relies on your ability to discover hidden niches and combine clues in order to advance the game plot. Rich textures and surreal ambient music make up for an in depth experience, while hunting for your next clues. I had no problems completely submerging myself into the eerie game world and starting to feel, act and think as my character would. At several points throughout the game you can see cut scenes depicting your avatar voicing out his fears and ideas, in a continuous motion which hardly ever makes the transition uncomfortable. For instance, while entering the last room available in the demo I found myself stuck in a dark room, nowhere to go and with the flashlight fading. It was then that my character started panicking and tried to run back the way he came once the musty cave walls began to shake menacingly. The graphics and overall feeling are consistent with the whole of Lovecraftian lore. Darkness Within: In Pursuit of Loath Nolder is filled with mysterious creatures powered by our imagination and a seed of the uncanny.

In the beginning puzzles aren’t that hard to decipher. Not too hard, not too shallow, there’s mind candy for everyone with extra focus on the storyline and less on mind twisting dead ends. At some point, I had to combine five clues to set up a complex symbol, acting like a key. I was intrigued at first as to why won’t my contraption work, but it soon became apparent I wasn’t using the information provided by all of them. In this regard there is a subtle sense of achievement that drives the player to delve deeper into the game.

Some events are scripted so that you need to fulfill certain prerequisites before triggering them. You can tell there is another room beneath the floor when you knock on the wall and then again on the floor, noticing the difference in echo. Only then can you push the wooden cabinet away and pull the rug off to discover a secret passage. In the same fashion, you’ll be able to pick up a flashlight once your advance will be halted by the impenetrable darkness of a distant room.

All alone in a haunted mansion, down in a cave below, it’s only a matter of time until the next step will be your last. I find the demo ending quite intriguing, on par with the Lovecraftian ethos where nightmare-breed creatures come to life and devour the very mind which created them. I can’t wait to see more when the full game gets released.

Sound and Graphics

This fully single player experience wouldn’t be the same without the flurry of dark ambient sounds capes designed to infiltrate your soul and prepare it for the great fear to come. Effective to the very last note, I felt right at home stepping in the shoes of our intrepid detective, exploring every corner of this imposing mansion. It’s not so much about the music as it is about the 3D sound positioning and the vivid surprises which wait at every turn. I particularly enjoyed the ruff cut cave textures which simulate reality very effective, contrasting the clean and highly detailed images from the well lighted rooms above. Darkness and shadows will often enough play tricks on your vision. Darkness Within: In Pursuit of Loath Nolder lives up to 2007 standards and you won’t feel wronged in your choice by the visual elements at no time during gameplay.

Conclusion

I’m glad that a game such as Darkness Within: In Pursuit of Loath Nolder still surfaces the gaming world, because quests and adventure games are a dying breed. Such rare bird is not to be ignored regardless of your current gaming affiliations. I for one am a bit nostalgic and will enjoy the title to its fullest. Its crippling dark atmosphere, the strong Lovecraft references coupled with complex mind candy and a good storyline provide great value for your money. Darkness Within: In Pursuit of Loath Nolder is scheduled to be the first in a series of three installments, ready for release this Halloween. Until then, I suggest you take a most enlightening look at the demo and see if you share my opinions.