Customer Reviews

Clive Barker's Undying

5 star:		(65)
4 star:		(33)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I have played many, many FPS games. Doom. Doom 2. Quake. Duke Nukem. Half Life. Aliens vs. Predator just to name a few. And none of them, not even Half-Life or AvP could have prepared anyone for this.

This game is terrifying beyond all belief. Not since Silent Hill has there been a game so utterly nerve wracking. I have played games that were designed to scare you, but this, from the mind of horror master Clive Barker, will have you trembling in your seat. Unexpected occurences, such as monsters bursting through walls, the ground suddenly falling out from under you, terrible shrieks that sound like they came from right behind you....you walk into a dark room and see nothing. The door slams shut, you turn around......the beast standing there will take your head off if you aren't fast enough!

Crisp, beautiful graphics that look great even on older video cards (such as Voodoo 3), and incredible sound effects make this game what it is. Very cool weapons, such as the Tibetan War Cannon which shoots a blast of ice at your enemies, and amazing looking spells, such as the ectoplasm, which fires bolts of pure energy at your enemies are just some of the weapons you will use. There is 'duel-weilding', where you hold your weapon in your right hand, and your left hand is free for spell casting. Spell power can be upgraded through 'Mana Wells' found throughout the game. Helpful items such as 'Ether Traps' can keep monsters at bay while you try to find your way out!

The story is rather good, but there are many events in the game that will get you sidetracked while you are trying to perform a task asked of you by one of the NPC's, and then all of a sudden you find yourself being led one way by something else when you are trying to go the other way.

There are some other annoying aspects, such as being unable to backtrack, so if you miss something, thats it, you've missed it. Doors will often shut behind you, and will be unable to be opened again. There are also many doors throughout the game that cannot be accessed until much later in the game, where you will find yourself scrambling around the many beautifully detailed areas in the game, trying to find them again. There are quite a few monster types in the game. However, at some parts, these monsters respawn at an overwhelming rate, and some of these creatures are VERY difficult to kill because of their unique skills.

The inventory system and weapon selection systems were rather annoying as well, with the '1' and '2' keys cycling forward and back through weapons respectively, and '3' and '4' to cycle through spells. There is a button that allows you to access a 'weapon wheel' where all weapon icons are displayed on screen, allowing you to pick which one you want. However, if you have to quickly switch weapons in a tense situation, both methods are rather difficult to pull off.

Despite those gripes, the game itself is very good. The monsters are scary, the ability to cast a spell that shows you things that are not normally there, such as ghosts and alterations in the scenery, which will help you understand the story, or just plain terrify you, add to the atmosphere and mood of the game. If you are a fan of horror and FPS games, this one is for you! Not for the weak of heart! Difficult controls, but all in all a good game!

Single Player First Person Shooter

Undying has more to offer than any game in recent memory and is an absolute blast to play. I agree with what some game reviews have already said, calling it the scariest game ever made (Seeing how Clive Barker was involved, it's not too surprising!).

Graphics: Beautifully detailed and textured environments. Awesome creatures with uncanny realism. Cool special effects and plenty of blood!

Sound: Enemy and ambient sounds are among the best I've heard. The voiceover is tight, most notably being Aaron (the ghostly brother). I read that Clive Barker himself is the voice of Ambrose (one the main characters in the game) and he too, does an admirable job.

Gameplay: Most your basic FPS elements with an interesting twist on accessing your weapons & spells. The wheel-based selection system takes some getting used to, but is quite effective during battle (the game also allows you to use a more conventional system of hot keys if you prefer). Fighting creatures in Undying stands apart from the crowd when the player (you) gets hit. Blood splatters on the screen and your view is knocked in the direction from where the impact came. Very Cool! Most puzzles are rather easy except for a handful that will have you scratching your head and feeling silly once you figure it out.

Presentation: The game comes with the normal PC stuff (jewel case and manual = sigh). However, Undying does come with a big diary full of back story on the family and is extremely well written.

Pros: Just read anything I or nearly all the game reviewers are saying. Hands down the early pick for game of the year.

Cons: A little short for my liking, but that's a PC game issue in general. You'll get longer play with some console games, but few as fun as Undying.

You definitely won't be sorry if you get this game. Maybe scared.... But not sorry.

First of all, I am biased. I love most of Clive Barker's work and I liked the movies based on his writings. But that doesn't mean I gave him a free pass while evaluating this game. Also, I never purchased Unreal Tournament (just didn't like the whole concept).

After playing the game for about two hours, I am completely lost in the big Irish mansion (well, actually, I just opened the wrong door and I am now lost in some lower dimension), running low on health and have "died" about 4 times already but I like this game. The game's engine is wonderful: The lighting effects, textures and character movement are great. The plot is also wonderful; it's the main reason why I don't get that sense of futility that comes with playing mediocre games.

This game does have the familiar "find the key" type puzzle but it does not have the standard "run - jump - shoot" action of most FPS games. Undying is more like a "walk - investigate - what happened to the lights? - duck! - that's not my reflection in the mirror! - NOW run" type of game. This game adds many Barkerish touches (the long gloomy hallway with the white curtains wafting gently across it - pure genius.) that add to Undying's quality.

Aside from the care taken by Undying's creators to provide the right atmosphere, the user interface is very easy to understand and configure. The dual weapon/spell control is a little daunting at first, but I am getting used to it.

One reviewer compared this game to "Resident Evil". That game is a mess that bored me to tears. Undying is a really engrossing, spooky adventure. Electronic Arts and Mr. Barker have created a superior gaming product that is well worth Amazon's price and my prediction is that it will be popular for many years.

I usually don't like FPS (First Person Shooting Games), but this games I like because of the horror. The music and sound effects in the game give me the creeps, plus the game has excellent graphics (A bit dark, but heck it's a horror game). There are two reason that stop me from giving Undying 5 stars :

1. The game area is so huge that it would be nice if it gave you the chance to map it (like Diablo I & II), because it gets a little annoying going over the same area time after time.

2. It seems linear at times, meaning that you are basically following a path that is set to the game. Now it would be nice to have subplots and have the option to go on to a different stories.

I never buy gore movies (Aliens for example) but I do like horror stories (Stephen King) and a horror movie that will scare you but not gross you out. So this game while it has it's gorey moments has one additional thing that makes it a good game, it is a thinking game not just a shoot'em up game.

One Final note, this game might give people with low end computers a problem, so my advice is to make sure you have enough computing power (It runs great on an AMD Athlon 950 Mhz).

Without a doubt, this is the most terrifying game I've ever played. Undying is a true FPS, with a feel similar to half-life or Soldier of Fortune. The plot and movements through the game are linear, yet still intriguing. Unlike Half-life, the game contains no tongue-in-cheek humor to lighten the atmosphere. What you do get, instead, is the ultimate haunted mansion and more. The architecture is disturbingly stunning with great attention to detail and captures the feel of an English manor with creepy room after room. The ambient sound is equally disturbing with incredible 3d effects of eerie children's laughter, the mournful wailing of the wind, and the cries of hungry beasts echoing from around the next corner. Just like a great horror flick, the game keeps the surprises coming with just enough irregularity between the "BOO'S!" to keep you off balance and on the edge of your seat - never knowing what to expect in the next room. I play the game at night with just one light on in the house and have jumped in fright more than once. The rest of the time, I spend looking over my shoulder. Unlike the original Resident Evil - what I also consider a scary game - the voice acting is top notch and very professional. The experience is also quite a bit more on the ghostly side as opposed to a mutant virus turning people into zombies. From time to time during the game, you will glimpse visions or hear sounds that can't hurt you, but they will freak you out. The 1st person perspective adds to the terror, since you feel like it's YOU trapped in this nightmare. I haven't gotten all the way through, yet, but so far Clive Barker and the programming team have created a truly bone chilling masterpiece, so suspenseful and intense that I can only play 30 minutes to an hour each night before I have to quit and go hide under the covers. Great stuff!

UNDYING is probably the most revolutionary 3D FPS since Half Life! When I first heard about it (from American McGee's Alice), I *knew* I had to pre-order this game. Being a big fan of macabre horror [Clive Barker], I knew I would enjoy it. But when I received it on my doorstep I slapped the CD in and began my journey into brialliantly designed 3D enviornments with atmospheric marvels and blood-chilling special effects! Faaaaar from the typical FPS, this one actually has a story that makes you want to play it for hours on end. Many FPSs loose their luster when you wander through the same-looking levels shooting the same, old unchallenging enemies -- Not Undying! Using the power of the Unreal Engine -- the Undying team took "3D worlds" to all new heights, using textures and geometry that cannot be described by anything short of 'beautiful'. Standing in Jeremiah's grand manor hall, looking at the ornate carvings in the wood, the flowing tapestries, and the lightning flashing in through the windows and billowing curtains....EXCELLENT!

Another thing that really caught my attention was the sound. The sound effects used in UNDYING are 2nd to none! With a good sound system, you are thrown right in the middle of a freightening horror movie, battling Jeremiah's undead siblings -- each with their own creppy personality. Ghost and demons, occult magic and 19th century weapons, amazing storyline and thrilling paranormal encounters that will keep you up for nights at a time!

Buy it and buy it now!

This is probably my fourth first person shooter that I have played, and it is way up there on the list.

I absolutely loved Deus Ex and I find that Undying does not match its unparalleled interaction and character enhancement, however, for anything that it lacks, Undying's graphics and story line make up for it big time. Thats why I am giving it 4 1/2 stars.

While I was skeptical about the other reviews expressing that this game is really scary, I am now a believer! This game is really scary. I have never experienced anything like that while playing a game. Turn down the lights, put up the sound and get ready. The combination of weapons, magic, and graphics make for an exciting and immersive experience.

If you enjoy first person shooters and are interested in a serious adrenalin rush, this game has got your name on it.

My favorite PC game of all time is HALF-LIFE. At the risk of sounding like a nutcase, HALF-LIFE actually disturbed my sleep paterns, it caused me violent nightmares and ate up any free time I had for the time it took for me to complete (the only FPS I have ever beaten without cheating, I might add). Since then, I have been waiting for HL2 which is inevitable.

Enter UNDYING. As a huge Clive Barker fan - both his books and his painting - I was excited to hear that he was involved with a video game and nervous that it would end up like Stephen King's 13 - talk about horror! I knew very little about the game but the previews were encouraging.

As soon as I loaded it I knew I was in for less sleep, mouse induced wrist cramps and general VGFS (Video Game Fatigue Syndrome).

Visually: Amazing. The environments I have seen so far are fluid and believable. The special effects and lighting are amazing.

Sound: Even better than the graphics! The monsters scare the hell out of you, the positioning of sound add to the eeriness of the location and the soundtrack is movie-caliber.

Overall: The monsters and gameplay will make you jump out of your seat. A quiet, unassuming walk down a corridor is interrupted by a ghost or monster and it is done better than any slasher film you've ever seen. The only complaint is the fact that the tension is too often broken by loading of new areas (but this does not kill the game by any means). And the only reason I gave it 4/5 stars is because I haven't completed the game yet - I still have a life although I can see this sucking up a lot of it.

If you liked HALF-LIFE this is the perfect game. If you like Clive Barker's horror style - this is the perfect game. If you don't like being scared - buy something else.

I'll just echo what others have said here. I'm just now finally getting a ways into this game five years later. Primarily because 5 years ago, this game was just too complex for me to play, and my PC couldn't handle it well either. For an FPS-type game, it actually has a pretty steep learning curve, what with all the spells and knowing what to do with them and how to even access them. But if you're patient enough and read the manual, you'll be rewarded with a very fine game, as others have already mentioned.

The only thing I'd like to add here is that I am successfully running this on an XP w/SP2 machine. Took the game out of the box, installed it with no patches, and it plays smooth as silk. My specs are AMD 2600+ with a gig of ram and an nVidia 7800GS w/ 256 video ram. Take that for what it's worth, as I'm just providing it for reference and I'm sure it'll run on much less.

C'mon you lot. You are always complaining that there aren't enough original games out there. But if you don't buy 'em they won't be able to make them, so please go out and buy this one.

It's an intelligent, engrossing game that just gets better and better as you work your way through the levels. At the start I didn't realise how big this game was. There are a lot of levels, and although you go over some of the same territory, it's always under different circumstances, with different aims and goals.

One thing to note about this game, the sounds are amazing! I particularly liked the storms and the sound of rain on a tin roof, not just stock sounds stuff here.....you would have sworn it was really raining, you could hear the steady drops, and the loud splashes as a body of water was knocked down from the guttering. Why am I raphsodising about the rain? Just because its an example of the excellent attention to detail show by the creators.

When I said this game gets better and better as it progresses, I mean it. Strangely, the first level isn't that interesting, to the point where I can see some people might give up on it. Weird. But make it to the second level, and you are hooked. Most of the levels are a real surprised, incredibly varied (most games tend to make levels that look much the same) The level I likes the most was the monastary. You explore the ruins in the present during summer, and then travel back in time to it's heyday, during a pelting snowstorm. (the weather effects are amazing, did I mention that?) I also enjoyed the final levels, climbing higher and higher in autumnal mountains, over steams and waterfalls, until you are above the clouds. Very cool! Ok, the levels in the crypt, graveyard, mauseleum, and oneiros also should rate a mention, also the smuggler's caves.

The only thing I would have liked is for there to be a little more detail in the rooms, and for there to be more interaction with living people in a "safe" space. I feel that in any medium, the horror genre works best when the horror part is broken up by times when you can take a breather, explore the surroundings in safty, make discoveries that are importent to the plot, and interact with "ordinary" characters. I found myself wanting to go back and talk to my friend, and to the lighthouse keeper, the only two really normal people in the game (the servants aren't really that normal, they could have been depicted a lot better)

The scrying was fun. When you are scrying you see things, well differently. Great idea!

Really scary game. You find yourself looking around a lot nervously. Loads of different monsters, spells, and weapons, but you never run out of stuff. It's also based on one of the best engines around. Even if you don't usually like games, if you enjoy literary style of horror you will enjoy this.