Customer Reviews

The Dark Eye

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Released in 1995 by iNSCAPE.

This game is very unusual and yes that is a compliment. It is based off the works by Edgar Allan Poe and has a generally dark atmosphere.

I feel lucky to of found this game since, as mentioned, it is very interesting to play yet pretty obscure (I picked it up in a bargain bin whilst on holiday many years ago, I still have it).

The game has you visiting a house, you move around in a first-view perspective in a 3D environment which, for the time, is nicely done. The people look somewhat like unusual clay puppets and their eyes are often mere shadows (which obviously can feel a little threatening when you can't quite see someones eyes and get a good idea of their emotions). This lends a very unique visual style to the game and compliments the ominous atmosphere.

This game has voices. Something that isn't present in all games, so I felt it should be noted. The voice actors did a great job and are very expressive in my opinion. You get a good idea of the characters anxiety or other emotions.

In some instances you can get closer to a person and actually see their eyes and "enter" them, thus disjoining yourself from your first character and entering the first-view perspective of that person. This is a way of manouvering around the stories in the game you come across. Another way is by clicking on objects that somehow represent a part of that story that are lying around the somewhat empty house you have come to visit. The house itself and the people in it also seem to have a story to tell.

In each story you can either play as the murderer or the victim, seeing it from both views. You must play to the end both perspectives to progress in the game I believe. It is interesting that they have given you this ability to play such contrasting roles. You also sometimes have freedom to jump between the two perspectives mid-way into a story. Sometimes this can be difficult to judge where to go next and how to progress, but with enough exploration you find yourself back on track. If you really get lost, there are always guides online that are free to use if you don't mind using those kinds of resources. The navigation system is very much more an abstract and artistic style therefore, rather than a conventional one. More of an exploratory way of manouvering that you eventually get used to. It's something that I enjoyed since I often have to study unique interfaces.

It may be quite disturbing in places as you can imagine from the concept, a strange game really, not for small children (although I was pretty young myself when first playing this, however we all interpret things differently). But definitely a game worth noting due to its originality and distorted atmosphere. It's a shame it doesn't have more publicity. There are other reviews for this somewhat obscure game though if you want to find out more, it's not a game you forget as some other reviewers out there mention, it's eerie and different and makes its impact on you.

If you are familiar with Edgar Allan Poe's work you may wish to know what stories/poems of his are interpreted within this game. The ones I know of are:

The Tell-Tale Heart, Berenice, The Cask Of Amontillado and The Masque Of The Red Death.

There may be more as I am not that familiar with all of his work. In fact, this game was my first introduction to a lot of his work. This game was very educational in that way and informed me of his further works of which I would of otherwise never heard of. And it certainly is a fun and interesting way to be introduced to them, that's for sure, at least in my opinion.

If you're an artist, like me, or just someone interested in poetry and short stories, you may find this game as creatively inspiring as I did.

But I think anyone can enjoy this game. And I hope that more get the chance.

I'm amazed this is the first review of this game here-- it's been out so long it appears now to be out of print and collectible... I really loved this game. A traditional graphic adventure, but with some interesting variations-- for one thing, while the environments are all 3D rendered, it appears the characters were created by photographing weird little sculptured models from different angles and compositing them in, which gives the game a really unique and interesting look-- while the interface may not be quite as sophisticated as some of the games, it has some very neat and unusual features and ambiance that shouldn't be missed by any graphic adventure afficionado, at least IMHO...

The plot seems loosely based on classic works of Edgar Allen Poe-- very spooky and mysterious with some interesting twists. This one is a real sleeper-- and looks now to have achieved collectible status based on the used price it seems to be going for now...

My other favorite games were Zork Grand Inquisitor, Grim Fandango, Obsidian, and even "Of Light and Darkness." Myst was fun too, but not as odd, humorous or quirky as the others...

Pretty easy game to beat but definately a trip. Creepy gameplay and the ability to act out Edgar Allen Poe's stories make this game one of my favorites.

awesome.

Edgar Allan Poe read by William S. Burroughs; It does not get any better than that.

The other reviews are very good, and I will not try to outdo them. I just wanted to add this information, as some people might find the game even more interesting knowing that Burroughs is a character in the game (the owner of the house you are visiting), and reads Poe's poems as you play them out during the course of the game. In my mind, there is no better person suited for this task and his distinct voice and style really make this game.

In my humble opinion, the two greatest men who ever put the works of Poe to voice are Basil Rathbone and William S. Burroughs. Simply chilling.