I have to confess, I am a bit of a graphics snob and lately I have been more inclined to buy AAA or high profile games because they tend to mean high production values and nice graphics. I also have to confess that I will sometimes start a game and if it looks bad graphically I will give it less than 5 minutes before I will probably close it and never touch it again.

Right away I noticed the graphics look more like it came out a decade before it actually came out and the first character I met looked very scuffed. His animations were awkward and somewhat odd and like all characters his mouth partially disintegrated in the corners when he talked, something I had to ignore during all dialogue parts as it was very distracting for me.

Yet I kept playing.

Despite the low quality graphics these guys still manage to create a distinctively immersive gloomy ambience and environment you would expect from this genre and that is an important quality for me.

The voice acting is (mostly) great and despite the poor quality graphics and animations the story was immediately engrossing and I found myself wanting to keep playing to find out what was going to happen next. I even exhausted all dialogue options when talking to characters, which is rare for me.

The characters are mostly well done with meaningful dialogue that appears to change how the story will end for you, depending on your choices of course. Though in fairness I can't really say how meaningful each choice is, as I only finished it once and I have no intention of playing it all again for different endings.

Of course this is a slow paced detective meets Lovecraftian horror type story, so don't expect any fast paced combat or takedowns etc. However if you like this genre and can look past the bad graphics and animations I do think this game is mostly an enjoyable experience. There were a couple of annoying little puzzle sections and some deaths that were just time wasting as you really cannot avoid them until you trial and error your escape path or what you need to do next. But I can forgive minor irritations as the majority of the experience is positive.

Overall I am glad I gave this game a try and while not the best game I have ever played, it was a pleasant surprise overall and made me consider that I probably have many gems in my library that I should give another chance.

Call of Cthulhu is a game that captures the eerie, unsettling atmosphere of Lovecraft’s works but struggles to deliver a consistently engaging experience. It’s a mix of strong narrative elements, immersive world-building, and gameplay mechanics that feel undercooked.

The story is the game’s highlight. It pulls you into the dark, twisted mysteries of Darkwater Island, with a plot that unfolds like a classic Lovecraftian tale. The creeping sense of dread and madness is well-executed, and there are some genuinely memorable moments as you descend into the cosmic horror at the heart of the game. Fans of the mythos will appreciate the nods to Lovecraft’s works.

The visuals and sound design are also solid. Darkwater Island feels oppressive and decayed, with environments that ooze atmosphere. The ambient sound effects and haunting score enhance the tension, keeping you on edge as you explore.

However, the gameplay leaves much to be desired. It’s an odd mix of investigative mechanics, light stealth, and dialogue-driven choices, but none of these systems feel fully fleshed out. Investigations often boil down to linear exploration with little room for creativity or deduction, and the stealth segments feel clunky and frustrating. The RPG elements, while intriguing, don’t significantly impact the experience, leaving many choices feeling shallow.

The pacing can also be inconsistent. While the first half of the game builds intrigue well, the latter half rushes through key story beats and introduces gameplay segments that feel tacked on. The result is a game that feels like it’s trying to juggle too many ideas without fully committing to any of them.

Call of Cthulhu is worth a look for fans of Lovecraftian horror or narrative-driven games, but its lackluster mechanics and uneven pacing hold it back from greatness. It’s a game that does some things well but leaves you wishing it had done more.

Rating: 6/10 – Strong atmosphere, weak execution.

Call of Cthulhu is a dark ride through a mad, cosmic horror nightmare with a paranormal detective story as your vehicle. the sense of place I got from each new area was immediate and impactful. The sounds populating these spaces are just as good. rest assured, it’s trippy, frightening, and asks as many questions as it answers.