Clive Barker's Jericho
Preview
The horror of Clive Barker returns to the PC.
by William Thompson
previewed on PC
A good looking team
Character graphics of the squad members are absolutely amazing. There is virtually no difference between the cut-scenes and the gameplay itself. Al-Khali inhabitants are not quite as well rendered, but that’s not to say that they are badly animated. They are indeed well illustrated in all their gory splendour. The locations are, for the loss of a better word, dark. This really helps with the eerie feel of the game’s setting. In fact, the flashlight is one of the most important tools you’ll be equipped with in many of the game’s dungeon-esque locations. Without it, you would wander aimlessly hopefully in the right direction.
Speech in the game is superb… although obscenities are frequently used, and I don’t mean by me when I’ve just been blindsided by an undead knight from the Crusades. The weapon special effects are great, and the sound of Church’s Japanese sword slashing through the body of the aforementioned knights is squishy, just as you would expect. The only let down from an audio perspective was the sound of the creatures. Many just grunt along. In some instances you can hear them coming down a narrow hall, so all you have to do then is just wait until they arrive.
Where did he come from?
But having said that, from what we’ve seen so far, the AI is pretty good. Many of the undead creatures seem to walk along specified paths, but this can be used to lull you into a false sense of security. Many will be hiding in invisible positions and wait until you are in the firing line before attacking. It is only when you’ve been hit that you can see where the fire was coming from and can counteract it. Due to the squad member’s special abilities, there will be more than one way to get from A to B in the game. Do you go in all guns blazing or do you use the Astral Projection capability of Captain Jones? It is up to you.
Controls are simple enough, with the standard fare of WASD or arrow keys to move around, whilst the mouse is used to aim and fire either of the character’s two available weapons (one with right button, one with the left). Characters can access their special powers with the touch of a button. Crouching and reloading weapons is also archetypical. Simply, if you’ve played other shooters, you should have no problems with Jericho.
Surprise, Surprise… Just in time for Halloween
From what we’ve seen so far, Jericho will be a worthy addition to the Squad-based shooter genre. Graphically, it is a little gruesome in parts, so it won’t suit the kiddies who watch Dora the Explorer. But if you can get past that, then the game is fine. The language, again, may cause a bit of angst amongst parents, but it is nothing you can’t hear in the schoolyard or on a football field. With the game due for release around Halloween, it gives gamers a chance to turn out the lights, turn up the sound and then be in for a frightening experience.
Now, where did I put my hockey mask and chainsaw?
