Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem (2002) (VG)

Director:

Denis Dyack

Release Date:

24 June 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Horror | Fantasy | Thriller

Tagline:

Insanity. You'll learn to live with it.

Plot:

Over the course of two millenia, twelve men and women are linked together by an accursed book known as the Tome of Eternal Darkness.

Plot Keywords:

Journalist | Mansion | Monk | Crossbow | Nurse

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Michael Bell	...	Peter Jacob (voice)
Earl Boen	...	Inspector Legrasse (voice)
Cam Clarke	...	Anthony / Custodian (voice)
Neil Dickson	...	Dr. Edward Roivas (voice)
Richard Doyle	...	Pious Augustus / Defeated General / Liche & All His Many Incarnations / Ulyaoth (voice) (as Richard Doyal)
Greg Eagles	...	Michael Edwards / Undead Guard / Chattur'gha (voice)
Paul Eiding	...	Paul Luther / Monk / Supervisor (voice)
Jennifer Hale	...	Alexandra Roivas / Xel'lotath (voice)
David Hayter	...	Roman Legionnaire 1 / Roman Legionnaire 2 / Angkor Thom Guard (voice)
William Hootkins	...	Dr. Maximillian Roivas (voice) (as Bill Hootkins)
Kim Mai Guest	...	Ellia / Xel'lotath (voice)
Phil Proctor	...	Roberto Bianchi / Bishop (voice)
Rino Romano	...	Karim / Guard (voice)
Neil Ross	...	Dr. Edwin Lindsey (voice)
Paula Tiso	...	Chandra (voice)

Also Known As:

Eternal Darkness (USA) (short title)

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English | Latin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Argentina:M | USA:M

Company:

Nintendo

Trivia:

Certain items found around the Roivas estate in the modern era can be found in the other locations from previous time periods. For instance, the bust sitting on the table in the second floor hallway of the mansion in Alex's time is also seen in Paul's Amiens Cathedral stage; a decorative stone face in the mansion's secret study originally came from the Cambodian temple that Lindsey explored; the Gladius sword that Alex wields comes from Pius' story; and the strange lock on the closet in the kitchen is also found on a door in Karim's story.

Quotes:

Pious Augustus: Your prescence is welcomed, majesty. As always I am honored.
Xel'lotath: Our dealings are a pleasure to us both, then...
Xel'lotath's second voice: He lies...
Xel'lotath: As do we all...
Xel'lotath's second voice: What is this flaw you wish to discuss with us?
Pious Augustus: My concern is with the other Ancients... Ulyaoth... Chattur'gha... Should they unite with Mantorok, they would doubtlessly possess enough power to vanquish even thee...
Xel'lotath: As darkness abhors light, and light abhors dark. The others will not, cannot join forces!
Xel'lotath's second voice: Mantorok will bound and the others will seep into insanity when I return...
Xel'lotath: ...as has been foretold...
Pious Augustus: I was unaware...
[...]

Movie Connections:

Spoofs Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver (1999) (VG)

The Best Survival-Horror Game, Hands-Down!

I do love my Mega Man, believe me, but this title is SO, SO, SO MUCH BETTER than any Mega Man game ever released. When someone says "survival-horror," you probably think of the Resident Evil series. Can I tell you something? If I compared survival-horror games to, say, automobiles, ED makes any other survival-horror game look like a Ford Pinto right after the bumper was smashed in.

The story opens with young Alex Roivas receiving a call to identify her grandfather's body-- he recently experienced a mysterious death that left him as nothing more than a pile of bloody flesh. Alex vows to search the old mansion for clues, and in doing so, uncovers a dark family secret: a huge book in her grandfather's study attracts Alex's attention, and it is through this book, the Tome of Eternal Darkness, that the story unfolds.

Your avatar changes as you complete each chapter of the Tome. All the characters come together to tell of the Tome's historical accounts, and the purpose behind the book itself.

Though the concept of basing a game around a book instead of its characters is certainly unique, it's not ED's strongest selling point. That would be your Sanity Meter--a glowing, green vial that tracks how kooky your character's mind becomes after you are attacked. When your sanity begins to fade, the game will do things to mess with your mind: tilt the camera, make you see dripping blood from the walls, and make you appear upside-down in a room--and those are some of the milder effects. The stronger, more brain-tickling pranks will genuinely make you angry, frustrated, frightened, or confused: the TV will appear to suddenly shut off, or your character will spontaneously split apart, for example. ED is survival-horror done right: you're dropped into monster-ridden territory with limited weapons, a magickal book, and only your wits to guide you. It's not anywhere near as difficult as Resident Evil, and the fact that you play through different periods of history with an alternate-universe twist gives ED a lot more credit in my book.

With copious amounts of blood, gore, death, references to the occult, and plenty of creepy- crawlies and scary moments, this is very much a grown-up's game--but MAN, what a great game it is! For all those momentarily fed up with kiddie games on the 'Cube, snatch this treasure up from the video game store's bargain bin and put some hours into it--you won't be disappointed.