NOCTURNE - Games - http://maxpages.com/strategyforum/Nocturne

OVERALL: 94%

The Basics:
Not since playing Alone in the Dark 2, have I come across a game that has caused me to scream out loud in surprise and fright as I did while playing Nocturne. This game just drips style and does a wonderful job of giving you a sense of paranoia that stays with you through out the game. You know that around one of these corner, a zombie is lying in wait. You know its going to jump out from its dark hiding place, and attack your neck. But what keeps you in suspense is the fear of not knowing when. Combine this general unease with the ingenious musical cues and a realtime lighting engine that gives all kinds of evil, nerve-shattering effects, and you've got a game that keeps you glued to your computer screen, and on the edge of your seat begging for more. Nocturne is not for those with weak hearts, nor is it a game for those who are seeking face-paced deathmatch they have become accustomed to. If you play your games for the same reason you read novels, or watch a good movie, then you will enjoy Nocturne. If you have a special place in your heart for the supernatural or the occult, then your in for a treat. So lets get on with the review.

Installation:
Installation of this game is a snap, the only complaint that I have is the full install is right around 25 minutes with nearly 2 gig's of disk space. But I guess being compensated with the art work while waiting eases the suffering a bit. Might I suggest you grab some popcorn, turn the lights low, light a candle or two. As long as you have the disk space, there should be no problems with the install.

Setup is even easier as the game doesn't require any extreme settings. Control and video setup is painless as well, as the game will auto-detect your video card if you switch out of software mode, and run normally. There are options for tweaking the game if your settings are not up to par for your system, but if your machine doesn't have the muscle to run the game, then there's really not much you can do to compromise. There are a few known issues with certain cards and operating systems, and if you have any problems, you can always consult your trusty manual. I have a Win98/p3-500/128mb/TNT2 system, however, and the game ran with no problems. As far as the controls of the game, I recommend a combination of mouse and keyboard which is best for any standard FPS.

The Game:
At this point, your wondering just how the game looks... I'm here to tell you that Nocturne is one of the most beautiful realtime-3D games I've seen in quite some time. The use of the third person perspective and static camera angles allows for high polygon counts. The environments, when combined with real time lighting effects, can sometimes be mistaken for pre-rendered scenes. Screen shots just don't do the game any kind of justice as the atmosphere effects add a great deal of depth that's not captured in any one individual still frame. I got goose bumps the first time I stood in front of a flickering torch and watched my own shadow creep across the wall, or the first time I saw an enemy shadow flicker behind me, nearly giving me a heart attack.

The sound is equally impressive. Any good horror movie director will tell you that sound is a major factor in producing fear within you, and the makers of Nocturne didn't miss a beat! To the moans and groans of the zombies, to the spine tingling music that comes just before some horror lunges from around the corner. (Even better when nothing happens just to keep you on the edge of your seat). The environmental sounds are excellent, from the bullet ricochet, to the footsteps that change according to the surface your walking on. All cut scenes are done in-engine, and the voice acting ranges from ok to superb.

Pretty graphics and nice sounds don't get very far if the game isn't fun to play. Thankfully, Nocturne is, barring the occasional frame rate drop when hordes of zombies come out of the woodwork. Other than that, the game runs fluidly, and is just extremely entertaining to play through. There were very few moments where I found myself lost, or not knowing what to do next. A general rule to follow is, "If you don't see dead bodies, then you probably have not been there." The story moves along in each chapter, and there's more of it in any given episode, than in most full games. Plot twists happen regularly, and without warning, giving the player a feeling of not knowing what will happen next.

System Requirements:
As far as system requirements go, low-end users will be disappointed. While the game claims to be able to run on a Pentium mmx system, I would not recommend playing this game with anything less than a 350mhz with at least 96 mb of ram, and a suitable 3d card (glide supported, OpenGL is best) Combined with the need for a huge amount of disk space, Nocturne will not run on a budget computer you bought two or more years ago. I think with a system purchased 18 months or less should be more than capable of getting Nocturne to run and enjoy the games performance.

Final Thoughts:
Nocturne will keep you busy for hours on end. It's unlikely that most users will have problems with this game. The first time I ran this game, "Just to check it out" I played way into the wee hours of the morning. With an editor to be released, end users will be able to create their own full single player episodes, with several expansions of Nocturne being planned, this game should have a decent life span on your hard drive.

Over all, Nocturne is a game without peer. The engine is like nothing done before, and the store is ingeniously crafted as any in recent memory. For horror fans, this is the game that must be on your hard drive, and everyone else...It's still worth the purchase. Quite simply, it's one of the top 3 games I've played this year.

Pros: Gorgeous graphics, brilliant sound, attention to detail, incredible engine and excellent animation. Cons: High system requirements, occasional frame rate issues, and some clipping on models and fabrics.

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Page Updated Mon Nov 22, 1999 8:21pm EST