Is this game any good? Got 53 on metascore, like. But I have tried it on OnLive, seem ok, rather fun. What do you thing? What are the biggest flaws?

Both this game and its sequel are really underrated. I was hesitant to play them after reading some bad reviews, but I went ahead and got them and thought they were great. They have an intriguing plot, strong puzzles, a really intense atmosphere and are worthy of the title of being Lovecraft-inspired games. Weaknesses are that the first one is a bit slow especially at the start, but that's a good thing if you like methodical exploration. Honestly I can't think of much else. If you like dark and psychological horror and you enjoy adventure games, these games should be on your list.

If you like Dark Fall or the Dark Eye this is a must play.

I myself am a big fan of Lovecraft-inspired games.

I played the first one and loved the atmosphere. There were some rather creepy moments as well.

I didn't quite understand the ending but liked the game anyway- I would recommend it.

Have you played Call of Cthulhu Dark Corners of the Earth?  Darkness Within is very like it in many ways.  A great game!

I agree with all of the above. Both Darkness Within games are must plays. Their greatest strength for me was the atmosphere - all palpable isolation and understated sinisterness. It doesn't get much "darker" than this (except maybe in Penumbra, Scratches, or Amnesia: The Dark Descent).

The greatest weakness for me was too much story. I have 10 pages of notes from the first 1/2 of Pursuit of Loath Nolder on story alone, not even puzzles (how stupid is that ) but kept muttering to myself that if I "don't keep up with the story then what's the d*mn point of playing?" It was as if Zoetrope was so afraid of having a weak storyline that they way overcompensated. Better that than the opposite though, right?

i for one am NOT a fan of the horror Lovecraftean universe..but the game is decent and well made. Many would enjoy it, I just dont personally like the dark side.

I got a bit bored with the first one about two thirds of the way through, but apparently the second one would be more to my liking, according to ppl who know my tastes, so it is on my list. 

The atmosphere is indeed pretty scary and quite intense in places at the beginning, (that creepy mansion) but I think it's less weird and less gory perhaps, than COCDCOTE.   That said, COCDOTE has a really freaky atmosphere.

While I don't believe that I've played the second, I seem to recall that I thoroughly enjoyed the first Darkness Within.  If I recall correctly (and I'll confess that I do think that it's been some time since I played it), the first game had an excellent, eerie atmosphere, and could be delightfully otherworldly at times.

Note, however, that I recall the first game as being rather lonely: I don't think that there are any characters to interact with (although I may be forgetting some recorded messages or telephone conversations).  While I think that this enhanced the atmosphere for me, it maywell not be to everyone's taste.

Funnily enough, I think that the inclusion of characters to interact with was one of the reasons that I decided to skip the second game at the time; I may well decide to get it another day, however.

What's COCDCOTE, Trav?

Originally Posted By Lady Kestrel

What's COCDCOTE, Trav?

 

 

Call of Cthulu Dark Corners of the Earth; an adventure /survival horror hybrid based on the the works of HP Lovecraft.