Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth Interview

Take heed, the creepy FPS horror action-adventure game Call of Cthulhu is one step closer to its finishing point. Today we bring you a peek at some of the fundamental features, thanks to which this title will be able to contend with various first-class action-adventure games on the market.

Presenting six different stories with individual chapters, through which you will learn about the myth of Cthulhu (the title is losely based on the books by the famous horror novelist, H.P. Lovecraft) and plunge into a gripping plot, while enjoying a unique spell-casting system, special character capabilities, realistic injuries that affect the player's movement and mental abilities. What's more, gamers can battle againgst the evil, in a thrilling multi-player chapter.

And if that's not enough for you, the game also features the NetImmerse 3D Engine and Havoc Physics Engine. This way, Call of Cthulhu boasts more realistic physics that are going to enable the implementation of the "dynamic environmental response."

The team at Headfirst was kind enough to take the time and answer a few questions for us:

Action Trip: For starters, tell us your name and occupation.

Andrew Brazier: Andrew Brazier, Artist/Designer at Headfirst Productions.

AT: Give our readers a brief explanation of what Call of Cthulhu actually is.

AB: It could perhaps be called a FPHAS - a First Person Horror Adventure Shooter! It looks and controls like a FPS, but it has far more adventure and story elements than you usually find in that type of game. There is puzzle solving, character interaction, object manipulation and investigation as well as combat and action.

AT: We know that the game plot will be based on the stories of Howard Phillips Lovecraft. Just how tightly is the plot related to these tales?

AB: It would be impossible to make a fun game that was really closely based on Lovecraft's writings. This is because a lot of his stories involved characters who run away at the first sign of anything nasty, or they die of fright on the spot. He also dealt a lot with the horrors that lurk BEHIND that door, or unseen AROUND that corner, and you rarely got to actually see what it was. Whilst this makes them fantastic horror stories to read, gamers want a bit of a different experience in a horror game. They want to wonder what it is that is making that noise around the corner, and then they want to confront it, and then they want to be able to pull out a gun and pop a cap in its ass. However, sometimes just running away still remains the best cause of action!

AT: We've learned that the game will have all sorts of RPG elements, from character creation and development, to spell-casting. How often does the player get use these spells? How important is experience advancement?

AB: Magic can be used at certain points in the game as an aid to the player - it is never use as an offensive weapon. For instance, saving your game requires you to perform a quick ritual, but this also has the effect of reducing your sanity rating slightly (as does performing any magic or ritual).

AT: Next to the spells, the cool thing we've heard is that the game will give players a chance to experiment with a wide range of weapons. They can hurl Molotov-cocktails, fire machine guns, etc. There was also the info that a flamethrower will be available. Is there any truth to that? Also, give us a taste of other weapons we will get to try out.

AB: Bear in mind this is 1922, plus it isn't what you could call and 'All Action Shooter game'. There are weapons in there, but they are very much weapons you would find in that time period so stuff like revolvers, shotguns, and a tommy gun. There is a flamethrower to be found later in the game, as well as an Alien weapon which you get to use... or at least try to use..